Churros - A Popular Spanish Snack Food

On a recent trip to Carmona, I fell in love with Churros! No, churros is no olive-skinned Spanish soccer heartthrob, but the humble breakfast and snack food that is so popular in Spain, Portugal and Latin American countries.

A First Taste of Churros

We arrived at a very shut Carmona market square and were told by our guide that we had twenty minutes to kill. I later find out that there is quite a lot to see in Carmona, and why he chose for us to hang around in an empty square made no sense.

The market stalls have finished their day’s trade, except for a couple of stallholders in the process of shutting down, one being a churros vendor. The stall didn’t look very flash, but with twenty minutes to spare, I decided to give the churros a try. And this was where my churros love affair began.  I liked the churro so much that I had it every morning for breakfast from there on.

Who Invented the Churro?

My instant liking of churros was no coincidence of the taste-bud. The churro is believed to be a derivation of Youzagwei, a Chinese fried dough bread that I’ve had my fair share of when growing up in Asia. According to one theory, the churro was brought to Europe by the Portuguese.  During their travels to the Orient and trade with the Chinese during the Ming Dynasty they brought home with them some of the Oriental recipes.

A Churros Vendor in Carmona

There are of course other theories on the origin of the churro, including one linking its creation to Spanish shepherds.  But we’ll leave this theory for another time, since the Spanish shepherds seem to be credited with the invention of many other Spanish foods.

Varieties of Churros

The various churros-eating countries have developed their own spin of the humble churro such as in Brazil where churro sticks are filled with a thick caramel-like sauce (dulce de leche) or in Uruguay where churros can come with melted cheese. Churros can be shaped straight and stick-like, spiral-shaped or horseshoe-shaped like the ones we had in Carmona. In Spain you can have churros sprinkled with sugar, dipped in chocolate or plain.

Churros are gaining popularity elsewhere in the non-Latin world and churrerías have even begun popping up in various suburbs in London.

To get a flavour of Carmona, see Travelsignposts Carmona photo gallery Here.

Olive Oil Tasting at the Hacienda Merrha

Spain produces some 45 percent of the world’s supply of olive oil, which makes it the largest olive oil producer in the world. So on any holiday in Spain, especially to the Andalucia region, an olive oil tasting tour is an opportunity that’s not to be passed up, especially for those who love this liquid gold.

On our journey from the city of Seville to Carmona we made a detour to the Basilippo Olive Oil Cultural Centre on the estate of the  Hacienda Merrha. Basilippo makes extra virgin olive oil from the arbequina olive, one of the four most important varieties in Spain.

A Tour of the Olive Farm

Before tasting the olive oil, we were taken on a walk amongst some olive trees to learn about the trees on the estate, the soil, the quality of the olives and when the fruits are harvested.

Next we were shown how olive oil was traditionally produced in the past and how it is extracted at the present time by Basilippo.

Tasting Liquid Gold

Whilst olive oil is used regularly in our meals at home, I had never previously attended a proper olive oil tasting.  Like many, I thought we were going to be given some bread to taste the olive oil with, but this was not the case. The olive oil tasting can be likened to wine tasting, but unlike wine, there’s a limit to how much olive oil one can taste.

Olive Oil Tasting at Basilippo Olive Farm

Olive Oil Tasting Process

We were each given two small covered tumblers of Basilippo’s Arbequina Extra Virgin Olive Oil – one that was spicy with hints of tomato, grass and spices and the other a bit sweeter with citrus flavour.

Before tasting the olive oil, we firstly warmed the tumbler in the palm of our hands to get it to about 28ºC (82.4ºF). This was easily done in the heat of the Spanish summer.  We smelled the first tumbler to see if we could pick up the ‘hints of tomato, grass and spices’ and then a quick swig of tumbler to taste the oil.  Some coughing and choking followed as the spiciness of first olive oil caught some people off guard. Next we tasted the sweeter citrusy oil and there was no drama here. Finally, we tasted the spicy olive oil again, but this time with chocolate ice-cream.

I must admit that whilst I like olive oil and love chocolate ice cream, combining the two didn’t do too much for me.  Chocolate ice-cream is rich enough on its own and the chocolate flavour seemed to drown the taste of the olive oil.  To the Spanish however, this seems to be a taste sensation.

Overall, the olive oil tasting was an interesting and educational experience. Whereas in the past I would only look for the colour of the oil and the label to tell me that it is first cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, I now know that there are other qualities to look out for.

Buying Olive Oil

After the olive oil tasting session, you can buy bottles of olive oil and gift sets from the small Basilippo shop. The olive oil is not cheap, about 16 Euros for two 250 ml bottles, but what you are buying is extra virgin olive oils that have won a number of overseas show medals.

To do a guided visit at Basilippo and olive oil tasting, it is recommended that you make a reservation. Meanwhile you can see more photos of olive oil tasting at Travelsignposts photo gallery Here.

Address:

Basilippo
Hacienda Merrha
El Viso del Alcor
Seville
Website:  www.basilippo.com
Tel :  +34 955 740 695

Map of Seville:

Mesón Rincón de la Cava, Madrid

Mesón Rincón de la Cava was the first Madrid restaurant where we had a taste of the famous Madrid tapas. Many of us had just arrived in Madrid, but the mention of tapas and we were very prepared to throw off our jetlag and head out for an evening Madrid city tour, which included a taste of tapas.

Tapas in Madrid

The Mesón Rincón de la Cava is just off Plaza Mayor in Calle Cava de La San Miguel. This obviously is a restaurant area as we saw and passed many restaurants on the way to our tapas rendevous.

Enter the Mesón Rincón de la Cava, and it reminds one of a dungeon, but one that you would feel very comfortable in. The restaurant is made up of small cosy alcoves and it’s a case of finding a seat and settling yourself in.

The interior decoration is traditional and attractive and as we took time to take snaps of the restaurant, others were getting stuck into the tapas. By the time we were ready to eat, all that was left were some olives, tortilla de patata and plenty of pimientos de Padrón. These small green peppers, fried in olive oil and salt are served in many tapas bars, but they were a bit spicey for the group so we scored.

Although we didn’t get to have a good sampling of the tapas at the Mesón Rincón, we like the atmosphere of the restaurant. The visit to Mesón Rincón was not meant to be a meal, but the taste of tapas left us wanting more. Next stop was the Mercado de San Miguel where we had more time to enjoy the pinchos.

See more photos of Mesón Rincón de la Cava at our Madrid photo gallery Here>

Address:
Mesón Rincón de la Cava
Calle Cava de San Miguel, 17
Madrid

Map of Madrid:

Dorado a la Sal

There are hundreds of restaurants in Torremolinos and knowing which one to dine at is a challenge, unless of course if you have a recommendation from someone who knows.

While in Torremolinos, we joined a dinner outing to the Restaurante Casa Florido which we were told has really good seafood. We entered the restaurant through the back entrance and were relieved when we found that the restaurant actually fronts onto the seafront.

Seafood Dinner Entrée

Our dinner started with a medley of entrées. First came the salad and capsicum marinated in olive oil. Other dishes that followed included very small clams which were very tasty (not many like shellfish so we scored here), calamari, a dish of fish fillets, marinated fish fried in batter and grilled anchovies.

Dorado a la Sal – the Sea Bass Specialty

The specialty of Casa Florido is its dorado a la sal which is a whole sea bass covered in salt and baked.  The baked salt crust seals in the flavour and juices of the whole fish, making it very tender and moist.  Sea bass, we were told, is an expensive fish in this neck of the woods.

When it was time to serve the main dish, the restaurant owner brings out the trolley with a tray that looked like a mount of salt. She then chisels off the top of the mount to reveal the cooked sea bass. The trolley is then taken to the kitchen and the fish is served on plates accompanied by boiled potatoes and some braised vegetables. The fish was very tender and tasty but the accompanying vegetables and potatoes were not special.

Dorado a la Sal

The whole meal, wine included cost €55.00 per person which was a tad expensive. For this price, they should at least have included some prawns and mussels. There were ads in the restaurant offering seafood platters for two at €45.00.

After dinner it was a pleasant ten minute stroll back to our hotel, the Melia Costa del Sol.

The Restaurante Casa Florido is located on La Carihuela Beach about a 10 minute walk from the Torremolinos town centre. If you like this stretch of beach, there are actually 4 Casa Florido apartments for rent upstairs.

Address:
C/Mar 9 y Paseo Maritimo 31 La Carihuela

Pintxos at Casa Alcalde

Having travelled from Madrid up north to Burgos, Santander and Bilbao, we saw and sampled many pinchos (Spain’s famous fingerfood) along the way. But nothing quite prepared us for the vast number of pintxos (Basque for pinchos or tapas) bars and restaurants in San Sebastian. San Sebastian it seems is the best when it comes to pintxos or pinchos in Spain.

Lunch in San Sebastian

We arrived in San Sebastian at 2:00 p.m, just in time for lunch. Our guide told us to go into any of the bars and we can some pintxos. Three pieces each is more than enough for lunch she said.

As we strolled around the Old Town, we saw bar after bar with their bar top literally covered with platters of pintxos. Just around Calle Mayor and Calle 31 de Agosto, there were so many eateries to choose from and, with no recommendation from our guide, deciding on one was a dilemma?

Near the top of Calle Mayor, we saw one of the other Spanish guides taking some people into Casa Alcalde. If it was good enough for the Spanish guide, it was good enough for us so we followed suit. The stacks of pintxos on the bar counter were very welcoming and so we stopped here for lunch.

Pintxos at Casa Alcalde

For people who are in San Sebastian for only a brief visit, dining on pintxos is the way to go. You don’t have to order your food, you just take a plate and pick the pintxos that you fancy. You can also have hot pintxos which we did. We selected a plate of mushroom and prawns and the order was sent to the kitchen to be cooked. Once you’ve selected your platter of pintxos, you find a place to sit and have your food.  Some may prefer to stand at the bar and nibble on the food.

Pintxos at Casa Alcalde

Wine from the Basque Country

The recommended drink to have here was Txakoli (or chacoli in Catalan), a white wine produced in the Basque Country. It is slightly sparkling, very dry white wine with high acidity and low alcohol. The bar-tender puts on quite a performance when pouring out a glass.

You can choose to pay for your pintxos before eating or after your meal. If you choose to pay after, remember to keep the little sticks as this is how the cashier knows how much to charge you. Our shared pintxos, including a mushroom and prawn proxetta, a glass of Txakoli and one espresso came to a total of only €15.9.

Casa Alcalde was bustling with activity, and every now and then you’d hear a loud cry from the barman. I found out that when he receives a tip, he usually gives out this loud cry – just to add a bit of local colour. To find out if it is true, I left a tip when I paid the bill and there came the cry!

With so many bars and restaurants in the Old Town alone, it is no wonder that San Sebastian has a reputation as a food lover’s destination. Unfortunately for us, we only had time for one meal and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

See more photos of San Sebastian pintxos at Travelsignposts photo gallery HERE.

Map of San Sebastian Old Town:

San Sebastían Pintxos

San Sebastían is a foodie’s paradise and this is little city in the Basque Country has plenty of Michelin stars to show for it. With so many tapas bars and restaurants to choose from, eating out in San Sebastían is a culinary adventure.

Michelin Starred Restaurants

San Sebastían has a population of only 186,000 people and yet this little city has an unusually high number of Michelin-starred restaurants. There are six Michelin 3-star restaurants in Spain and three of these are in San Sebastían, which is really very impressive. And for the foodie wanting to sample haute-Basque cuisine in San Sebastían, there are ten Michelin rated restaurants to choose from:

3 stars – Akelarre, Arzak and Martin Berasategui
2 stars – Mugaritz
1 star – Miramon, Arbelaitz, Kokotxa, Mirador de Ulia, Alameda and Zuberoa

Pintxos Capital of the World

But you don’t have to spend big money to enjoy food in San Sebastían.  San Sebastían’s pintxos (Basque for pinchos) are a culinary hallmark and the city stakes its claim as the Pintxos Capital of the World. You only have to wander around the streets in the Old Town (Parte Vieja) to see why. 

As we strolled through Calle Mayor and Calle 31 de Agosto, we looked into the bars and restaurants and saw delightful trays of pintxos covering the bar counters and legs of cured ham hanging from the ceiling.  There is so much food on display that it seems that nobody goes hungry in this city.

San Sebastian Pintxos

Pintxos started out as a relaxed and tasty way of biding time before sitting down for lunch or dinner but these days going out for pintxos has evolved into a mainstream way of eating. In San Sebastian, their modern-style pintxos have been taken to new culinary heights employing new presentation styles and using interesting ingredients.

Apart from Pintxos, the bars and restaurants also offer a wide range of Basque cuisine at reasonable prices. The Menu del Dia that we saw at the Casa Alcalde provided a good selection of dishes for only €15.95.

Sídrerías or Cider Houses

San Sebastían’s sídrerías or cider houses are another feature of its food and beverage attractions. Normally located in traditional farm buildings, these cider houses offer the chance to dine on typical menus of cod dishes and ox steaks whilst seated next to barrels of maturing cider. The traditional cider season is from January to April and a good way to learn more about the cider houses and the cider culture is to visit San Sebastían’s cider museum. Sagardoetxea is located in Astigarraga.

San Sebastían Markets

San Sebastían is said to be the best place to eat in Spain and the success of its cuisine is the result of excellent seasonal products. If you visit the traditional markets like La Bretxa or San Martin, you may even run into the top chefs who shop there daily for the ingredients that go into their restaurant’s cuisine. Also not to be missed is the port area in the afternoon where fishermen unload the day’s catch.

Map of San Sebastían:

Mercado Central Valencia

Right in the middle of Valencia city centre just opposite from La Lonja is the Mercado Central de Valencia or the Central Market of Valencia, one of the largest and most attractive food markets in Europe.

The Mercado Central building was built in 1928 and was beautifully restored in 2004. Built of iron, its facade is colourfully decorated with ceramic tiles and glass and the structure is a reflection of the Valencia Modernista style.

Opera at Mercado Central

Valencia’s Mercado Central gained international exposure when a YouTube video showing opera in the market was circulated.  Opera singers dressed as market stall holders, surprised visitors when they filled the market hall with a rendition of excerpts of Verdi’s La Traviata .  Seeing the expressions on people’s

faces, they must have initially thought that these stall holders have got operatic talents and it’s not until a few minutes later that one realizes that these are professional opera performers.  In any case, the surprise performance brought much delight to the visitors and stall holders and some were visibly overwhelmed.

Shopping at Mercado Valencia

There are more than 1,000 stalls selling all kinds of fish, seafood, meats and sausages, fruits and vegetable for home consumption as well as for supplying the restaurants in Valencia.  This is a good place to find out what’s cooking in Spanish kitchens and restaurants. Around the market there are many tapas bars and restaurants, making this a nice place to have a snack or meal.

Even if you’re not lucky to be serenaded by opera singers, Valencia’s Central Market is nevertheless a lively and interesting place to watch locals go about their daily shopping chores and to experience the sights and tastes of Valencia.

Mercado Central is open Monday to Saturday from 07:30 to 14:30 and closed on Sunday. You can get there by Metro to Xátiva and Angel Guimerá.

Address:
Mercado Central de Valencia
Plaza del Mercado 6
Valencia 46001

Map of Valencia:

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid

On our first evening in Madrid we visited the the Mercado de San Miguel and here I felt that I was in seventh heaven. After two weeks of hotel buffet dinners in Turkey, the Mercado de San Miguel is a welcome change in cuisine. Seafood is what we love and this Madrid market is full of stalls selling seafood tapas or pinchos (small snacks of bread topped with all kinds of seafood).  Of course, being Spain, there’s plenty of meat tapas as well.

The Mercado de San Miguel is in Plaza de San Miguel, just off the Plaza Mayor in Old Madrid. Housed in a 19th century building with wrought-iron framed columns, the Mercado de San Miguel is the first covered market built in Madrid.

Tapas at the Mercado San Miguel

Madrid is one of the three Spanish cities that is famous for tapas and the Mercado de San Miguel is a great place to begin your tapas or pinchos experience. Apart from the wonderful range of tapas or pinchos, the place is atmospheric.

It is a Sunday evening and the market is quite crowded with locals and tourists. There are numerous stalls selling seafood tapas, some selling beverage and food, delicious cheeses, fruit juice, chocolates, ice cream and more.  You will also find some stalls selling hats, t-shirts, souvenirs, etc.

Enjoying Tapas in Madrid

Tapas in Madrid - Travelsignposts

At the Mercado de San Miguel, it’s common to see individuals, equipped with a glass of wine in hand, strolling from stall to stall, and trying the pinchos from the various vendors.  Others like us prefer to order a plate of different pinchos and park ourselves at one of the bench tables to enjoy the tapas. If you’re lucky, it is possible to secure a table with stools, so you can sit and enjoy your food. We like the pinchos from the Bacalau stall and Tony likes the wines from Bodega.

We enjoyed the Mercado so much that we came back the next evening. To enjoy tapas in Madrid, the Mercado de San Miguel is definitely a place to visit.  See our Mercado San Miguel photos Here.

Getting to Mercado de San Miguel from Plaza Mayor:

In the centre of Plaza Mayor is the equestrian statue of Felipe III. If you stand facing the statue front-on, the archway to exit from the square is the one to your right. Go down the flight of steps and hang a right. Walk past the Meson Tapas Bar and the Mercado de San Miguel is just straight ahead.

If you want to know more about Madrid’s tapas scene why not join a local food guide on an entertaining Madrid Tapas Night Walking Tour.

Address:
Mercado de San Miguel
Plaza San Miguel, S/N 28013 Madrid, Spain

Map of Madrid:

La Boqueria - Barcelona Market

La Boqueria, Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, St. Joseph’s Market…. No matter what name you use to describe it, the sights and smells of this famous Barcelona market will be the same.

La Boqueria

La Boqueria is one of the most spectacular food markets in Europe and it is not surprising that this bustling conglomeration of food stalls, restaurants and tapas bars is one of the most visited Barcelona attractions. That last fact is all the more interesting since relatively few tourists come here to look for fresh produce. But at La Boqueria one can find fresh produce and a great deal more.

La Boqueria Building

Set in a structure built in 1840, La Boqueria is an artistic treasure as well as a culinary one. The sign itself above the entrance, a fine Catalonian example of Art Nouveau, is well worth a look. The glass and iron enclosure comprises (and partially hides) a 19th century building that shares much with its cousins throughout the city. Aspects of the market are still being re-discovered. Several Ionic-style columns were only uncovered in 2001 after a long absence.

The Amazing Food at La Boqueria

Sweet stall at La Boqueria

But the art on display resides as much in what is sold there as how it is sold. Our La Boqueria photo gallery goes a little way in showing the endless palette of colors formed by artichokes, oranges, lemons, mangoes, carrots, sweets, ham and fish of all description but nothing beats being there to see for yourself.

Anyone wanting to wander through La Boqueria has a number of options. Seen from above it would resemble a hub with spokes.

At the centre are the fish sellers who offer an array of local species so fresh some of them are still wiggling. Barcelona is on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Wander in any direction and you’ll run into mushroom stalls offering some of the world’s finest truffles. Move one way and you’ll see the juiciest cherries to be found anywhere on the continent. Stroll the other way and you’ll come upon zucchini so fresh the blossoms are still attached.

Eating and Drinking at La Boqueria

If you’re looking for an afternoon snack or a drink you could find no finer place than at the best market in Europe. Set around the perimeter are a number of great bars and restaurants. The Pinotxo (Pinocchio) is famed for its wide selection of drinks, its excellent tapas and its extraordinary collection of bar stools. Don’t miss seeing the ceramic portrait of the famed marionette character displayed there.

La Boqueria Barcelona

The El Quim de la Boqueria is another superb option. In a city full of outstanding tapas bars, El Quim stands near the pinnacle. The bar is full of great food, lively customers and sports a happy atmosphere. Locals often enjoy the fresh squid for breakfast.

The exterior of the market provides several interesting sights as well. Just outside the entrance are animal stalls that sell birds, lizards and other small pets.

La Boqueria is about halfway between Carrer del Carme and Carrer de l’Hospital, close to the Liceu metro stop. It’s not far from the famed cathedral, La Seu, in the center of Barri Gotic (the Gothic Quarter).  You can also visit La Boqueria Market as part of a Barcelona Gourmet Food Walking Tour and let a local guide tell you all about traditional Catalan products and food to taste.

La Boqueria is open from early in the morning until late in the evening, but the liveliest times are in the afternoon.

Barcelona Map:

Paella, a specialty from Valencia

Put very simply, Spanish food is delicious! It’s tasty, spicy, vibrant in colour and a has a great mix of fresh ingredients.

In this sun-drenched country, grains, beans, fruits and vegetables all grow very well and there is also an abundance of meats, seafood and cheeses, not to mention wines and sherries.

We are all very familiar with signature dishes like paella and tortillas, the tapas style of food and famous Spanish products like chorizo, Jamon Serrano, Manchego cheese, anchovies, olives and olive oil.  But, there are heaps more to Spanish food and all the regional specialties than would be possible to mention here.

Brief outline of Regional specialties

Northern Spain has an abundance of everything. It has the best of fish and other seafood from the Atlantic, it produces some of the countries best cheeses and its vast mountain ranges also provide for plentiful game. Lots of hams and cured sausages are produced here as well, which together with beans make for hearty stews.  Beans are an important ingredient in northern cooking and the Asturias produce the expensive La Granja beans which can cost twice as much as lamb.

Each of the provinces in the north have their own special provincial dishes. The Asturias have Fabada Asturiana which is a savoury stew prepared with dried white beans called ‘fabes’, chorizo, black pudding (morcilla), cured pork shoulder (tocino), potatoes and anything else that the chef feels like throwing in. The Galicians have Lacon con grelos which is a dish of cured pork shoulder with turnip tops and sausage. A specialty from Navarra is Chilindron de Cordero, a rich spicy lamb stewed with dried or fresh peppers.

Central Spain takes its specialties from every Spanish region. Castilla-Leon is best known for its roast suckling pig and lamb. Castile-la-Mancha produces Spain’s greatest Manchego cheese, one of my favorites. Also traditional in La Mancha is Pisto or La Mancha Ratatouille.  Sopa de ajo is also good here as cumin and garlic are spices used in this region.

Eastern Spain does Mediterranean cuisine which has been influenced by the Romans and the Moors.  The internationally renowned dish paella is a Valencian specialty.  Valencia is of course famous for its oranges and Valencia and Alicante together  are the biggest orange exporters in the world. A traditional Catalan dish is Butifarra amb mongetes which is grilled black sausage with dried white beans. Catalan is famous for its sausages and many varieties are produced here.

Southern Spain’s cuisine has a strong Arab influence. Rice, olives, vines, lemons and oranges are all used in cooking.  Southern Spain is famous for grilled fish such as sardines, calamari and tripe or chickpea stews are common food in the mountain regions. The world famous Tapas was an Andalusian creation and other favorite provincial dishes include Fritura de pescado a typical seafood dish from Malaga and Ternera con alcachofas a dish from Cordoba, made from veal and artichoke hearts in a wine sauce.

The South also grows every type of fruit and vegetable.  Figs that we pay a lot of money for when in season, grow wild here.  I still remember eating these straight off the tree in our friends’ backyard.  They were sweet!  Another lasting memory is of eating tomatoes in the little town of Órgiva in the Alpujarras.  The tomatoes will never win any beauty contests, but the flavour was exquisite.

Fresh and good quality produce are the essence of Spanish cooking and with the abundance of seafood, varieties of meat, cured hams and sausages as well as fruit and vegetable, everyone can be assured of eating well in Spain. And, if you decide to go to the Balearic Islands, they have their specialty dishes too.