This Valentine’s Day, The Iberian Table Serves Romance, Longevity, and the Joy of Cooking Together
Author Robin Keuneke’s celebrated book offers the perfect Valentine’s gift — and inspiration for unforgettable Spanish-style meals made with love.
This Valentine’s Day, couples are invited to skip the clichés and embrace something deeper: time together, nourishing food, and the romance of a shared table. The Iberian Table: Healthy Cooking Secrets from the Land of Longevity – Introduction to the Spanish Mediterranean Diet (Kirkus Starred Review) is more than a cookbook — it’s a heartfelt love letter to Spain, to vitality, and to the enduring connection between food, culture, and the people we love.
Perfect as a Valentine’s gift or as inspiration for a home-cooked celebration, The Iberian Table offers elegant yet accessible ideas for intimate meals rooted in Spain’s Mediterranean traditions — dishes meant to be shared slowly, savored together, and enjoyed well beyond February 14.
Recent global attention on Spain’s remarkable longevity makes the book especially timely. When researchers studying María Branyas Morera, who passed away in 2024 at age 117 as the world’s oldest living person, revealed that her extraordinary lifespan was shaped by genetics and lifestyle, they highlighted daily habits centered on simple, nourishing foods and a Mediterranean way of life. Among them: yogurt, fresh produce, olive oil, and communal meals.
That research mirrors the central philosophy of The Iberian Table, written by author, fine artist, and health advocate Robin Keuneke — the first and only book dedicated exclusively to the Spanish Mediterranean diet.
“The Iberian Table is ultimately about love,” said Keuneke. “Love of food, love of culture, love of community — and love for the people you gather around the table. Cooking and eating together is one of the most intimate acts we share, and Spain understands that beautifully.”
Blending culinary history, modern health science, original recipes, and storytelling, The Iberian Table celebrates a culture where meals are not rushed, ingredients are respected, and connection is essential. Spain consistently ranks among the world’s healthiest countries, with diet playing a central role — a fact reaffirmed by CNN in 2025 and long reflected in Spanish daily life.
Already named Amazon’s #1 Hot New Release in Spanish Wine and Food, the book has become a go-to guide for readers seeking both better health and a more joyful relationship with food. From olive-oil-rich dishes and legume-based meals to probiotic-forward staples like yogurt, Keuneke shows how longevity-supporting foods can also be deeply sensual, comforting, and celebratory — ideal for a romantic night in.
With Valentine’s Day approaching, The Iberian Table offers couples a meaningful alternative to crowded restaurants: create a Spanish-inspired meal at home, pour a glass of wine, linger at the table, and reconnect — just as generations have done across Spain for centuries.
