Currently Browsing: Caroline J. Beck 223 articles
Forget About Churros, We’ve Got Panettone
Churros and hot chocolate are a year-round Spanish classic in some parts of the country. But during the holidays we discovered it’s important to be flexible. That means letting go of the need to dip a deep-fried churros into a cup of dark chocolate thick enough to stand a spoon in; and make the switch […]
The Ending’s No Big Surprise and yet…
In many towns, sometime during the year a parade is held to commemorate the Reconquista, or the roughly 800-year battle between Christians and Moors. Many parades take on epic proportions of music, costumes, pageantry and religious tradition when the streets are lined with hours-long processions of performers, musicians, the official royalty of fiesta queens and […]
17 Bartender Tips To Make The Perfect Gin And Tonic
If you want to order a gin and tonic in Spain, first drop the “and” from the drink’s name (it’s known simply as a “gin tonic”) and then be prepared to answer two serious questions from the barkeep. First, what gin? Any respectable bar will have 10 to 50 bottles, or more, in stock. Second, […]
Who Cares If You Can’t Eat Just One?
Spain is a country loved by culinary cognoscente for its extraordinarily diverse range of classics and creativity. But in every restaurant and every casa, there remains one constant ingredient: olive oil. Core to the much-acclaimed Mediterranean diet, its use is so prevalent that olive oil’s healthy values seep into everything. But it was still a […]
Saffron: A Spanish Kitchen’s BFF
Of all the influences on Spain’s iconic culinary style, it was the Arab impact of bringing the spice azafrán or saffron known as “red gold” to the Spanish table that infuses Spanish cooking with its classic deep yellow color and slightly musky, rich taste. But for many American cooks like myself, saffron is still surrounded in a bit […]
Mariscada Boston-Style
It is just before Thanksgiving in Alicante and time for Monastrell’s annual Boston-style lobster and clam bake. Well maybe it’s more appropriate to call it Michelin chef María José San Román’s Boston clam bake. Either way, it was an event not to be missed had Jorge not come down with a major cold bug that […]
Señorios de Relleu Harvest Celebration
In the hills above the small town of Relleu, Señorios de Relleu is a family farm dedicated to AOVE (Aceite de Oliva Virgen EXTRA) olive oil production. With only 15,000 trees, it is not the biggest operation in the area, nor even the most award-winning olive oil in Spain. But the production of three blended styles from […]
Crazy, Combustible Fogueres
We got lucky today. The door to a little museum that I thought was closed for the season appeared open when walking around downtown Alicante. We stepped inside and found a crazy, amazing collection of figures, photos, posters and memorabilia from the late 1800s to the present day. The Museu de Fogueres is devoted entirely […]
Standing Sentry at the Castillo
Castillo de Santa Barbara has stood guard over the city of Alicante since its first incarnation around 900 AD. Over time, it has traded hands between the Romans, the Moors, the French and the British, but it could only truly belong to Spain. While we see the castle every night from our balcony, it required […]
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride Through Southern Spain’s Countryside
There is an amusement park ride in Spain filled with roller coaster heights, hair-pin twists and turns, expansive views and dramatic moments. It is the local bus from Alicante to the UNESCO World Heritage renaissance cities of Ubeda and Baeza. For a mere 26 euros, you are treated to a seven-hour wild ride that trips […]
