The Baron of Maldà and baroque music in the Museu de la Xocolata

The unique Museu de la Xocolata still offers the most original blends of disciplines and sensations. In the case in point, the sweet fascination for products derived from cacao should be complemented with a little slice of history and a good dollop of music, so enjoy an afternoon snack of hot chocolate in the company of the Antiqvvs Ensemble string quartet, and absorb yourself in the ritual ceremony of the Baron of Maldà, a noted gourmet and chocolate lover.

 

Rafael d’Amat I de Cortada, the first Baron of Maldà, acquired notoriety for being the author of Calaix de sastre, a prolific collection of diaries of sixty volumes. The Baron wrote almost continually for 50 years, from 1769 to 1819, the year of his death. Calaix de sastre is an invaluable document for the historical and costumbrist portraits it contains, but is also an interesting portrait of its author. It is well known that he was very partial to eating as well as the whole ritual surrounding it, the preparation, the presentation, etc., and the descriptions of the festival banquets he attended are portrayed in delicious detail. Regarding chocolate, the diaries are proof of his obsession for drinking at least two cups a day.