Thirst for travel

Photos: Passport & Plate - Lentejas con chorizo

redheaded_spaniard — Fri, 7 Mar 2014 21:47:00 GMT

Ingredients
The basic ingredients are: lentils, garlic, chorizo(optional), bay leaves, potatoes, onions, carrots, green peppers, paprika, salt, olive oil and water or broth. Anyone can do this anywhere in the world.This dish is open to different versions and customizations. Make it your own adding/taking out more veggies or meats.

How to prepare this recipe
Maybe this is not one of the most glamourous dish (or famous one) but in Spain it is an institution that you can find in every household table or working class restaurant. It is one those warm-up-your cockels kind of dish. Usually made by mothers or grandmothers through decades. With different variations depending on what was available at the time. During the civil war it probably didn't contain chorizo or peppers (luxury goods for the post war Spaniards too).

We start by cleaning a bit the lentils with water and placing them in a pot with the chorizo (whole), two cloves of garlic (not peeled), a bay leaf and the peeled and chopped potatoes. Cover with water or broth and take it to boil. When it is boiling turn the heat down and let it cook for about 20 to 30 minutes. If you see there isn't enough water you can add some more.

In the meantime chop the onions, carrots (peeled) and green peppers. Pour some olive oil over a pan and heat it without burning it. Add the onions, some salt and stir a few minutes. Turn the heat down a bit if you see they are getting brown. Then add the carrots and the peppers and stir well. Add salt and simmer them over medium heat until they are done. Then add a teaspoon of paprika and remove the pan from the heat.

Once your lentils are half done add the stir fried veggies with the paprika and mix well. Taste it and add more salt and pepper if needed. Finish cooking the lentils 5 to 10 more minutes or until they are soft.

Cut the chorizo in individual pieces and serve the soup in a bowl with a piece of chorizo per person. Be careful to take out the garlic cloves and the bay leaf.

The story behind this recipe
There is nothing extraordinary about it but its simplicity is what makes it really special and accesible to all tastes. For me what makes it special is that it was my grandmother's recipe. My grandmother devoted her life to take care of her husband and son (my father). She grew up during the civil war in a remote little village in the Pyrenees mountains and she was lucky to have a well off family. However when the war stroke, her family suffered the shortages like everybody else. Maybe that is what conditioned her cooking style and repertory. There wasn't much to offer and to cook with, so she had to do miracles. My grandmother's cooking was simple and not very varied but I remember her dishes affectionately and eating them made me feel in a safe place. That is what I think it can be communicated through this dish: tradition, love, warmth, security and comfort.

I grew up in a house where food was the center of it all. My mother is a qualified chef and learnt a great deal of recipes, quite sofisticated and varied, through the years. At home food was so good and surprising I was never bored of it.

However when I was little, going to spend the weekend to my grandmother's house and enjoying her simple cooking was a delight. I loved the fact that she always pampered and spoilt me with my favorite meals and I remember these lentils with so much love. I managed to get the recipe from her a few years before she died. The recipe has always been like my refuge when I needed comfort and warmth.

I have never given it away before. However after many years doing different jobs that didn't make me very happy I have started to study culinary school and in 2 years I will be a qualified chef. It is my duty as an aspiring chef, to share this recipe with all the world, so anybody can find comfort in this soup like I do. I couldn't be happier if I get chosen to go to Italy and interact with other professionals so I can learn what makes them loving this profession as much as I do.

5 Must Do Things in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

redheaded_spaniard — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 19:22:00 GMT

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria might not be your usual destination on a trip to Spain (unless you are the sun and fun type of tourist coming on a vacation package) but the city and its surroundings are a hidden gem. I spent my teenage years living here and let me tell you I couldn’t have grown up in a better place:

The weather is fine all year around. You can sunbather and swim even in the winter.

Never gets too hot or too cold. It’s like an eternal spring.

The pace of life is laid back and relax. People are very warm and welcoming.

In one island you can pack all kind of adventures. From magnificent dunes to 2,000 Mts. high volcanic mountains.

Forget about the misconception that Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is a very touristic place, that will be the south part of the island where all the tourist oriented places are located. Las Palmas is just a medium size town with lots to offer so here are the 5 Must Do things if you decide to come visit:

Splash and play at Las Canteras Beach

It must be one of the best city beaches in Spain. An unknown for the tourist crowd, this beach is mostly used by locals. During the winter days the weather is fantastic and the beach is almost empty. It has all the services (hammocks hire, drinks sellers, lifeguards) and a beautiful promenade full of bars and restaurants where you can jog, eat al fresco, enjoy the view and the sea breeze or even listen to live music.

Surf’s up!

nother city beach is La Cicer where all the surfers go. In this area you have all the amenities you have in Las Canteras but the sea current is a bit strong. There are several surf schools and shops where you can hire your equipment or get a one-on-one lesson and learn how to ride those waves. This beach is also less crowded and more laid back so you can play football (soccer) on the beach with your friends or other sports. On the promenade area there are also plenty of eating options.

Cultural sites

Although at first the city does not seem very pretty there is a old town area worth visiting: Vegueta. In here you will find the city’s cathedral (built in the 18 hundreds) and plenty of old colonial buildings. Get lost in the cobble stoned streets and enjoy the calmness of the neighborhood. There are also a few museums such as Museo Canario (history and pre-history of the island museum), Casa de Colon (where Christopher Columbus stopped over on his way to America) and the modern art museum (CAAM). Besides the area has a great culinary offer for those wanting to do a tapas stopover.

Visit a volcano crater

The Caldera de Bandama is located at the meeting point of three municipalities: >Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Brígida and Telde. There is a hiking path you can follow to the bottom or if you feel lazy drive a car to the top of Bandama’s peak where you can have breathtaking views of the whole crater. Being a volcanic island Gran Canaria is full of geological wonders but this one is the closest to the city.

Try the local cuisine

Papas con mojo, ropa vieja, cherne, bienmesabe, etc...are just a few of the local dishes that the Canaries offer. Las Palmas has plenty of places where to taste this local delicacies. Most famous dish is Papas con Mojo, small boiled potatoes with their skin and served with a spicy red sauce. It is just delicious. Other foods not to miss are all the species of local fishes, cheeses and the fruits. Platano (a type of banana) is grown all over the island and it is very famous for its sweet rich taste.

There are plenty more things to do in Las Palmas and in the island of Gran Canaria but these 5 are a must do. My advice however is that you get here and explore, you will be amazed at the wonders the island has to offer.

Best and Worst of Spain

redheaded_spaniard — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:41:00 GMT

Spain is different as some old slogan used to say and it is right! There must be indeed something different here when so many people choose to visit us. This is a destination you must come to at least once in your life since it won’t disappoint you. I will try to be as objective as I can in this post but as the loving patriot I am, it will be hard to say what are the worst things. Let’s start with the best things:

Best Food and wine

One thing I know about is food. My mum is a chef and I have had the opportunity at home and on my travels to try many different kinds of cuisines. I personally love Asian food but Spanish food is just amazing. We have such a variety of dishes. Spain is not only Paella. The good thing about Spanish food is that you can take any ingredient (meat or fish for example) and every city, village and region in Spain will have hundreds of different recipes for it. Each tastier than the next one. Not to mention the Tapas of course! Come with a big appetite and you will surprise your tastebuds.

Yes French, Italian, Australian and other nationalities do very good wine. However the amount of varieties and the ratio price-quality I think is unbeatable in Spain. For about 4 euros a bottle you can have an amazing wine here. Besides the prizes and reputation of some of our grapes are worldwide famous and have received many prizes: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, etc.

Best party scene

No argument here. We know how to party and throw a good one. From summer town parties all over our geography to simply any weekend night out. It doesn’t matter if you are in cities or smaller towns, you will always find people out eating, drinking, dancing and socializing. We just love it and yes we are experts on stretching the hours of a day so we can fit in work and play. We work to live, not the opposite. A place like Ibiza, just to mention one, could only exist in Spain.

Best sportsmen

Ok, so we may not get as many gold medals as the Chinese or the American sportsmen and women get but guess who has outstanding sportsmen in the major sports? Yes we do. We have a football world champion team, a two times F1 world champion, a several Roland Garros and Wimbledon winner, one time Basketball world champion team, several motorbike world champions and many more. Moreover going to a football match or any other sporting event in Spain is a party in itself.

Best shopping

Did you know that Zara and its whole emporium is from Spain? The owner is from Galicia and of course he is probably the richest man in Spain. Spaniards don’t care so much about luxury brands (leave that to Italians) but we like to dress nicely without spending a fortune. Therefore we have hundreds of great shops and boutiques where shop till you drop and your credit card will not disintegrate. Best thing is that most of these shops are chains so you will be able to find them in any town. If you want something more sophisticated and less mainstream then head to New York.

Worst lack of respect

Forget about letting people out of the train first or wait in line in an orderly manner. This is Spain and unfortunately the premise is “I can’t be bothered and I am in a hurry”. politeness is lost and nowadays, especially in big cities, you will find people don’t respect anything: thousands of graffiti, dirt and dog poo can also be a problem.

Worst thieves

We have a plague in some of the biggest cities and touristic spots: pickpockets. Who hasn’t heard the stories of Barcelona’s Ramblas pickpockets? or Madrid’s underground ones? The police does what they can to stop them but they are cleverer that that. Always on the hunt for the naive and lost tourist. Scammers and business trying to rip the tourist off are also the norm. Be careful.

Worst trains’ fares

Our rail network and trains have improved massively in the last few years but unfortunately so the fares have increased. For such a big European country we have many trains but the prices are simply outrageous. We only have 3 high speed train routes and many other with semi high speed ones. Compared to France where they have the best rail network I have ever seen (and cheap) they should be ashamed to charge such an exorbitant amount of money for the tickets. Luckily we have low cost airlines and great buses.

Worst loudness

All the happy times and cheer lifestyle comes with a price: noise. Spanish people are pretty loud and aren’t ashamed of it. Sometimes it looks like it is a competition to see who is loudest. We like our music loud, so don’t be surprised to cross paths with cars that shake from the bass in their sound system. Farmer’s market is another spectacle you don’t want to miss as well as public buses or any public place where there is a crowd. Bring your earplugs if you are sensitive.

DOs and DONTs in Spain

redheaded_spaniard — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 07:51:00 GMT

I always wanted to share my expertise in traveling with people through the web but never had the time or willpower. Lame excuses, I know. However when I saw the Blog your backyard contest I thought: why not?

I am not your usual Spaniard. For starters I have red hair, something not very common here. I have lived in several places around the world such as: London, Paris, New York, Italy...I think for some of them I could write a “Blog your backyard” since I lived there many years. However my home country is Spain and I think I can give some pretty good recommendations to those wanting to discover it.

Don’t come to Spain in a rush

If you are planning to visit the whole Iberian peninsula in 15 days you must be out of your mind. Concentrate in one region and you will really enjoy it and immerse yourself in the culture. Spain is a vast country where you can find hot and wet weather, beaches and mountains, cosmopolitan cities and medieval castles. Decide in advance what you want to get out of your trip and then plan accordingly.

Do go to smaller towns Salamanca's main square

Madrid and Barcelona are both very well and exciting cities but they are in general like any other big city in the world. Over crowded, expensive, touristy, polluted, hectic, full of Mcdonals and Starbucks. Give other cities a chance. Segovia, Avila, Salamanca, Cordoba, Santander, Logroño, Toledo, Palma de Mallorca, etc. They all have great connections with the major cities and they offer not only cultural and architectural wonders but also excellent -cheap places to eat and same shopping experience as any big city.

Don’t come during the summer overcrowded beach in Gran Canaria

Summer season in Spain is high season and apart from the fact that is boiling hot you will have to share all the beautiful places with all the tourists: local and overseas. Not to mention the hike in prices for accommodation and food and the difficulties sometimes in finding lodging and train/plane/bus tickets. August is particularly bad since most businesses are closed for holidays. Another bad point is the children. Schools are closed until September so everywhere you go you will have to share the space with them. Come instead during fall or spring, even winter if you are into winter sports.

Do try to learn some Spanish ahead village old woman

Unfortunately Spaniards are very bad at languages and most people don’t speak or understand a word of English. I’m the exception. If you can learn some phrases or words ahead of your trip it will help enormously. Otherwise take with you a phrasebook or similar. Despite this inconvenience Spanish people are really friendly, specially in small towns and if you are respectful and cheerful they will open their homes and hearts.

Don’t expect vegetarian food in Spain pintxo de foie y huevos con jamon

I cannot stress this one enough! Vegetarians are in for a nasty ride in Spain. This is the country of Jamon and Chorizo, where the pork is king. Don’t get me wrong we have a great choice of vegetables available all year around, thanks to a huge agriculture industry, but we usually cook them as appetizers or side dishes. In major cities the choice is bigger but in any local bar or tasca you will not find tofu. If you still wanna keep your eating habits, bear in mind you will have to stick to salads, dairy products and fruit. Thanks God you always have the wine!

Do come with an open mind papahuevos in Agaete

We are a country full of contrast and cultures. From the northerners with their dry and frank personality to the southerners and their “live life” attitude. We have lots of parties and customs that might seem brutal or strange but that is part of who we are. Come with lots of patience too since sometimes things don’t work precisely here. And more than anything come prepare to party hard!

Ps: sorry about the lack of format in this post. The system does not support my browser and OS. I will try to sort it out soon.

Photos: Blog your backyard

redheaded_spaniard — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 06:48:00 GMT