Goya and Madrid
June 21, 2008
The works of Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes (1746-1828), one of the masters of Spanish painting, are best viewed in Madrid, if only because that is where the majority of them are found. They are not all in the Prado Museum, but all over town as this article from the New York Times explains.
When you go to Madrid, make a point of visiting the Royal Tapestry Factory where Goya’s designs are to this day woven into beautiful tapestries. And when you get hungry, call us.
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Food and Wine Tour in Andalucía with Gerry Dawes
June 17, 2008
Epicurean Ways and Gerry Dawes are launching the first of three Insider’s Culinary Tours in Spain. This first tour, A Taste of Andalucía, explores the best food and wine of the southern Spanish region of Andalucía.
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Spanish Food and Wine Pairings
May 30, 2008
New York magazine pairs some great Spanish summer white wines–Txakoli, Manzanilla, Albariño–with summer dishes suggested by Spanish chefs in New York. See New York.
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Moderniste Buildings in Barcelona
May 27, 2008
DK, publishers of the Eyewitness Travel Guides, list on their website what they consider to be the top Moderniste buildings in Barcelona.
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New Priorat Cooking Vacation
May 25, 2008
Epicurean Ways has teamed up with a phenomenal chef and cooking school program in Catalonia to offer cooking class vacations. The program takes place at the restored stone house-residence of the chef in the Priorat, the prestigious wine region 80 miles from Barcelona.
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Paella Party
May 22, 2008
If you live anywhere near Williamsburg, Virginia, check out the Paella and Sangría Festival that LaTienda.com is giving on June 7, 2008. The chefs are from Jaleo in Washington D.C., José Andrés’ tapas restaurant, and will be making a nine-foot paella. This has to be seen. There will also be live flamenco music. See the listing.
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Food, Wine and Art in Madrid
May 22, 2008
New to Epicurean Ways’ culinary trips is a five-day exploration of Spanish food, wine and art in Madrid. We take to the streets for a tapas tour, have a private cooking class, eat in a fantastic Michelin-starred restaurant (Zaranda), and attend a private wine tasting session, tapas included.
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Madrid de las Letras
May 21, 2008
If you come on our Culinary Adventures in Madrid program–the five-day insider food and wine experience–you will stay at a beautiful designer hotel called Hotel de las Letras. Despite its name, it is not properly in Madrid’s Barrio de las Letras, but a short jaunt gets you there.
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New One-Day Cooking Classes
May 21, 2008
We are pleased to announce the latest addition to our culinary programs. We now offer one-day cooking classes–called One Day Cook– in both Barcelona and Seville.
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The New Spanish Vegetable
May 8, 2008
Food and travel writer Anya von Bremzen, author of The New Spanish Table, turns her discerning gaze to the newfound focus on vegetables in some kitchens in Spain’s Basque Country and Navarra regions.
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Andrew Zimmern with José Andrés
May 7, 2008
Andrew Zimmern, host of Bizarre Foods on the Travel Channel, has an interview on his blog with José Andrés, the Spanish chef (author of Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America). Andrés reflects on some of the reasons for Spain’s culinary fame, and talks about his favorite food city in Spain–Barcelona.
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Obama and Jamón?
April 9, 2008
I read in The Washington Post (Thursday, April 3, 2008) that Obama toured the Italian Market in Philadelphia and tried pata negra at the hands of vendor Ezekial Ferguson. Ferguson explained that it had only recently become legalized in the U.S. and Obama replied, “What do you mean legalized? It’s so good it’s like a drug or something?”
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Rites of Spring
March 12, 2008
March in Valencia is synonymous with Las Fallas. Harkening back to pagan rituals welcoming the return of spring, the five-day festivities of Las Fallas culminate on March 19 (the Day of St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters). At the stroke of midnight on that day, the 350 or so hand-constructed figures, having been earlier stuffed with fireworks, are set afire. The huge figures–called ninots in Valenciano–are made of wood, cardboard, wax and painted plaster, often reaching heights of several stories. Six months or more is spent constructing each figure. Only one ninot, chosen by popular vote, escapes the ritual burning, and finds safety in the Museum of the Ninot in Valencia.
See this article for an insider’s description of Las Fallas.
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Visually Rewarding Travel
February 28, 2008
Why is Spain attracting superstar architects? Why does Richard Rogers, architect of the Pompidou Center in Paris, the Lloyd’s Building in London, and Madrid’s new Terminal 4 at Barajas airport, say, “In terms of culture, Spain is the most interesting country in Europe at the moment”? This article from Conde Nast Traveler profiles Spain’s explosion of modern architectural marvels at the hands of architects from around the world.
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La Casa del Abuelo
February 25, 2008
A diminutive early 20th century bar-restaurant in Madrid’s historic centro is barely noticeable as you pass, but that’s only because of its location. It sits on the corner of two narrow streets in a neighborhood hosting a dense population of tapas bars, restaurants and cafés. Once you slow your stride and face the tapas bar square on, you see before you an original turn-of-the-last-century façade, partially obscured by painted-on menus. La Casa del Abuelo is not to be missed.
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Spain in Your Living Room
February 25, 2008
José Andrés, the Washington, D.C. chef, restaurateur (Jaleo), and author of Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America (Clarkson Potter, 2005) is the host of a 26-part PBS series Made in Spain, which began airing in February. Filmed in Spain and in the chef’s stateside kitchen, the series promises visually stunning footage as it explores Spain’s 17 regions, and insight into the country’s impressive culinary output. Check your local listings.
