With a focus on simple, authentic Spanish cuisine, Chef José Pizarro has been at the forefront of bringing both traditional and innovative tapas to London. With three successful restaurants across the city, the author of several Spanish cookbooks, and a regular on-morning television shows, his career has taken him a long way from his farming […]
Chef José Pizarro’s Top Foodie Tips for Spain Read More »
Being single can be a blessing, or a curse, depending on what you’re looking for. Over the years, I’ve found it mostly liberating and occasionally frustrating, like the day you’re nixed from the Valentine’s couples-only discount at the Collisseum, because you’re a lonely party of one. Suddenly you envision an enormous arrow over your head with blinking
Top 10 Reasons Why Madrid is the Best Place to be Single Read More »
Spanish may not be the language of love, but investing the time to pick it up is certainly a labor of love. It is a commitment to learning both the language and the culture where it’s spoken, and while it’s not always easy, it’s nevertheless one of the most rewarding experiences I know. In my
A Foodie’s Guide to Learning Spanish in Spain Read More »
Madrid is not only an incredible city for gastronomy, architecture and music, it’s also a brilliant base for day trips to vineyards! Hard to imagine, right?! But what most people don’t know is that Madrid is just a few hours from stunning country! Simply by jumping on the train or city bus, you can be lounging
Madrid: Which Wineries You Can Visit By Train? Read More »
Apart from his famous phrase “in vino veritas” / “In wine there is truth”, Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder (23 to 79 BC) wrote in his “Natural History” that a woman’s menstruation spoiled wine, turned crops unproductive and fields barren. This phrase gave way to a misconception that was upheld from antiquity well into the
Spain’s Female Winemakers are the Stars of Today’s Spanish Wines Read More »
“Claret is the liquor for boys; port, for men; but he who aspires to be a hero must drink brandy…There are, indeed, few who are able to drink brandy. That is a power rather to be wished for than attained.” – Samuel Jackson Sipping brandy neat—no ice, no mixer—is an acquired taste for most, and like
How to Find the Best Spanish Brandy Read More »
If I knew then what I know now, I would have saved myself a lot of trouble. These are the tips of an expatriate and those of a traveler. They are the words that I utter after every trip gone awry and also after those that went off, mostly, without a hitch. Yet, it’s also
Spanish Nightlife: 10 tips on how to have the most fun Read More »
With more than two thousand years of grape growing and winemaking history, and as the country with the largest planted surface of vineyards in the world, approaching Spanish wines for the first time can be quite intimidating. Different regions, climates, varieties, regulations,… yield different styles that can gratify very divergent palates. Familiarize yourself with the
Spanish Wine 101- A starting point for Spanish Wine Lovers Read More »
Standing in a Spanish pescadería can be intimidating, even to the most acclimated gringo. Unlike in the U.S., where the fish counters are neat and organized, filets in even rows, a Spanish fish market is not for the squeamish. Whole fish are displayed on ice, heads and tails intact. Large shiny eyes stare up at you,
The Essential Travelers Guide to Ordering Fish in Spain Read More »
Last week was pretty special around here, at least for me personally. Ten years ago, I boarded a plane from Minneapolis to Madrid for 1 week, or at least that’s what my plane ticket said. Gabriella had already landed just over a month earlier and was patiently waiting for my arrival so we could start our
10 years on, a look back at my time in Iberia Read More »
Unless you fancy yourself a bit of a sweet talker, convincing a vendor at Barcelona’s world-famous La Boqueria market to sell you just one slice each of six different kinds of jamón isn’t likely to happen. I’ve enjoyed once or twice the feeling of hammy contentment after copping a free (tiny) taste of a top-quality
Jamón Experience: Tasting Spanish ham in Barcelona on a Budget Read More »
The city of Santiago de Compostela is really more of a town than a city. It’s small, yet bustling with university students, locals, tourists, and—of course—road-weary pilgrims soaking up the glory of a long road traveled. The Camino de Santiago is the city’s biggest claim to fame—a Medieval pilgrimage taken for centuries by Christians to
Santiago de Compostela: Food and Wine Mecca! Read More »
Shared between three autonomous communities (Principado de Asturias, Cantabria and Castilla y León), the Picos de Europa mountain range towers above the north-western Spanish seaboard south of the Bay of Biscay. These mighty limestone mountains with steeply jagged peaks, deep cave formations and exuberant alpine forests are home to some of the most captivating blue
Cheese from Picos de Europa: Home of the Spanish Blues Read More »
Throughout Europe, the shortest night of the year is celebrated in wildly diverse ways; but in Portugal and Spain, festivities continue well into the morning’s early light. Soft shadows dance from crackling bonfires and the savory smell of grilled meats, sardines and fresh bread gives a rustic setting that’s highlighted by booming fireworks for the
Grilled Sardines: Delicious Midsummer Fare in Iberia Read More »
What is vermouth? Well, let’s start with what vermouth is not. Vermouth is not solely a supporting role to classic cocktails, nor is it the dry, bitter stuff that languished away in Mom and Dad’s liquor cabinet, only to be drunk in secret by soon-to-be rueful teens when left alone at home for the weekend. Yes, Mom,
Vermouth in Barcelona: The past and present of a delicious aperitivo culture Read More »
