Spanish foods for entertaining or giving

Sol Farmers is an Ottawa based Spanish food import business located on Walkley Road in the Holly Lane industrial park.

It carries a range of Spanish sweets and savouries including their own Don José line of sausage made from Spanish pork but cured and processed in Montreal. 

Although they share a last name and arrived in Ottawa in the same year, owners Alvaro Gonzalez and David Gonzalez are not related. 

Alvaro moved to Ottawa in 2014 when his wife took a job at an Ottawa hospital. He worked selling clothes at Hudson's Bay and after meeting David, he decided he would put his BA in business administration to work. It would be an ideal marriage of interests as David had been operating an import-export business in Spain.

Their product range is broad and represents some of the finest foods Spain has to offer: Unique tinned seafood such as barnacles, razor clams, sea urchin, baby eels and cockles from Conservas de Cambados. Premium Serrano and Iberico salchichon and hams from Redondo Iglesias and Senorio de Montanera.

Then there is a selection of snacks and sweets such as Iberico ham flavoured chips and a range of nougats, all fine choices for holiday entertaining and gift giving. 

One great option is the ever popular Marcona almond which seems designed for over-eating. How do you stop? 

I do need to leave you with a selection that I can’t recommend highly enough and that is the La Celestina rosemary goat cheese. The flavour is superb and deep and ranks as one of the top flavour experiences of 2023. So very memorable.

They have a very easy to use website and if you’re picking up from their warehouse, you’ll get to meet these generous souls in person. The service is first rate.

Sol Farmers products are also available at La Bottega, Bienvenidos and used by Beckta and Whalesbone group restaurants.