Robert M. Parker Jr. The Wine Advocate…a very responsible blog…catavino.net…[it's] refreshing to see such professionalism.
I was at a tasting a few days ago in Porto where the presenter pointed out at the beginning of their talk that they wanted to focus on “value wines”. However, he then continued by saying that, with regret, while that was the goal, he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. He felt that […] Continue Reading →
Portugal is brimming with history, tradition and an abundance of natural resources, mainly of the edible variety! I’ve lost count of the number of nut, cork and olive trees; the vast amount of grapevines and vegetable gardens capable of growing in every nook and cranny; clear rivers and streams teeming with life and herds of […] Continue Reading →
The night before I drove down to New Jersey to unite with my mother, aunt, cousin and niece to make “chourico” (Portuguese smoked sausage), “O Lenço da Carolina” by Fado singer Cristina Branco came on via Portuguese satellite TV. Though it’s a song about a person in love, all I could think about (as tears […] Continue Reading →
Welcome to Catavino’s Gourmet Guide to Porto by guest writer Kathryn McWhirter, co-author ‘The Wine & Food Lover’s Guide to Porto’, which is due out (as book and ebook on Amazon) in summer 2013 OVERVIEW – TWIXT OCEAN AND MOUNTAINS Atlantic to the west, rivers to the north, mountains to the east: Porto is spectacularly […] Continue Reading →
The allure of Mallorca lies in images of escaping the hectic mainland life and living an island dream (if only for just a few days) and walking carefree on the beach of the Mediterranean while the sand crumbles softly beneath your toes. But then you head to a local restaurant for the freshest seafood the […] Continue Reading →
Editor’s Note: Loosely based on my parent’s honeymoon back in 1969, I couldn’t resist adding a modern spin for the holiday. It’s Valentine’s Day in Madrid, and you’ve got everything for that day completely set. You’re not like those other guys who think a bouquet of roses and the whisperings of a few sweet nothings […] Continue Reading →
This past Friday, I found my way down to the “Riberia” area of Porto, or rather the historic “Porto side” of the river, where a small group of both established and budding new wine makers assembled to pour their wines at “Simplesmente Vinho”. Dubbed as the first “off” event in Portugal for wine, it begged […] Continue Reading →
It’s safe to say that “Caldo Verde” (Kale Soup) is likely the most famous of Portuguese soups. Its garlicky puree and toothy kale, finished with “Chourico” (smoked sausage), is a delight. But despite the popularity and ubiquity of Caldo Verde, the three Portuguese soups that are dearest to my heart and ideal meals for the […] Continue Reading →
Tempranillo is by far not the most grown grape in California and Oregon, but with a few dedicated producers it will at least be noticed. Let’s celebrate Tempranillo Day on November 8th for those dedicated few who have taken the time and energy to create something amazing from this little “foreign” grape. It is an […] Continue Reading →
In summer, there are many reasons to seek mental comfort on this side of the Atlantic. Summer is a season traditionally associated to taking it easy and thinking lightly, or not at all, and Spain is no better location for such activities. On the other hand, we are acutely aware that Europe is heavy with a sense […] Continue Reading →
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