“Mmmm, chickweed...”
You probably haven’t heard this one before. People don’t usually savor the tastes of things they’re more likely to find in their backyards than in their kitchens. But if you fire up Instagram and follow Rodrigo de la Calle, you might start salivating over such plants-turned-food. Swipe down for images of black garlic, heaps of violet asparagus, and bushels of broccolini, plus dozens of photographs of vegetables, flowers, and herbs transformed into carefully executed, vibrant plates too good-looking to eat.
Rodrigo de la Calle is the rare Spanish chef content to trade in his tortilla española for more creative gastronomical adventures. It’s not that he doesn't love those traditional dishes. He was born near Madrid—of course they’re in his DNA. But for the past decade or so, De la Calle’s blood has run green. This is a man who loves his vegetables more than any croquette or jamón ibérico.