Discovering ‘Zarzuela’ — Truman Capote’s Favorite Spanish Dish
Retracing Capote’s Steps Along Spain’s Costa Brava
I’ve often imagined what it would be like to be Truman Capote in the early ’60s, swapping the whirlwind of New York’s glitterati for the quiet sun-drenched shores of Spain’s Costa Brava.
In April 1960, the acclaimed writer arrived in Palamós, a port town I know well from my own time living in North-East Spain. He was laden with 25 suitcases and drafts of over 4,000 pages — seeking solitude and inspiration for his monumental work, the novel ‘In Cold Blood’. Capote, alongside his cat and dog, and his partner of 35 years, Jack Dunphy, settled in the little fishing town, staying at the Hotel Trias, where I have been fortunate to dine on many occasions over the years.
The locals often spotted him meandering through the marketplace, engaging with farmers, or lost in thought watching the fishermen reel in their day’s catch. His days at the Hotel Trias were productive and tumultuous. It was here he received the heart-wrenching news of the death of his close friend, Marilyn Monroe. It is said that overcome with grief, Capote retreated for days…
