Whichever channel the viewer chooses, it's almost impossible not to see someone on screen wielding a knife and chopping vegetables. This is more likely on TV3 than on any other channel. La 2 Cat, in its efforts to appear more or less a traditional television channel, has added a well-intentioned cooking show to its schedule, but it's so poorly made it's almost painful to watch. The program is titled... Brutal cuisineThis already demonstrates a lack of imagination on the part of the network, appropriating Marc Ribas's quintessential adjective from TV3. A symptom of a lack of its own personality that doesn't bode well for the network's pretensions. "Brutal" is part of this trend towards impoverished language, towards impact devoid of content. "Brutal" has become the cliché of false expectations.

As if a new year had just begun, the return to school also brings new challenges and desires for the upcoming course, such as eating well, healthily, with energy-filled meals that are quick to prepare. It is already part of the mainstream food, but it's worth remembering that commercial cereals, generally full of added sugars or, lately, sweeteners of all kinds, are the worst option for a healthy diet, and at least for everyday use. A good breakfast should include dairy products, whole grains, fruit, and healthy fats, or, in other words: milk, yogurt, fresh cheese, toast, oatmeal, seasonal fruit, seeds, avocado, and olive oil, among others. On the other hand, it's important to remember that childhood obesity is an increasingly widespread phenomenon and that, according to data released a few days ago by researcher Isabel María Blancas of the Reina Sofía University Hospital in Córdoba, half of children between the ages of 6 and 16 are obese and overweight, which means that in real life. That's why it's very useful to have a series of recipes on hand.

Raores have been back in the kitchens since September 1st, when the fishing ban in the Balearic Islands, which began on March 31st, was lifted. "In other years, fishing was allowed in August, but scientists found that was when they reproduced the most and so they extended their protection," says marine biologist Anna Bozzano. In the kitchens, chefs like Carme Ruscalleda maintain that they are a very beautiful and very gastronomic fish, "especially if fried," she comments.

Gazpacho and salads have become the hallmarks of summer, culinary-wise, and are often even bought pre-made. However, traditional Catalan summer cuisine is much richer and offers its own unique refreshing recipes. Despite the heat, it also incorporates more elaborate, even sweat-inducing dishes that take advantage of the wide variety of fruits and vegetables now available in the Mediterranean countryside. With the increasing globalization of gastronomy, the culinary traditions derived from them are at risk of being forgotten.

When the water is piping hot, add three handfuls of thyme (called timonetes in Pallars). On a plate, add the thinly sliced bread, a raw egg, oil, salt, and pepper. After the plant has been boiling for three minutes, add the water, cover, and let it sit for a while before serving. This is the traditional recipe for timonetes soup from Pallars. It seems to hold no secrets.

For years we have been resigned to the slowness of the recipes of the Kitchens of the after-dinner meal. The soundtrack of the country's siestas is the sound of the 3Cat knife chopping up the onion or any other vegetable that they can't have ready. On top of that, twice as much. First the more elaborate recipe, normally with plenty of butter to give the country's public health system work to do, and the second, in a flash, simpler and, from time to time, with dubious results.