Usually when talking about the Mediterranean Sea in Northern Spain you at once associate the beautiful coast and its beach bays with this region. You start dreaming of sunny days on sandy beaches and a blue sea inviting you for a swim or just splashing around. In the background is one of the iconic beach bars offering espressos, beers and wine as well as Tapas, these famous Spanish snacks for any time of the day.…
Today there is another approach for a really refreshing mozzarella dip perfect for fresh baguette accompanied by crisp white wine. I found this recipe years ago during a TV show where everything was simply chopped & mixed. You know this casual style of cooking … which I really like! The result doesn’t look so spectacular, but it tastes like freshness, lightness, melting in your mouth!
Finally my better half & I returned from Košice in Slovakia. Our last weekend … well, we had decided to spend it in the mountains (aka High Tatras). We had sunshine & fog as well during the same weekend! So here’s our trip adventure in 6 phases … Phase #1:During September in Košike we had fine weather w/ temperatures about 25-30° C for almost 3 weeks. For our last weekend colleagues at work recommended to…
My better half & I were in Košice (aka Kaschau). It’s the 2nd largest town in Slovakia (about 300 k inhabitants – so it’s somewhat like Greater Bonn, however, there’s no megalopolis like Cologne nearby). What are we doing here? My better half is busy w/ a job visit in the international group … & I … I accompanied her – working on my blogs now, do shopping & sightseeing in Košice, walking the city…
The Italians invented aperitivo. When staying in Milan as well as in Rome some years ago we were happy about aperitivo. It starts in late afternoon & let you have some wine or Spritz or cocktails together w/ a selection of savory bits & bites usually presented as a buffet. Until early evening you may indulge in drinks & food … You get prosciutto, salame, green & black olives, marinated vegetables, small tramezzini, pizza bits, salads ……
We made a day trip to Perpignan, in the Département Pyrénées-Orientales, near the Spanish border. It was a rather hot day with a brilliant blue sky and a radiant sun. When I think back – that’s what I remember … and of course a Mediterranean style city and their palms. All the streets, except in Old Town, are line with palms – at least it seems so for me. Nowhere before in Southern France I…
Is there any surprise in a potato salad? Yes: you may add Mediterranean herbs for a delicious summer & holiday flavour … Some years ago I made this potato salad rather spontaneously because suddenly all the rainy weather in Germany cleared up & sun came back w/ fine temperatures fit for some last BBQ events in the garden. … & a real bit potato salad is always one of the best companions around (together w/…
Among all historic sites Rome’s most iconic landmark is the Trevi Fountain – at least for me! Do you remember Anita Ekberg wading across the fountain’s pool at night in her long black strapless evening dress? Remember a very handsome Marcello Mastroianni watching her?
All’ ammiraglio … Let this melt on your tongue! We are dealing w/ a very simple & very easy spaghetti dish – quick & dirty! … it looks so innocent! Be careful: it’s really hot & burns like hell inside you, wakes you up, heats you up … & leaves you feeling full & happy w/ the world – even if it’s hot still in the evening! I found this recipe years ago in one…
On a sunny day about midweek we made a trip to Sète. It’s about 30 min by train from Béziers. The sky was blue, the sun was brilliant: it was hot – we stumbled direct into the farmer’s market which sprawled along the streets and alleyways … and the market hall. My better half & I were enthralled by the abundance of fruits & vegetables, the cheeses, the fish & seafood, the meat … and…
Suppose you need a batch of vegetables for a roast or a BBQ or whatever. How to prepare it w/o too much trouble aka effortless? You simply start w/ a casserole packed w/ vegetables like in the photo above. About 30 min later after a oven session … you get a casserole w/ a delicious mix of soft vegetables. How to achieve this? (I think you’ve noticed that I make it short today … It’s…
Es Vedrà – isn’t it a great view?It’s even more spectacular when standing on Ibiza’s rock coast in the sun in a light breeze admiring the towering islet face to face – seems really huge then … One of the iconic spots in Ibiza: pure, serene, wild, lonely, mystic … a natural landmark. You may get a hint why Ibiza in the 70s & 80s became a hotspot for all the hippies & dropouts. However, if…
Pasta & summer: it’s an excellent combination because pasta is an easy dish convenient for all these warm summer nights when sitting outside w/ a glass of wine longing for some easy, but substantial food – which wouldn’t keep you in the kitchen for too long. The spaghetti are coated w/ a blend of fresh crispy lemon flavour, a hot chili impact & a hearty garlic background – the lemon thyme will give it a…
I like beaches and the sea. When in Southern France my 1st encounter with beaches was at Valras-Plage. The small town in the department Hérault has a Long Beach, wide & fine sandy, accompanied by a fine seafront (w/o any skyscrapers filled w/ hotel rooms & holiday flats). If you like to sit in a café enjoying some coffee or whatever & watching the beach and waves and the blue sky … it’s perfect! It…
My very 1st encounter w/ one-pot-pasta: my better half & I got a food & wine basket as a present from friends containing among others a package w/ Italian pasta, dried porcini, dried Mediterranean herbs & finely grated parmesan. The instruction said: Put 1000 ml water and 5 tbsp olive oil in a pot or pan, add all ingredients except the parmesan, bring it to a boil and let it cook for about 10 min.…