The culinary scene in Basque Country is totally unique and nowhere is that more evident that in San Sebastian. Here are my must-visit picks for doing a tapas crawl, Basque style.
This sangria is is an ode to my last trip to Basque Country aka one of my all-time favorite parts of the world. Because it straddles France and Spain, it has a culture uniquely its own, yet still has feeling that's distinctly Euro. One night we headed into the beachside town of San Sebastián for tapas (more on that later) and we had such proper Sangria I simply had to make a version to share with you.
Barcelona is a powerhouse when it comes to food. From avant garde cooking to tapas, there's a bit of everything. I hadn't been there in years so I was excited to head there for #OffMenu. While there, I met up with food expert Lucy Garcia who showed me some her favorite places.
You've probably noticed that, just as much as my adventures influence my cooking, so do ingredients. And when it comes to one set of ingredients—pulses—I can't help think of how many places I've seen them. Here are a few of our favorite pulses recipes inspired by our travels.
The ultimate souvenir recipe, this recipe is a nod to a restaurant that's not around any longer. When I first graduated from college, I moved back to my hometown of Los Angeles and into an apartment with my older sister. We'd frequent this hole-in-a-wall BYOB tapas place that channeled Spain almost as well as Vicky Christina Barcelona.
If I lived in Barcelona, becoming a regular at Entrepanes Diaz would be a life goal. Every detail at this 50s-style bar is thoughtfully executed as is their food. It's all about bocadillos (Spanish sandwiches) and I've recreated my favorite!
Between the people, food, and culture, San Sebastian is by far one of our favorite places we've ever set foot. Very much Basque but still distinctly Spanish, one of the must dos in this seaside town is a tapas crawl. You'll see foods familiar to tapas in Madrid and Barcelona and other flavors that are 100% Basque. This piquillo pepper is a variation on the tapas bars and we now make it on the regular.
When our Where To Travel Now contributor, Liza De Guia, said she wanted to visit Mallorca this May, we were curious. We've long had Mallorca on our list, but still hadn't made it.
If there's a month when it's a good time to visit pretty much anywhere, it's May. The desert isn't too hot, Europe has started to thaw, and Japan still has some of its cherry blossoms, which explains why this month's contributors have got their bags packed and tickets booked.
Have you been to Southern Spain? If so, you've likely heard of Coca. No, it's not a soft drink but a savory flatbread hailing from Mallorca. We're recent transplants from New York (we moved here to start a private chef business) and it's pretty much our favorite part of Mallorca (aside from the beaches, the people, and the history). At its best, a Coca is a crisp olive oil-dough topped with seasonal vegetables.
Mockingbird Hill is a bar in DC and has unique flairs like pour-over coffee, punk music, and industrial decor. But, the owner, Derek Brown, is a self-proclaimed sherry advocate and has made Mockingbird Hill into a sherry and ham bar. The food is simple but well done and one of my favorites was his twists on the classic tapas bite, Pan Con Tomate.
The first time I tasted a churro, I was in Los Angeles with a friend and we stopped at a street cart selling Mexican food. The churros were amazing: sweet and sticky, crunchy outside and chewy inside. I had two orders and I made my friend take me to the same cart every day for the rest of my time...
Inspired by the classic romesco sauce—roasted peppers, Marcona almonds, paprika, and garlic—this dip’s only problem is how addictive it is. Like any respectable spread, you quickly find yourself (and, let's be honest, I'm speaking from first hand experience here) using it any and everywhere, from...
