You know that ever-so-frequent moment when your mind starts drifts to a tropical island filled with swaying palm trees, soaring cliffs and vine covered mountains? That place where you conjure up an afternoon of gratuitous lounging, filled with copious amounts of wine and food while listening to soft island tunes in the background? […]
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RSS feed for this sectionBook Review – Madeira: The Islands and their Wines
Richard Mayson’s newest book, Madeira: The Islands and their Wines, is exactly what I needed. Let me explain. I’d just become a part-time wine student, and went to class one evening a week, initially just to get a bit of variety from life at my full-time day job. I was […]
Top 8 Tips to Enjoying the Beach in Spain and Portugal
Every culture has their way of celebrating summer, but the Iberians are full on experts at maximizing your beach lounging experience. From serene rocky shores filled with marine life to vivacious sandy beaches sporting live entertainment, swanky restaurants and topless women, there’s surely a beach that fits your style! But no […]
How to Find the Best Spanish Brandy
“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 […]
Five Small Towns in Spain Every Foodie Needs to Visit!
Your visit to Spain need not take on the predictable pace of one city on Tuesday, then bolting to a new city on Wednesday, with one too many museums (and perhaps a little party island hastily thrown in at the end to catch a quick sunburn) before jetting back to […]
The Essential Travelers Guide to Ordering Fish in Spain
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 in tact. Large shiny […]
Women’s History Month: Exploring the Maternal Side of Winemaking
Editor’s note: With the March being recognized for stories about inspiring women (also known as Women’s History Month in the USA), we thought it would be fitting to honor the only female master blender existing today, Ana Rosas, of the renowned Ramos-Pinto port house. A woman that oozes with, grace, […]
Cabrito Estonado: The Easter Recipe Hidden in the Portuguese Mountains
Growing up, Portuguese kid stew was as ordinary to me as beef stew was to my American friends. Whenever there were mentions of “cabrito,” my smile lit up! Around this time of year, my younger self would be jumping for joy around my mother’s kitchen, since this was often the […]
How the Moors Influenced Spanish Cuisine
With every bite of their Sunday paella, Spanish families—whether they realize it or not–are paying homage to the old Moorish kingdom of Al-Ándalus, one of the greatest civilizations that Iberia has ever known. How did this relationship evolve? It began in the year 711 C.E, when the Moors soundly defeated […]
6 Extreme Foods of Northern Portugal – For Foodie Adventurers
Don’t let the bucolic fields of pink and white almond blossoms, abundant fruit orchards and twisty vineyards fool you, there’s a gory, bloody side to Northern Portugal. Here is where you’ll find extreme snout to tail eating, where winter pig slaughters are a time for families to bond, to roll […]
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