Sabor de Espana - The Flavor of Spain

A few of my favorite bites gathered from my year abroad in Barcelona...

 

Estrella Damm Beer - this beer is served in all Catalan bars and has been brewed in Barcelona since 1876 http://www.estrelladamm.com/

http://www.bevmo.com/Shop/ProductDetail.aspx?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=froogle&ProductID=24789

 

Serpis - Anchoa olives - you will find these in every single bar in Spain. They are the perfect accompaniment to cerveza and vino

http://www.serpis.com/english/productos_aceitunas_anchoa_mrellenas.html

 

Manchego Cheese - sheeps milk cheese made in the La Mancha region of Spain from the Manchega breed of Sheep http://www.cheesefromspain.com/CFS/1505Manchego_I.htmhttp://www.deandeluca.com/cheese/manchego-and-membrillo.aspx?ref_code=GoogleMerchant

 

Membrillo - a sweet spread that goes perfect with cheese or on toast in the morning and is usually made with QuinceHere is a recipe you can make at home

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/membrillo_quince_paste/

or if you just feel like buying some...

http://www.gourmet-food.com/gourmet-food/membrillo-quince-paste-102205.aspx

 

Iberico or Jamon Iberico de Bellota - this is the most amazing cured ham you will ever taste.This is considered a delicacy especially in the US where it is mostly illegal to import. I would almost say this is the Spanish version of Italian prosciutto just so you get the idea of what it looks and tastes like except Jamon is a million times better and therefore expensive to buy but worth it http://www.jamon.com/iberico.htmlhttp://www.tienda.com/

 

Atun - also called Bonito del Norte. In Spain most of the tuna comes packaged in olive oil which is usually served by itself on fresh baked bread and is now what I prefer over regular tuna in water

http://www.amazon.com/Bonito-Del-Norte-White-Olive/dp/B000EFIJSQhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonito

Piquillo Peppers filled with Goat Cheese

http://www.marthastewart.com/338102/stuffed-piquillo-peppers-with-goat-chees

 

Spanish Chorizo

http://www.igourmet.com/shoppe/prodview.aspx?prod=300&src=froogle

 

Spanish Tortilla with Eggs and Potatoes

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tylers-ultimate/spanish-tortilla-recipe/index.html

 

Thick Hot Chocolate and Churros

http://www.amazon.com/Valor-Taza-Thick-Hot-Chocolate/dp/B001KYLJ6E http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/churros-with-chocolate-recipe/index.html

 

A Day at The Ferry Building Marketplace SF

In the morning... 

Grab some coffee at Blue Bottle - currently considered the best coffee in SF maybe the world
http://www.bluebottlecoffee.net/
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/blue_bottle_coffee_shop.php

Gather items around Ferry Plaza for picnic brunch outside with views of the Bay and Treasure Island

Stop by the Cowgirl Creamery store and grab some cheese
http://www.cowgirlcreamerysidekick.com/

Go to BeeKind store and grab some honey to go with the cheese
http://www.beekind.com/

Then grab some warm fresh bread from Acme Bread Co. -
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/acme_bread_company.php

And finally pick up some fresh figs or strawberries at Farm Fresh as a perfect sweet compliment to the cheese -
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/farm_fresh.php

After your picnic explore the bay views and watch the boats go by while walking along the Embarcadero or go across the street to the Arts Pavilion and peruse the crafts from local artists.

In the Afternoon... 

Stop by Hog Island Oyster Company at the Ferry Building and sample the most amazing local oysters
http://www.hogislandoysters.com/
...dont forget to enjoy with a glass of sparkling wine

Then go by Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant to do some wine tasting and pick up a bottle or two for later
http://www.fpwm.com/

And dont forget to grab something sweet on the way out from Miette Cakes -
http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/miette.php

At night...Romantic Dinner 

Go to a romantic dinner at Incanto run by Chef Chris Consentino
http://incanto.biz/http://www.yelp.com/biz/incanto-san-francisco

The perfect way to end the day...an after dinner cocktail with the best city views, music and maybe dancing at Top of the Mark -
http://www.intercontinentalmarkhopkins.com/top_of_the_mark/

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Dining and Dives in The Windy City...Chicago

Where oh where to go in Chicago.... 

 SEEING... 

 Top of the Willis Tower formerly known as the Sears Tower tallest building in the US. Go all the way to the top Skydeck

http://www.willistower.com/http://www.theskydeck.com/ 

 Of course go see the Chicago Bean called Cloud Gate by artist Anish Kapoor 2004 in Millenium Parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_Gate 

then walk around the park and see other artist installations from around the world 

The Crown Fountain is amazing by Catalan (Spanish) artist Jaume Piensahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Fountain 

Here is a map of the park to pick where you want to go

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Pritzker_Pavilion

The most important thing to do in Chicago is a boat architecture tour as Chicago is home to works by some of the most talented architects in the world. 

There are several you can choose from but I prefer Wendella Sights because of its cash bar and because it also gives you a tour of the lake with the most amazing views of Chicago city line for photos 90minhttp://www.wendellaboats.com/experience/lakeandrivertour.aspx 

Chicago Beer tour is a MUST from Chicago Beer Experience 3 hours of local brews with a like-minded grouphttp://www.chicagobeerexperience.com/index.html 

Maybe a food tour but if you trust me I can tell you where to eat below otherwise Chicago Food Planet has a tourhttp://www.chicagofoodplanet.com/# 

If youve read The Devil in The White City then you know about the serial killer in Chicago during the World Fair. Take the Devil & The City Tour from Weird Chicago Tours or another one of their historical ghost tourshttp://www.weirdchicago.com/ 

 EATING.... 

 Most famous oldest place Portillo's to enjoy a Chicago style hotdog

http://www.portillos.com/portillos/ 

 Best place for Chicago's famous deep dish pizza Lou Malnati's of course

http://www.loumalnatis.com/ 

 You HAVE to go to chef Rick Bayless' Mexican spot Frontera Grill...best mexican anywherehttp://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/grill.html 

 Youve heard of deep fried turkey but have you heard of deep fried lobster!! 

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cocos-famous-deep-fried-lobster-chicago#query:deep%20fried%20turkeyhttp://www.mightysweet.com/mesohungry/2011/12/05/cocos-famous-deep-fried-lobster/ 

 If you feel like a little fine dining at the bar this french place is amazing Avec

http://avecrestaurant.com/ 

 DRINKING...

 Talk about drinking like an Irishman check out the Irish American Heritage Center and at the back you will find an authentic Irish Pub

http://www.irish-american.org/ 

 Go tothe famous B.L.U.E.S Bar in Lincoln park famous for the blues of coursehttp://www.chicagobluesbar.com/ 

 The Green Mill Jazz Club is a historic dive bar where Al Capone was often seen and it was also known as a heroin den in the 1970's which is an interesting fact

http://www.greenmilljazz.com/ 

 The Green Door Tavern was established in 1921 is a perfect old school bar to watch a game inhttp://greendoorchicago.com/ 

 IF YOU FEEL SO INCLINED...IVE HEARD THEY HAVE MUSEUMS TOO :) hahaHAPPY GHOST HUNTING!!

 

 

The Anti-Ski Guide to North Lake Tahoe

* everyone knows where to ski but do you know where to party, play, and pig out...

 

 *Best Sushi place ever....Mamasake in the Squaw village is a musthttp://www.mamasake.com/ 

 

 *Best bar for love music...Dubliner in the squaw villagehttp://www.aulddubliner.com/SV/ 

 

 *Best bars for shuffle board....Sandys Pub at the Resort at Squaw Creek (nice)or Pete n Peters in Tahoe City (fun dive bar always busy on wknds) 

 

 * Wine tasting...Wine Bar at the Village at Squawhttp://www.uncorkedsquaw.com/ 

 

 *Best bar for view/food/people...Sunnyside Bar Restauranthttp://www.sunnysidetahoe.com/or the new one West Shore Cafe and Inn (amazing and my friend works here his name is Connor tell him i say hi. Lots of boats dock here for dinner and drinks)http://www.westshorecafe.com/ 

 

 *Other bars....Chambershttp://www.chamberslandingbarandrestaurant.com/Bridgetender is good too gets crowdedhttp://www.yelp.com/biz/the-bridgetender-tahoe-city 

 

 *Mexican food...Blue Agave in Tahoe Cityhttp://www.tahoeblueagave.com/ 

 

 *Snowshoeing or Cross Country Skiing...The Resort at Squaw Creekthey have a whole shop there with equipment and the trail starts there and goes all the way through the valley. Its gorgeous ive done ithttp://www.squawcreek.com/squaw-valley-group-activities.php 

 

 *Hot tubbing at High Camp....Take the cable car up the mountain to the hot tub and barSquaw Valley. They have parties on the weekends check the calendarhttp://www.squaw.com/things-to-do/high-camp/pool-and-hot-tub 

 

 *Go to the sled park at Boreal...its huge and you can rent tubes and everythinghttp://www.rideboreal.com/winter/rates/playland-tubing 

 

 *Dog Sledding in Squaw Valleynever done this but ive heard its awesomeHours: 10am–5pm daily (weather and conditions permitting)Cost: $45 for children under 60 lbs and $95 for adults and children over 60 lbs. (minimum $120 per sled). Sleds can accommodate two adults and two children (max weight 450 lbs). Reservations are required.Call 530-583-6300 for reservations or more information. 

 

 *Go to Old Truckee...railroad down from the 1800's. 

First hotel in california or something like thathttp://www.downtowntruckee.com/ 

they have Donner Party history too this is where they came throughhttp://truckeehistory.org/history.htm 

Cool old school diner, good places for wine and food, and neat shops to check outOld railroad tracks and homes still there 

 

*Cool dog store at the Village...Squaw Dogs...they let you have dogs in the Village too!!!! 

 

 *Spa time maybe...ive gotten a massage herehttp://www.trilogyspa.com/ 

 

 ok i think thats good for now  

Tahoe lake Tahoe north trucker Tahoe city ski snow shoe dog sled donner ice skate squaw valley