In this interview, María José San Román discusses the role of olive oil in Spanish cuisine, the importance of sustainability, and her love of frying foods in olive oil. 
María José San Román is the co-owner and executive chef of GRUPO GOURMET in Alicante Spain. With a collection of five restaurants, including her landmark restaurant, Monastrell, for which she was first awarded a prestigious Michelin star in 2013 and La Taberna del Gourmet, winner of the National Award for Best Bar in Spain, she blends Mediterranean tradition with creative innovation to bring classic Spanish ingredients to the contemporary restaurant table. Maria José’s cuisine is based on a philosophy and vision that celebrates the bounty and flavor of local ingredients with distinctive style. Recognized as both Spain’s Queen of Saffron and a leading authority on extra-virgin olive oil, she is renowned as an international ambassador of Spanish culinary excellence. Her cuisine pays homage to a wide range of classic flavors from her Spanish coastal roots including extra virgin olive oil, rice, seafood and saffron. GRUPO GOURMET ALICANTE (www.grupo-gourmet.com), a gastronomic project founded in 1975, includes restaurants Monastrell, La Taberna del Gourmet, La Vaquería, Tribeca, La Terraza del Gourmet and Taller de pan, each celebrating distinctively Spanish gastronomy and contributing to Alicante’s status as one of the top hospitality centers of Spain. 
This recipe and video were produced by The Culinary Institute of America as an industry service, thanks to the generous support of the International Olive Council.
Learn more about olive oil at https://www.plantforwardkitchen.org/olive-oil-and-the-plant-forward-kitchen