Eva Longoria, the actress, director, producer, and businesswoman well known for her role in the hit show Desperate Housewives, is taking viewers on a personal journey with her new show Searching for Spain. This isn’t just another travel and food series, it’s a deep dive into her roots and her love for Spain.

Born in Texas with Mexican and Spanish heritage, Eva had always felt a connection to Spain. But Searching for Spain gave her the chance to truly explore it. As she travels across the country, tasting iconic dishes and learning about Spanish traditions, she’s also discovering more about herself.

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A Life Between Cultures

Eva’s journey is more than just about food. It’s about finding where she belongs. Despite her Spanish roots, she had never visited some of the regions that her ancestors came from. In one touching episode, she visits the town of Longoria in Asturias, where she meets distant relatives. It’s a special moment that connects her family history to Spain’s culture.

Living part-time in Marbella with her husband José Bastón and their son, Santiago, Eva has settled into Spanish life. She loves the relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle and often shares how much she enjoys the fresh, local food.

A Career of Many Flavors

While Searching for Spain highlights her passion for food, Eva’s career has been just as varied. She’s not only an actress but also a producer, director, businesswoman, and author. Her love for food led her to write a cookbook, where she shares some of her favorite recipes inspired by her Mexican and Spanish roots.

Eva Longoria has written two cookbooks. Her first, Eva’s Kitchen: Cooking with Love for Family and Friends, came out in 2011 and shares 100 of her favorite recipes, inspired by her Texas roots and family traditions. Her second, My Mexican Kitchen: 100 Recipes Rich with Tradition, Flavor, and Spice, was released in 2024 and focuses on classic Mexican dishes, celebrating her heritage. Both books show her love for cooking and her passion for bringing people together through food.

Her interest in food and culture also led to her 2023 show, Searching for Mexico, where she explored the country’s rich culinary traditions. Now, with Searching for Spain, she’s continuing that journey, diving into Spain’s food, culture, and her own roots in Spain.

And she’s not stopping there. Eva recently took on a new challenge, acting in Spanish for the first time. Her new Apple TV+ series, Land of Women (Tierra de Mujeres), tells the story of a woman who flees to a small town in Spain with her mother and daughter. Despite her heritage, Eva had never acted in Spanish before, making this role a big step in her career.

From Pintxos to Jamón: Spain’s Best Bites

In Searching for Spain, Eva visits some of the country’s most iconic food destinations:

• San Sebastián – Tasting pintxos, the famous Basque tapas.
• Barcelona – Enjoying fresh Catalan prawns.
• Madrid – Trying the classic Spanish tortilla.
• Andalusia – Sampling tapas and the world’s most expensive jamón.
• Galicia – Savoring the region’s prized blonde beef.

But it’s not just about the food, it’s about the people who make it. Eva meets some of Spain’s top chefs, like Dabiz Muñoz, the genius behind Madrid’s three-Michelin-starred DiverXO. His bold and creative dishes give Eva a taste of how Spanish food is changing while still keeping its roots.

She also hangs out with Ferran Adrià, a pioneer of modernist cooking, who shows her how classic Spanish dishes can be reinvented in fun and exciting ways. Rafa Zafra, known for his seafood skills, dives into Spain’s rich maritime food traditions with her. In Galicia, Pepe Solla introduces her to the fresh flavors of the northwest, focusing on local ingredients. Back in Madrid, Javi Estévez shows off his unique spin on offal dishes, including his famous fried pig’s head.

In San Sebastián, Eva explores pintxos with local chefs, learning how these tasty little bites reflect the Basque region’s deep food culture. In Barcelona, she strolls through busy markets with chefs who talk about the importance of fresh seafood, like the famous Catalan prawns.

Throughout her journey, Eva sees how Spanish chefs mix tradition with creativity, making dishes that honor the past while bringing something new and exciting to the table.

Where to Watch

Eva Longoria: Searching for Spain premieres on CNN on April 27, 2025. It’s a journey filled with delicious food, personal stories, and beautiful Spanish scenery. Hopefully, it will also become available on a platform where viewers in Spain can enjoy it soon.

And don’t miss Land of Women (Tierra de Mujeres) on Apple TV+, where Eva takes on her first Spanish-speaking role, blending comedy and drama in a story about family and starting over.

With her new shows, cookbook, and love for Spanish culture, Eva Longoria is exploring her roots and sharing her journey with the world, all while making Spain feel like home.

Main image: Shutterstock/taniavolobueva