Calle Ponzano, Still The Epicenter Of Cool

What’s happening on Calle de Ponzano Calle Ponzano continues to evolve since the end of the pandemic with several changes to the street, which is currently being upgraded. The city is widening the sidewalks, eliminating street parking and we would assume that the street will be one-way traffic only. We recently had lunch at Sala…

In The Heart Of Cider Country

Cider Season In The Basque Country – A Visit To An Authentic Basque Cider House The vast majority of authentic Basque cider houses, Sidrerías, or sargardotegiak in Basque, are located in Gipúzkoa (156), with the largest concentration being in the village of Astigarraga, just outside of San Sebastián. In addition, there are 52 cider houses…

Lunch in Almagro

Cervecería El Santo We stopped by this small traditional bar-restaurant in the Almagro neighborhood at a Calle de Fernando El Santo, 4, not far from our hotel for an excellent, inexpensive lunch. We had discovered it during a trip earlier in the year and were delighted at it’s quality. There are only a few tables, so…

Dining in Asturias

Get Ready For A Gastronomic Adventure We had a fabulous lunch at Restaurante Güeyu Mar, Playa de Vega (Ribadesella) back in September with our friend Gabriella of Tenedor Tours who drove over from San Sebastián-Donostia just for this feast. Regional Dishes Here are a few of the regional dishes you’ll find in Asturias Seafood Dishes…

Mercado Chamartin

The markets, mercados, in Madrid are some of the best in the country and where you can find everything from your daily grocery needs to top gourmet items, shoe repair, laundry and gourmet dining options. Located in the northern business district of Chamartin, in the Hispanoamérica neighborhood, at the corner of Calle Bolivia and Potosí,…

Grazing on Ultra Hip Calle Ponzano

Something is most definitely brewing on the lower (southern) blocks of Calle Ponzano in the Chamberí district, the epicenter of cool and Madrid’s latest trend as it’s become a food Mecca for Madrid hipsters, where chic bars/restaurants sprouted up in 2015 at a vertiginous rate.  Some may be here today and gone tomorrow, but certainly…

A Visit To Pasajes (Pasaia Donibane)

If you have the time on the drive between San Sebastián and Hondarribia, pay a visit to the picturesque fishing village of Pasajes de San Juan, also known as Pasaia Donibane in Basque.  You can even reach it by a one-minute ferry ride on the Itxas Zerbi water taxi from Pasajes San Pedro, on the…

Dining Well In Sevilla – Part 1

Gourmet Dining in Sevilla Dining options in Sevilla have certainly changed over the past 15 years when the majority of places only offered the traditional dishes; pescaíto frito (fried fish), jamon, coquinas (little clams, exquisite), gambas al ajillo (prawns sizzled in garlicky chili oil), arroz con mariscos (rice with seafood), chipirones a la plancha (grilled…

The Medieval Villages of Catalunya

Two Atmospheric Medieval Villages (Barcelona) While spending a few days relaxing in the tranquil setting of the Parador Vic-Sau, we were able to explore some of the surrounding countryside and came across the charming and virtually isolated stone village of Tavertet.  This small retreat at the end of the road is filled with weekend homes…

The 12 Days of Christmas in Catalunya

El Dia de los Tres Reyes Magos The weather in the Catalan Pyrenees is not always the best for skiing in late December/early January, but even without the snow it doesn’t dampen the spirit of the 12 days of Christmas as celebrated throughout the region.  The festivities begin on December 24th, Christmas Eve, with the…