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The Wild Asparagus Hunters are Out and About

It´s that time of year. Cars parked in odd places, the solitary person - usually a man, popping up above a bank or from behind an olive tree. The hunters of the wild aparagus are here. The plentiful rain scattered with a day or two of sunshine has brought them out in droves. Some have their route, others instinctively know where to go. They appear, walking back to their cars, with a huge bundle of foot long green spears of asparagus. And off they go, probably not to be seen for another year - or another week if the rain continues. No matter how hard the shoots try and hide the older men hunt them down with stick in hand, to fob off the spiky old growth, and uncover the tender new stems of wild asparagus. Everyone has their favourite way of cooking them but the most common seems to be in a Tortilla - the thick Spanish potato omelette to which you can add anything that comes to hand - or is hunted down. My one or two shorter stem finds don´t come close to the experienced hunters catch. I...

The Food of Spain - Review

The Food of Spain a Journey for Food Lovers published by Murdoch Books

To say this is the biggest and best Spanish cookbook on my shelf is only partially right. It is certainly the biggest and one of the best, probably coming in a close secondplace, but right now it´s certainly my favourite.

It´s large bright format packed with pics certainly sells the recipe and Spain well. The plethora of photos is great, ranging from Spanish sights to instructional how-to ones. There is also plenty of information, history and insight into Spanish gastronomy.

The recipes range from tapas to humble stodgy potajes, from the divine – Vieiras en Salsa de Cava, Scallops in a Cava Sauce to the not so acceptable on my table Callos conGarbanzos, Tripe with Chickpeas.

Even the non-cook willdelight in its pages. It´s a Spanish lesson in food terms, as all the recipes have a Spanish and English title and very informative on the different areas and differences in cooking techniques.

My sampling for tonight is the Bacalao al Ajo Arriero translated as Bacalao (salt cod as I´m sure you know) with Red Capsicum. Watch out for the verdict, if it´s anything as good as the photo it will be fabulous.


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