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review"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Sobremesa in Spain"},"subtitle":{"type":"html","$t":"The art of eating in Iberia and beyond"},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/posts\/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default?alt=json-in-script\u0026category=slideshow,slideshow"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/search\/label\/slideshow"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"25"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"25"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-1717813518188518478"},"published":{"$t":"2015-09-20T00:49:00.001-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2015-09-20T00:49:50.471-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asian food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"bali"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"coffee"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"family"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"food culture"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"good food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"indonesia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"restaurants"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SE Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"solo travelers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"south korea"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"street food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"thailand"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel tips"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Chapter: Sobremesa in Southeast Asia | Choosing a Great Restaurant or Street Food Stall "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"p1\"\u003EWe're in Southeast Asia again, a land that beckons us time and time again with its delicately floral scents of frangipani, wafts of fish sauce and vinegar rising from searing worn woks, or sweet condensed milk cans set upon roadside beverage stands.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESince leaving Denver three months ago, we've also hit northern areas of Asia including: South Korea and Japan. Heading south, we spent a month in various regions of Thailand, three (of the 17,000+)\u0026nbsp;islands of Indonesia, Bali, Lombok, and Java, and now recalibrating for a few weeks in Hoi An, Vietnam.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"p1\"\u003EAny time you are navigating a new city, especially traipsing through a hot, humid, metropolitan area such as the streets of Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City, it is easy to get fatigued, anxious, dehydrated, and downright\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Eh-angry; \u003C\/i\u003Efalling victim to eating at recognizable chains, ducking into a 7-11 or mall food court, or worst of all - and my biggest pet peeve - eating somewhere which you will later regret. You may not always have a vetted local guide nearby, or Google maps pin drop to guide you in the right direction, so I've complied these surefire hints for finding gastronomical success at street food vendors or family-run restaurants; some will be great, some will be just fine, but you can guarantee that you're supporting the local supply chain, and spreading tourist dollars in effective ways.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"p1\"\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E1) The English Menu Misnomer\u003C\/h4\u003EI've read and heard from many that you should never eat at a restaurant with an English menu because it will surly be inauthentic and a tourist trap nonetheless. I have found otherwise; while it is a telltale turn-off to see four-language menus such as one would find on Las Ramblas of Barcelona, when in Asia, generally the universal tourist language - after the country's native written menus - is English. I've had more than a handful of terrible experiences with fully Korean, Japanese and Indonesian menus (where there where no pictures and also no means of communicating to the waitstaff). Pointing, asking in our decoded phrasebook word lists was to no avail, as we were then served (large portion) dishes containing ingredients we would have avoided otherwise, such as tripe, heaps of mayonnaise, raw meat, or blood, and paid more than budgeted for. I like to think of it as the \"\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eomakase rule\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\" -- I'd only rightly choose the chef's choice for a special occasion meal at a reputable renowned establishment, otherwise I want to be in control of price points, chosen product, etc.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn short, seeing an English menu eases ordering for both parties (since it should be side by side to their language), clears the fog, and adds piece of mind, as well as clarity to the final bill. One exception, \u0026nbsp;if the English menu they hand you is toast, hamburgers, and hot dogs, I would turn around immediately.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cu\u003ELook for\u003C\/u\u003E: Photos and comprehensible menu descriptions, and subsequently fresh dishes of those photos on your neighbors' tables.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E2) The Restaurant Could Pass for a Home, or Likely Is\u003C\/h4\u003EThe adage of 'home-cooking is the best kind' is very often the case in Southeast Asia and beyond as families make their living off of generations of recipes. Or perhaps you've stumbled upon a young entrepreneur who has recently launched their own restaurant concept; in both situations you should get the sensation that you've been invited into someone's home and that you're being shown their craft, rather than you're being serviced for turnover or payout -- even if you're sitting on a plastic chair on the curb! Sure, there are restaurants that offer superb Western style service, tablecloths, two forks, and fancy cocktails that suit many higher budget travelers, however my personal experience has found that unless you're splurging for a one-of-a-kind experience (like \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/01\/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust-best-meal.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EEtxebarri\u003C\/a\u003E, or \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/website.alinearestaurant.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAlinea\u003C\/a\u003E), you really can't go wrong with a family-run restaurant. The gap between the latter, i.e. $ and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Restaurant_Review-g293916-d951424-Reviews-Eat_Me_Restaurant-Bangkok.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emid-range $$$\u003C\/a\u003E isn't so overwhelming that you shouldn't side with the little guy, while also saving your wallet from unnecessary damage.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cu\u003ELook for\u003C\/u\u003E: Signs of a family business, such as babies and toddlers playing in the corner of the restaurant, or a woman reading a paper who signals to a daughter (waitress) upon your arrival, or even the very clear sign of stairs leading to their residence\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E3) You Can See the Kitchen and Its Processes\u003C\/h4\u003EThe kitchen is the nucleus of a restaurant, and more often than not SEA locations offer this in plain sight from the street: giant caldrons of steaming broth, dim sum steamers, freshly cut noodles, meat and vegetables hang in glass and metal-trimmed carts showcasing the chef's market finds or the restaurant's specialty. More points if you can see some portion of the meal preparation, that is to say, fresh dumplings being hand-folded, non-packaged ramen noodles, or maybe the clue rests in the constant influx of wet-market produce that apprentices and runners bring in at the chef's command (e.g. \"we're out of purple basil -- go grab more!\").\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EClearly another element of this is to check for hygienic surfaces and utensils. The pride that one takes in ensuring that their condiment packs are clean and ready for use is a hint of attention to detail and the quality of the meal to come. In Thailand for example: sugar, chili-vinegar, chili pepper flakes, fish sauce, or in Korea: sesame oil, rice vinegars, fermented soybean and chili pastes, are not sticky to the touch, speckled with imperfections, or crawling with ants\/bugs. If the above is true - i.e. you are eating in a home establishment -- you can bet this will be high on their list.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E4) Ratio: Local to Tourists\u003C\/h4\u003EThis is a tough debate as I firmly believe it's quite subjective. Yes, a general rule of thumb is find the places where the locals eat, such as dining at a Thai restaurant in Los Angeles full of Thai people in Thai-town. Although nowadays this may be skewed by a \u003Ci\u003ENo Reservations\u003C\/i\u003E episode (\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Restaurant_Review-g293925-d1948559-Reviews-The_Lunch_Lady_Nguyen_Thi_Thanh-Ho_Chi_Minh_City.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea la Lunch Lady in Saigon\u003C\/a\u003E), or \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/11\/best-and-cheapest-michelin-restaurant-in-the-world-hong-kong.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea Michelin star\u003C\/a\u003E. To me, this also greatly depends on population vs. tourist numbers: for example, is it a popular gastronomic destination? Has a celebrity chef or reporter or an American President eaten here? Would they?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cu\u003ELook for\u003C\/u\u003E: fresh ingredients, a line (? - see questions above about population\/city size and consider eating times of local schedule), Michelin or Routard guide stickers on exterior, or paper-clippings that show how proud the chef is that their meal\/shop has been featured.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eZ4yFGFxpJ4\/Vf5jIaQ0lfI\/AAAAAAAAS7U\/EugHd13JBDw\/s1600\/tokyonoodleshop.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eZ4yFGFxpJ4\/Vf5jIaQ0lfI\/AAAAAAAAS7U\/EugHd13JBDw\/s640\/tokyonoodleshop.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELocals dining a quick soba noodle dish at Tsukiji Market, Tokyo.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E5) Accurate Pricing (prices as of September 2015)\u003C\/h4\u003EIt's true that you can eat on various monetary budgets in Asia -- whether it be USD $1.25 dehydrated ramen pork noodle bowls or $80-$120 per person Michelin starred restaurants in financial centers. The important factor is when to realize that there are justified price adjustments, that the elevated dish price point is based on quality of ingredients and preparation, as opposed to simple rip-offs, tourists traps, or \"scene\" upgrades. We've also collectively been taught as a society that food is way cheaper then it should be; be it because of sacrifices put forth by agriculturists, restaurant owners, or the supply chain itself. A good starting point is to know the average price of meals and particular go-to dishes of the country you're visiting (e.g. gado-gado, the unofficial Indonesian dish of rice cubes, vegetables, and peanut sauce sold almost everywhere should not cost more than USD $3.00); and yes, sometimes that takes a quick survey of the law of the land, wandering through street food stall areas or simple restaurants. Another example, in Chiang Mai, Thailand we learned during our first night on the town that a night market soup option went for 40 Thai baht, or USD $1.12, and 50-55 baht for prawn or seafood options. When we settled on an option another evening priced at 100 baht - it first made us wonder why the difference?, and if we'd fallen into a unnecessary up-charge. Turns out the increase was due to some of the above mentioned factors -- handmade noodles and superior quality and sized prawns. We just needed to do a little investigation to what was coming out of the kitchen to make the connection as to why we would want or should pay more. It turned out to be a great decision.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E6) The Tea Game\u003C\/h4\u003EFor me, knowing a fantastic local find also falls on spotting adequate local customs. In Japan we knew that more authentic restaurants that followed traditional practices would bring us a fresh ::hot:: towel to clean our hands, and quickly bring or give access to free tea. This free tea trend is also widely available in Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, and so forth with varying degrees of hygiene and tea strength to the point at times that it's so universal it's not listed on the standard menu. Mostly, guests simple get up and walk themselves to the cooler (for cold tea) or thermos to pour their own, or use a plastic\/metal\/ceramic mug and jug strategically left on the table. Environmentally speaking, this is something I started to seek out because it usually also meant that no plastic water bottles or straws were given to us. Some restaurants may incur a minimal fee for this access to tea; but think of it more like 'house wine' options at Italian restaurants, it is always cheaper.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cu\u003ELook for\u003C\/u\u003E: a sports-sized thermos in the corner with buffet-style stacked cups to the side, or learn how to say \"tea\" in the language where you're visiting; in Vietnam for example it is '\u003Ci\u003Etra\u003C\/i\u003E' pronounced 'cha,' on a hot summer's day '\u003Ci\u003Etra da\u003C\/i\u003E' or iced tea will be great! In Hoi An, central Vietnam we particularly loved '\u003Ci\u003Etra sam dua da\u003C\/i\u003E' at \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=1i2O97aT5uM\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBale Well\u003C\/a\u003E, a unique iced green tea with pandan leaves, that was priced around 4,000 dong each glass, or USD $0.18.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vPunmJ4fWlE\/Vf5jHyEgQPI\/AAAAAAAAS7I\/aIvipm0bSG8\/s1600\/myanmarteashop.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vPunmJ4fWlE\/Vf5jHyEgQPI\/AAAAAAAAS7I\/aIvipm0bSG8\/s640\/myanmarteashop.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E7) Dirty Floors\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003EIncredibly important, even contradictory to what I said above about hygiene and cleanliness -- but hear me out. Washed silverware; check, visible (clean) rag for cleaning the countertops; check, dirty floor; check. Wait, wait, what? Yes, a dirty floor! One of which is made of earth perhaps, or is spotted with green onion ends (i.e. recently cut fresh ingredients), or wrinkled paper napkins to show the recent wave of eaters.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cu\u003ELook for\u003C\/u\u003E: the napkins! as well as a broom in the corner -- a good shop will intermittently sweep up these piles to make new guests feel comfortable.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E8) \u003Cu\u003EYou\u003C\/u\u003E\u0026nbsp;Found the Venue, You Were Not Led There\u003C\/h4\u003EIn the United States or Europe it may be customary to listen to taxi drivers when you want to find an economical and local food option. I personally disagree and haven't found success with this tactic in Southeast Asia, or my last travels through Mexico. I'm not saying that all taxi drivers are corrupt and thus will lead you to tourist traps, but I have learned overall that they are so accustomed to this question - if you do have a language in common - that they ultimately take you to a place that they think you will like: 1) they don't want to upset you, e.g. offer you a meal that is too spicy, too grimy, too local and 2) they often consider that your budget is different than theirs, and thus you wouldn't enjoy the same delicious, economical meal that they would, such as the $1 soup. In certain severe cases they work with their cousins' or friends' restaurants, and get a commission if they drop you - and you eat - at the location they determine you'll enjoy.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe opinions of tuk-tuk drivers are especially out. Avoid!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cu\u003ELook for\u003C\/u\u003E: great spots you discover using the tips above and below -- as well as avoiding copycats; places in Vietnam for instance will straight-up copy the name of a popular, well rated restaurant, some 3-4 doors down, serving the exact same menu, confusing tourists while often charging more for an inferior product.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E9) Fusion is Out\u003C\/h4\u003EThai iced tea in Bali? Pisco Sour in Hong Kong? Tried and true emigration and immigration such as Chinese food in Singapore or Malaysia aside, in general fusion restaurant trends are a complete wash and I highly recommend sticking to the food of the region or neighborhood.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ETo be noted, the hipster movement is alive and well -- globally -- so you may find an outstanding bacon \u0026amp; waffle combination in Indonesia (like we did at \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LocavoreToGo\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELocavore To Go\u003C\/a\u003E), but red flags are 'Thai, Malay and Hamburgers\" or something like \"Milkshakes and Fried Rice.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cu\u003ELook for\u003C\/u\u003E: menus with a single theme -- generally, great restaurants specialize in 1-2 things, a la oyster omelette in Taiwan, or green tea in Kyoto.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-GGFh-R3UK44\/Vf5jH5_EtzI\/AAAAAAAAS7Q\/Mpt_O-xPzTQ\/s1600\/japanesegreenteaicecream.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-GGFh-R3UK44\/Vf5jH5_EtzI\/AAAAAAAAS7Q\/Mpt_O-xPzTQ\/s640\/japanesegreenteaicecream.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E10) The Fallacy of TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Other Review Sites\u003C\/h4\u003EThe digital age is full of people giving their opinions -- look at me here giving mine! However, review sites should be taken with a grain of salt. Everyone has subjective taste, and their experiences are uniquely their own, thus leading to how, why, and what they review or say. Researching a reviewer, on top of researching a listing, is a lot of work, yet it can give you greater insight into trusting someone's theories. Did they only leave one review? Was their review of X in August predated to a review of T.G.I.Friday's in September? If the latter is a place you'd never dine, then logically ignore their comment of restaurant X.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUltimately, you'll be the best judge of what you like, what environment you find \"casual,\" or what pricing you find \"$$\" or \"$$$.\" Run through the above, and you'll never put the blame on a person, website, or guidebook ever again. Plus you'll be able to chalk-up the bad ones as learning experiences, making the great ones that much more special.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cu\u003ELook for\u003C\/u\u003E: Consistent reviews -- yes, Andrew Zimmern gave it a gold star, but so did a Japanese newspaper, a Korean travel mag, and your Facebook friend from college. If it's new on the map -- for instance in Asia we found that many countries were slow to adapt to Google reviews, but TripAdvisor was well documented -- than you may need to check multiple resources. Moreover, we most frequented places that \"felt good,\" see below for more on that.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E11) Trust\u003C\/h4\u003EGood old conviction. It's not the gut kind - while that's certainly important too, it's the humanity type that I'm talking about -- the one which sends your brain and heart a grand feeling about the people that you're soon to be trusting with your wallet and gastrointestinal system.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor instance, Thai people in particular are incredibly interactive and friendly. That's their sales tactic, if you will -- lure the tourist\/guest in with outstanding customer attention. Most people fall immediately for this, after all a smile goes straight to our soft spots, but keep in mind that the really good places will also smell good, and may be sooo busy that they won't have time to romanticize your experience, although I'm sure they will give you a smile or two regardless. But what I mean is, the elderly Japanese man might not welcome you with open arms, but if you trust his craftsmanship, if you get a sixth-sense that he's dedicated his life to _______, you can likely guarantee that you'll enjoy his meal.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E12) Innovation Trumps the Above\u003C\/h4\u003EThere is an emerging class of middle-income citizens, dreamers, and entrepreneurs that I've seen more constant in Southeast Asia than ever before. It's predominantly a young generation -- not expat run, as previous decades, nor the indigenous shopkeepers of old, or even the middle-aged franchise boomers -- but endemic young people who have been abroad, or maybe have not, and are now establishing in their cities high caliber restaurants, coffee shops, food stalls, or cocktail bars that could easily fit-in to the world's highest rated Zagat guides, cozying-up to Brooklyn storefronts, or Parisian cafe patios. You'll know you've spotted one by the minimalist decor, unique lighting, signage, and most likely the entrepreneur themselves at the helm of the La Marzocco espresso machine, cashier, or wok. They are changing the landscape, and proving the Generational Y theory of 'you can do\/become whatever you want.'\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELook for: \"cool\" logos that have a 21st century design-type, refurbished spaces highlighting original floor tiles, reclaimed wood, or concrete bar slabs.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-O5nEK17StGU\/Vf0LR1XvrHI\/AAAAAAAAS6c\/p2g7N2gNOck\/s1600\/ponganes_icedthai.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-O5nEK17StGU\/Vf0LR1XvrHI\/AAAAAAAAS6c\/p2g7N2gNOck\/s640\/ponganes_icedthai.jpg\" width=\"478\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EPonganes Espresso in Chiang Mai, Thailand is a new coffee shop \u0026amp; roaster that fits the 'innovative' category; straying from old ways and introducing residents and tourists to third wave coffee.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q2HaFiPCKfk\/Vf0LRo4YdnI\/AAAAAAAAS6g\/RM2uxc3Sqps\/s1600\/Ristr8topatio_coffeestories.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q2HaFiPCKfk\/Vf0LRo4YdnI\/AAAAAAAAS6g\/RM2uxc3Sqps\/s640\/Ristr8topatio_coffeestories.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ERistr8to a popular Chiang Mai roaster \u0026amp; coffee company has recently opened its 3rd location in the city; just driving by on motorbike you get that sense that something good lies inside.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHope you enjoyed this chapter on how to find and eat great food at small vendors and local restaurants in Southeast Asia!\u0026nbsp;\u003Cu\u003EThe absolute must-remember piece of advice is; do what speaks to you.\u003C\/u\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/1717813518188518478\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2015\/09\/streetfood-restaurants-in-south-east-asia.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/1717813518188518478"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/1717813518188518478"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2015\/09\/streetfood-restaurants-in-south-east-asia.html","title":"Chapter: Sobremesa in Southeast Asia | Choosing a Great Restaurant or Street Food Stall "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-eZ4yFGFxpJ4\/Vf5jIaQ0lfI\/AAAAAAAAS7U\/EugHd13JBDw\/s72-c\/tokyonoodleshop.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Bangkok, Thailand"},"georss$point":{"$t":"13.7563309 100.50176510000006"},"georss$box":{"$t":"13.2627269 99.856318100000053 14.2499349 101.14721210000006"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-1650844925654083897"},"published":{"$t":"2015-04-11T14:31:00.001-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2015-04-16T14:49:21.666-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"alta cocina"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"chefs"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Diego Guerrero"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"eating out in madrid"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"El Club Allard"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"gastronomy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"madrid"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"michelin"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"michelin star"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"sobremesa in spain"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"spain"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Spanish food"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Back in Time at El Club Allard, Madrid"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"The time: June, 2013\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe place: El Club Allard, a two Michelin starred restaurant in historic Madrid, Spain\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe company: Sr. Antonio\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe celebration: Departure for America!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENearly two years ago, we \"set sail\" for the US to begin our American journey. We had no idea where would we end up, what jobs (or not) we'd be employed with, nor the very state of residency -- our goal was California and we ended up in Colorado, so things can certainly change, and expectations are better left unthought. However, we did know that we needed to give ourselves the proper sendoff with a decadent meal cooked by one of Madrid's top talents, Chef Diego Guerrero. He's since moved on from 13 years at the restaurant to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.eater.com\/2014\/6\/16\/6206977\/diego-guerrero-on-his-new-madrid-restaurant-dstage-opening-in-july\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eopen one of his own\u003C\/a\u003E, so I'm glad that we could experience before his own departure.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've heard that the now Executive Chef\u0026nbsp;María Marte, is doing a fabulous job, and since she was by Diego's side for nearly 10 years, much of his legacy and plates live on, now combined with her ingenuity. It is also said that she started cleaning plates at the restaurant in 2003, and now direct a team of 15 masterfully.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-iF3qXcxd4-I\/UoEfTfPvU4I\/AAAAAAAANaI\/1cm4OzI7If0\/s1600\/_MG_8465.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-iF3qXcxd4-I\/UoEfTfPvU4I\/AAAAAAAANaI\/1cm4OzI7If0\/s640\/_MG_8465.JPG\" height=\"426\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-HoyYr70O_oA\/UoEfT87iKxI\/AAAAAAAANaM\/D7ueDEqiU4g\/s1600\/_MG_8473.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-HoyYr70O_oA\/UoEfT87iKxI\/AAAAAAAANaM\/D7ueDEqiU4g\/s640\/_MG_8473.JPG\" height=\"426\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EScone con mantequilla verde de ajo | bread starter with green garlic butter. Right on the corner you can see the imprint of the dome of Casa Garallado where El Club Allard is located in Madrid.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-3nUxVUV2dN8\/UoEfWFqJ3pI\/AAAAAAAANac\/X4KdxRpsNCc\/s1600\/_MG_8475.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-3nUxVUV2dN8\/UoEfWFqJ3pI\/AAAAAAAANac\/X4KdxRpsNCc\/s640\/_MG_8475.JPG\" height=\"426\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;\"\u003ECaballa Encurtida | Pickled Mackerel with Avocado, Kale, \u0026amp; Garnish. The \"cabbage\" - since in 2013 kale was not a phenomenon in Spain - is frozen with liquid nitrogen - a perfect bite all around and one of the most memorable of the meal, if not the most unique.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-5mh93xfwdcY\/UoEfWxVQx7I\/AAAAAAAANag\/TjGYYbRigss\/s1600\/_MG_8477.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-5mh93xfwdcY\/UoEfWxVQx7I\/AAAAAAAANag\/TjGYYbRigss\/s640\/_MG_8477.JPG\" height=\"426\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETrufa de caza con foie y setas | Foie Gras \"Truffle\" with Wild Mushroom Soil and Foie \"Sawdust.\" When first presented to the table, it emitted smoke that smelled of thyme from the lower area of the dish. A mini forest recreation inside of this crystal terrarium.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-dIG5w4jnuik\/UoEfXczGTjI\/AAAAAAAANao\/nYdYhU-NDDE\/s1600\/_MG_8481.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-dIG5w4jnuik\/UoEfXczGTjI\/AAAAAAAANao\/nYdYhU-NDDE\/s640\/_MG_8481.JPG\" height=\"426\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EHuevo con pan y panceta sobre crema ligera de patata | Egg yolk and Bacon filled Pastry with a rich Potato Puree. Sooo good.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-MZFSLwwhScs\/UoEfachWYBI\/AAAAAAAANa4\/MNH61cYRpZo\/s1600\/_MG_8485.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-MZFSLwwhScs\/UoEfachWYBI\/AAAAAAAANa4\/MNH61cYRpZo\/s640\/_MG_8485.JPG\" height=\"426\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EAnd then this happened. Brace yourself...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-7DnX5z_13C0\/UoEfbBsANrI\/AAAAAAAANbA\/63MycRPmnOI\/s1600\/_MG_8489.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-7DnX5z_13C0\/UoEfbBsANrI\/AAAAAAAANbA\/63MycRPmnOI\/s640\/_MG_8489.JPG\" height=\"426\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EA succulent butter fish dish with subtle Japanese influence, it was covered with a seaweed tuile and surrounded by a light vegetable dashi, or consomme. We'll just play some intermission music here and admire the flower cut-outs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-lQa5S3SJKiM\/UoEfc5uVcrI\/AAAAAAAANbM\/H8diQ92LjAg\/s1600\/_MG_8496.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-lQa5S3SJKiM\/UoEfc5uVcrI\/AAAAAAAANbM\/H8diQ92LjAg\/s640\/_MG_8496.JPG\" height=\"426\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ECordero lechal con crumble de tandoori | Suckling Lamb with Tandoori Crumble. Served sans bones, and just a minor nod to Indian cuisine (still has to be palatable for Spaniards after all).\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-HHmgQ27vzgk\/UoEfeQ9QbCI\/AAAAAAAANbU\/mqpXnBTiwo4\/s1600\/_MG_8497.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-HHmgQ27vzgk\/UoEfeQ9QbCI\/AAAAAAAANbU\/mqpXnBTiwo4\/s640\/_MG_8497.JPG\" height=\"426\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EPre-postre Gin Tonic | The palate cleanser was a glorious spring 'Gin \u0026amp;Tonic' infused with \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/atlanticgalicianspirits.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENordés\u003C\/a\u003E, a Galician gin that I highly recommend.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-SkmulJnU5YA\/UoEfeYGeD2I\/AAAAAAAANbY\/f6cWl3oRWT0\/s1600\/_MG_8498.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-SkmulJnU5YA\/UoEfeYGeD2I\/AAAAAAAANbY\/f6cWl3oRWT0\/s640\/_MG_8498.JPG\" height=\"426\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EAnother angle of this Club Allard presentation. The actual beverage was frozen into this sphere and frozen berries, also infused, were found inside with edible flowers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Uz4MT7wtSSI\/UoEfkLafPdI\/AAAAAAAANbs\/f8tDd4RSkSk\/s1600\/_MG_8501.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Uz4MT7wtSSI\/UoEfkLafPdI\/AAAAAAAANbs\/f8tDd4RSkSk\/s640\/_MG_8501.JPG\" height=\"426\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ELa Pecera | 'The fishbowl' that of course resembles Finding Nemo for many. The coral was white chocolate covered with freeze dried raspberries, the mussel shell also chocolate, the rock a \u003Ci\u003Ebizcocho\u003C\/i\u003E or pound cake, the sea foams of yogurt and the other of curaçao (orange liquor), and finally the red tea and raspberry marshmallow fish.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-QbtO_CIrv6I\/UoEfm6SCnFI\/AAAAAAAANcI\/ctUWOYHc-D0\/s1600\/_MG_8505.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-QbtO_CIrv6I\/UoEfm6SCnFI\/AAAAAAAANcI\/ctUWOYHc-D0\/s640\/_MG_8505.JPG\" height=\"426\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003EWhimsical themes continue in the dessert category. Meringue mushroom with cafe au lait mousse (soil) and cocoa powder dust.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-P-x1_QRzoxM\/UoEfoLiJh4I\/AAAAAAAANcQ\/MeGJa3Eoat8\/s1600\/_MG_8508.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-P-x1_QRzoxM\/UoEfoLiJh4I\/AAAAAAAANcQ\/MeGJa3Eoat8\/s640\/_MG_8508.JPG\" height=\"426\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ELa cara de Buddah | Buddha's Face on dry ice and mini desserts - also known as mignardises - to end the service with a sweet bite.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-xyOBFiN2LxQ\/UoEfoO08TkI\/AAAAAAAANcY\/Xh0rF4FnFIs\/s1600\/_MG_8510.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-xyOBFiN2LxQ\/UoEfoO08TkI\/AAAAAAAANcY\/Xh0rF4FnFIs\/s640\/_MG_8510.JPG\" height=\"426\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EAn edible sugar Buddha (although not sure the metaphoric significance the Chef was going for, or if he had recently been back from a trip to foreign lands); an eye-catching ending to a temple of Spanish gastronomy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDetails:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003EEL CLUB ALLARD\u003Cbr \/\u003ECalle Ferraz nº2, Madrid\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.elcluballard.com\/\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.elcluballard.com\/\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp; (advised to make reservations)\u003Cbr \/\u003E+34 915 59 09 39\u003Cbr \/\u003EAverage price per person: 90€ - 100€\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026lt;iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d3037.3511380142254!2d-3.714246!3d40.42322299999999!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0xd42286fc9d691e1%3A0x81dc21e8024bb781!2sEl+Club+Allard!5e0!3m2!1sen!2ses!4v1428787613966\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:0\"\u0026gt;\u0026lt;\/iframe\u0026gt;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/1650844925654083897\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2015\/04\/el-club-allard-madrid.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/1650844925654083897"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/1650844925654083897"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2015\/04\/el-club-allard-madrid.html","title":"Back in Time at El Club Allard, Madrid"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-iF3qXcxd4-I\/UoEfTfPvU4I\/AAAAAAAANaI\/1cm4OzI7If0\/s72-c\/_MG_8465.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Madrid, Madrid, Spain"},"georss$point":{"$t":"40.4167754 -3.7037901999999576"},"georss$box":{"$t":"40.0300424 -4.3492371999999575 40.8035084 -3.0583431999999577"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-272404336050745760"},"published":{"$t":"2015-01-09T10:49:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2015-09-20T00:58:26.184-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"good food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"people watching"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"photography"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SE Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"vietnam"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Vietnam: The People of Hoi An, A Photo Essay"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EFollowing \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/10\/Hoi-an-sights-travel.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe sights\u003C\/a\u003E, and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/09\/hoi-an-vietnam.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe food\u003C\/a\u003E of Hoi An, the last installment of this series is dedicated to the people. The day in and day outs of market life in Hoi An, Vietnam. Those that dedicate themselves and their craft, to being there early, helping their follow citizens, and feeding or caring for all who give their patronage. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-YbNgqUyHUEM\/UoFPRW_mkJI\/AAAAAAAANh8\/vBpJP-TfuTQ\/s1600\/_MG_6531.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"424\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-YbNgqUyHUEM\/UoFPRW_mkJI\/AAAAAAAANh8\/vBpJP-TfuTQ\/s320\/_MG_6531.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EA women making the banh xeo (Vietnamese crepes) that I adore.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-fJcSW-Js_4s\/UoFPSk_P2iI\/AAAAAAAANiE\/xReH3J3O6f0\/s1600\/_MG_6534.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"425\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-fJcSW-Js_4s\/UoFPSk_P2iI\/AAAAAAAANiE\/xReH3J3O6f0\/s320\/_MG_6534.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-XK4qLPdmvFo\/UoFPR-W2lOI\/AAAAAAAANiA\/AZnsIQB90wU\/s1600\/_MG_6537.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-XK4qLPdmvFo\/UoFPR-W2lOI\/AAAAAAAANiA\/AZnsIQB90wU\/s320\/_MG_6537.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-yUvD5uX4lYY\/UoFPWLpgMkI\/AAAAAAAANiY\/_Zl0M117vEQ\/s1600\/_MG_6550.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"425\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-yUvD5uX4lYY\/UoFPWLpgMkI\/AAAAAAAANiY\/_Zl0M117vEQ\/s640\/_MG_6550.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ENeville of \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/tasteofhoian.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETaste of Hoi An Food Tour\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Restaurant_Review-g298082-d4308916-Reviews-Madam_Khanh_The_Banh_Mi_Queen-Hoi_An_Quang_Nam_Province.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMadam Khanh the Queen of Banh Mi\u003C\/a\u003E vendor and grand-daughter.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-iRLQwlj_ye0\/UoFPVnghE1I\/AAAAAAAANiU\/2Y7e9uYmx44\/s1600\/_MG_6701.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-iRLQwlj_ye0\/UoFPVnghE1I\/AAAAAAAANiU\/2Y7e9uYmx44\/s320\/_MG_6701.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EI love this picture; it's blurry, uncentered and in keeping with temple visiting standards, but the message that shines through to me is \"to live a happy life, not everything has to be crystal clear\".\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-9ODSbe5x3RQ\/UoFPZyTOo-I\/AAAAAAAANiw\/5aU71Pn1dzA\/s1600\/_MG_6829.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-9ODSbe5x3RQ\/UoFPZyTOo-I\/AAAAAAAANiw\/5aU71Pn1dzA\/s320\/_MG_6829.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ERice paper on the move!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-H8kjDW_2RH4\/UoFPYxAIdmI\/AAAAAAAANis\/vU5DWqpafZk\/s1600\/_MG_6859.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-H8kjDW_2RH4\/UoFPYxAIdmI\/AAAAAAAANis\/vU5DWqpafZk\/s320\/_MG_6859.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EOur favorite pho shop at 8:45am on a Tuesday. Cua Dai Street.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-V0gqVfgqjJg\/UoFPa5tsxCI\/AAAAAAAANi4\/l0iVJ8zI79I\/s1600\/hoiannap.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-V0gqVfgqjJg\/UoFPa5tsxCI\/AAAAAAAANi4\/l0iVJ8zI79I\/s320\/hoiannap.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ENap time, 3:30pm on a Wednesday.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-t9AzlJBPLjs\/UoFPIFyCs8I\/AAAAAAAANhQ\/LcNDI67T0hc\/s1600\/IMG_6757.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-t9AzlJBPLjs\/UoFPIFyCs8I\/AAAAAAAANhQ\/LcNDI67T0hc\/s320\/IMG_6757.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EUniversity student leading our \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Attraction_Review-g298082-d2358478-Reviews-Hoi_An_Free_Day_Tours-Hoi_An_Quang_Nam_Province.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHoi An Free Day Tour\u003C\/a\u003E (a community offering for helping students to achieve English and life skills while supporting locals).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-AHJk7SZC20c\/UoFV5FkQV5I\/AAAAAAAANjM\/bKVF1UFe4Go\/s1600\/_MG_6769.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-AHJk7SZC20c\/UoFV5FkQV5I\/AAAAAAAANjM\/bKVF1UFe4Go\/s640\/_MG_6769.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EShip builder seen during the tour.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/272404336050745760\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2015\/01\/vietnam-people-of-hoi-a-photo-essay.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/272404336050745760"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/272404336050745760"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2015\/01\/vietnam-people-of-hoi-a-photo-essay.html","title":"Vietnam: The People of Hoi An, A Photo Essay"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-YbNgqUyHUEM\/UoFPRW_mkJI\/AAAAAAAANh8\/vBpJP-TfuTQ\/s72-c\/_MG_6531.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"tp. Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam"},"georss$point":{"$t":"15.8800584 108.3380469"},"georss$box":{"$t":"15.6357444 108.0153234 16.1243724 108.66077039999999"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-5297800426766564722"},"published":{"$t":"2013-12-24T15:58:00.002-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2015-09-06T05:20:29.856-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"bikes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"cafes el magnifico"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"co-working space"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"coffee"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"coffee shop"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"collaborative"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"cooperatives"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"eating out in madrid"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"madrid"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"sustainable"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"third wave coffee"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"workshop"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Coffee and Community: La Bicicleta Cafe Madrid "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'm going to tell you a somewhat depressing story. But alas, hold out for the end because there is indeed a happy ending.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI imagine what occurred to me, has also occurred to many expats, travelers or loners who find themselves dumped into the holiday season without a family to call their own in their adopted land. Getting your bearings - creating those friend circles - can be difficult those first few months once you've made the choice to move, work, study, or travel abroad, and there is probably nothing more nerve-wracking or awkward than trying to invite yourself to someone else's holiday party or vacation house, even though you know you'll be essentially - or what may feel like - the only person left in your city come the week all the children are let out for winter vacation.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI myself, know this feeling all too well. I arrived to Spain in 2009 to work as an English teacher just days before Thanksgiving, so it was quite evident to me that I'd spend that glorified Thursday in a bus somewhere arriving to my new destination. A few quick weeks following that, and barely two weeks into my job, and we were off for a long winter break; I had made few networks, my new roommates were going back to their respective countries (France and the UK), leaving me - an American 9,000 miles from her last home - a bit SOL. This was by no means pre-Internet, but I dare to say pre-Meetup Spain, and certainly for a smaller metropolitan area like Valencia a insurmountable obstacle in my social calendar. There was a lot to see, I took long walks through the city, admiring the meticulously placed lights hanging from old gas lamps, observed the holy \u003Ci\u003Ebelén\u003C\/i\u003E (nativity scene) in the immaculately reverent cathedral, drowned myself in hot \u003Ci\u003Ecafes con leche\u003C\/i\u003E - one of my first fluent sentences in the language \"\u003Ci\u003Edame un café con leche por favor\u003C\/i\u003E\" - and meandered through covered markets offering their abundance of marzipan, chorizo, \u003Ci\u003Epolverones\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(a Spanish variation of shortbread treats) and castañas (chestnuts). Although, that came to a more or less abrupt stop when the streets emptied, the families retreated to their living rooms, and even it seems the trash collectors stopped working, as well as signs on storefronts begun to surface of \"\u003Ci\u003Ecerrada por vacaciones\u003C\/i\u003E.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERather than dancing sugar plum fairies circling my thoughts, I had flashes of 'The Christmas Story' and a Chinese Christmas, a lacquered roasted duck- if I was lucky - but certainly dumplings of some sort.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAnd I wasn't far from the truth. On Christmas day I just had to get out, I had to remove myself from watching movies, patiently watching Skype away messages, and the idea of cooking for one.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo I ended up at a Chinese bar\/cafeteria a few blocks from my apartment. It occurred to me to go to an Irish pub (aren't they always open?), but the fear of facing identical faces of another generation stereotypically nursing their holiday wounds with alcohol, disturbed me. The streets were desolate, not even a florescent open sign lit the restaurant, but it was clear it was the only commercial shop on the street not observing the holiday. I suppose I found refuge in the idea that they were also immigrants, that neither of us spoke the language correctly, fluidly, and that for a short period I'd commingle with my species - without words - on a day that eerily reminded me that I had chosen this path of solitude, that I better get used to being by my lonesome and that Heinekens taste the same everywhere. There were dumplings, however.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe story ends there, it wasn't dramatic, OK maybe I shed a few tears onslaught by my experience during the romantic comedy I watched later that evening, but I soon found colleagues, friends, a companion and never spent another holiday in Spain alone. But I know that sensation and wish to implore that all of those \"loners\" this holiday season, seek communal spaces, light-hearted open gatherings.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn Madrid, Spain's capital, there almost isn't a more idyllic setting than \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.labicicletacafe.com\/index-en.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELa Bicicleta Cafe\u003C\/a\u003E, which besides from serving amazing coffee from my favorite Barcelona coffee shop \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cafeselmagnifico.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECafes El Magnifico\u003C\/a\u003E, exudes collaboration, community and the future.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMerry Christmas and Happy Holidays,\u003Cbr \/\u003ELauren\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-FN1SyuE-2zc\/UoEeyiayOaI\/AAAAAAAANZc\/5mtQfAdQJvE\/s1600\/_MG_8455.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-FN1SyuE-2zc\/UoEeyiayOaI\/AAAAAAAANZc\/5mtQfAdQJvE\/s640\/_MG_8455.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EWhen the sun hits Madrid just right.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-sdpcUzJxjK4\/UoEew1AheQI\/AAAAAAAANZU\/UuF7KYLZ5WE\/s1600\/_MG_8515.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-sdpcUzJxjK4\/UoEew1AheQI\/AAAAAAAANZU\/UuF7KYLZ5WE\/s640\/_MG_8515.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EInside the communal working space and bike friendly coffee shop, La Bicicleta in Malasaña\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-7vrD9fM7slw\/UoEe1PCT2_I\/AAAAAAAANZ0\/j-AGr4EVKdQ\/s1600\/_MG_8517.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-7vrD9fM7slw\/UoEe1PCT2_I\/AAAAAAAANZ0\/j-AGr4EVKdQ\/s640\/_MG_8517.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EOne of the best lattes (café con leche) in Madrid. If you'd like something a smidgen stronger, go for the \u003Ci\u003Ecortado\u003C\/i\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ciframe frameborder=\"0\" height=\"480\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;q=La+Bicicleta+Caf%C3%A9\u0026amp;fb=1\u0026amp;gl=us\u0026amp;hq=bicicleta++cafe+madrid\u0026amp;cid=5620708204232263553\u0026amp;t=m\u0026amp;ll=40.425601,-3.704817\u0026amp;spn=0.007841,0.013733\u0026amp;z=16\u0026amp;iwloc=A\u0026amp;output=embed\" width=\"640\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csmall\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;q=La+Bicicleta+Caf%C3%A9\u0026amp;fb=1\u0026amp;gl=us\u0026amp;hq=bicicleta++cafe+madrid\u0026amp;cid=5620708204232263553\u0026amp;t=m\u0026amp;ll=40.425601,-3.704817\u0026amp;spn=0.007841,0.013733\u0026amp;z=16\u0026amp;iwloc=A\u0026amp;source=embed\" style=\"color: blue; text-align: left;\"\u003EView Larger Map\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/small\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOpen 10am-1am most days\u003Cbr \/\u003E10-2:30am Fridays and Saturdays"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/5297800426766564722\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/12\/coffee--bikes-community-madrid.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/5297800426766564722"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/5297800426766564722"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/12\/coffee--bikes-community-madrid.html","title":"Coffee and Community: La Bicicleta Cafe Madrid "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-FN1SyuE-2zc\/UoEeyiayOaI\/AAAAAAAANZc\/5mtQfAdQJvE\/s72-c\/_MG_8455.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Plaza San Ildefonso, 9, 28004 Madrid, Spain"},"georss$point":{"$t":"40.4238059 -3.7022438999999849"},"georss$box":{"$t":"14.901771399999998 -45.010837899999984 65.9458404 37.606350100000014"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-4200573095848940145"},"published":{"$t":"2013-07-25T16:22:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-07-25T16:24:07.789-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"cheese"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Galicia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"in memoriam"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"reflection"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Santiago de Compostela"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"spanish wine"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"thankful"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"train"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"wine"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"In Memoriam: Santiago de Compostela"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003EI had this post waiting in my drafts folder; it was to be a beautiful tribute to a Galician white wine (godello a.k.a verdello) that I had recently discovered (and loved) and a wonderful cheese to pair it with (that made itself known to us in the small town of Burgos); a means of celebrating two unique and small producers in the northern Spanish countryside, and in a way I still want to do that. But I most certainly can't do that without drawing upon the tragedy of the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2013\/07\/25\/world\/europe\/spain-train-crash\/index.html?hpt=hp_t1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERenfe train derailment in Galicia\u003C\/a\u003E that occurred Wednesday evening.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-pHBiS0WrCEs\/UfGIa4EbTrI\/AAAAAAAAMO0\/-naiWz752Jg\/s1600\/Santiago+022.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"480\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-pHBiS0WrCEs\/UfGIa4EbTrI\/AAAAAAAAMO0\/-naiWz752Jg\/s640\/Santiago+022.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EViews of Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI've spent a few memorable moments of my time in Spain within Galicia, most of them in Santiago, kilometers from where the accident took place. I can't help but reflect on the generosity of the people, the mystery and inconsistency of the region's sunshine, the complexity of its history (Celtic, Catholic, Portuguese, Spanish, Galician), the gastronomic delights and the omnipresent whisper of the Atlantic Ocean. I've walked the Camino de Santiago with a loved one - held lambs in my arms, chatted with dairy farmers and seen untamed\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Collard_greens\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003Eberzas\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E growing high, explored the cliffs and lighthouses of the coast with dear friends, and shared train rides with strangers between Santiago de Compostela and Madrid.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESometimes what I write seems trivial when compared to the actions and news of the world around us. I've been a bit quiet around here on the blog lately primarily because I've had trouble finding the \"why\" in what I do, and trying to grasp if my efforts have a greater effect on the outside world. If this was my last day on this planet, would I want to be remembered as the girl who wrote about Spanish food?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E***\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhile the catastrophe is still under investigation, thus far eighty lives have been lost, and another 94 victims remain in hospitals, 34 of them in critical care. There was undoubtedly youthful and energetic souls on board with purposeful lives and storied pasts. In many ways we are as fragile as the grape harvest; we are a predetermined variant of nature and easily bruised and damaged by the frost or drought of our surroundings and environment. As we mourn this loss as a nation and world, we are also given the blessing of reflecting on our daily routine, and impact on one another. Perhaps, we are more important to strangers than we imagine, and if we are confident we aren't doing enough, thankfully we're given the opportunity to change, even if for just one more day.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-3hod-Lt6Zuw\/Ue1C1kvO7BI\/AAAAAAAAMNs\/NhXqaJ7O_14\/s1600\/_MG_8389.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-3hod-Lt6Zuw\/Ue1C1kvO7BI\/AAAAAAAAMNs\/NhXqaJ7O_14\/s640\/_MG_8389.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-b433LyEyTrI\/Ue1C8y5DjrI\/AAAAAAAAMOE\/hp8hz86iKRw\/s1600\/_MG_8392.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-b433LyEyTrI\/Ue1C8y5DjrI\/AAAAAAAAMOE\/hp8hz86iKRw\/s640\/_MG_8392.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.gargalo.es\/\" style=\"text-align: start;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGargalo\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;wine has been classified as \"fantastically energetic, refreshing, and flavorful,\" as well as \"youthful.\" You'll find these unique wines from the micro-climate valley of Monterrei in Ourense, Spain.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6P087BN45KI\/Ue1C99YJ7TI\/AAAAAAAAMOU\/YfYEzz3d8N4\/s1600\/_MG_8519.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-6P087BN45KI\/Ue1C99YJ7TI\/AAAAAAAAMOU\/YfYEzz3d8N4\/s640\/_MG_8519.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.santa-gadea.com\/\" style=\"text-align: start;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESanta Gadea\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003E, is an organic goat's milk (Spanish)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003ECamembert\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThis post is dedicated to those who lost their lives in this tragic event, those that fought to survive and may now be asking \"why\" and those that leapt at the opportunity to help others in their time of need.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/4200573095848940145\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/07\/in-memoriam-santiago-de-compostela.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/4200573095848940145"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/4200573095848940145"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/07\/in-memoriam-santiago-de-compostela.html","title":"In Memoriam: Santiago de Compostela"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-pHBiS0WrCEs\/UfGIa4EbTrI\/AAAAAAAAMO0\/-naiWz752Jg\/s72-c\/Santiago+022.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain"},"georss$point":{"$t":"42.8782132 -8.5448444999999538"},"georss$box":{"$t":"42.831671199999995 -8.625525499999954 42.9247552 -8.4641634999999535"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-4161607710475262694"},"published":{"$t":"2013-07-09T10:25:00.001-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-07-09T10:29:34.228-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"bread"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"coffee"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"eggs"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"local"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"merienda"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"paprika"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"saffron"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"sherry"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"sobremesa"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"sobremesa in spain"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"spain"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Spanish food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"trade routes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"typical Spanish"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"vinegar"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Inside the Spanish Pantry: What All Spaniards Should Have At Home Part 2"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003EWelcome to Part II, I hope you'll be inspired to fill your pantry with Spanish necessities, or that this article helps guide you through the market on your next travels through Spain.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cu\u003EEggs:\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;After the potatoes of \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/07\/spanish-pantry-foods.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPart I\u003C\/a\u003E, we\u0026nbsp;must have eggs, they're like \"peas in a pod\" and aside from making the classic\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Etortilla de patatas\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;which I have already ground into your memory, eggs also serve as wonderful impromptu meals like\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ehuevos revueltos\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(scrambled eggs),\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ehuevos rotos\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(literally \"broken eggs\" with fried potatoes, and often small pieces of jamón or chorizo bits, famously served at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.casalucio.es\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECasa Lucio in Madrid\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(where President Bill Clinton once dined) and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ebizcochos\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(cakes), or a classic and delicious \"poor man's\" meal of rice with a fried egg and tomato sauce - which is incredibly simple and homey.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAs a side note, Spain has an\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.iberianatureforum.com\/index.php?topic=2886.0\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Einteresting category system\u003C\/a\u003E developed to acknowledge the grade, farm, and feeding process of each egg; the first number is key in understanding the origin: 0 signifies organic and pasture raised, 1 is free range, commonly known as \"gallinas libres\" but no longer vouches the fodder, 2 is barn raised and finally, number 3 is the lowest and is up for interpretation; usually entailing industrial means, tight confinement and potentially, although I'm generalizing, GMO feed. Most importantly, get to know your vendors (In Malaga I recommend \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/08\/good-eggs-rio-grande-huevos-ecologicos.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERio Grande\u003C\/a\u003E). And if you still think I'm blowing a lot of hot air, read more \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/articles.mercola.com\/sites\/articles\/archive\/2012\/03\/19\/caged-vs-free-range-chicken-eggs.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;about caged and free range eggs.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-qA1jacl-wJc\/UTXVhNq7ytI\/AAAAAAAALqg\/NAZ1vJ6BX1Q\/s1600\/_MG_2877.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-qA1jacl-wJc\/UTXVhNq7ytI\/AAAAAAAALqg\/NAZ1vJ6BX1Q\/s640\/_MG_2877.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cu\u003ESaffron:\u003C\/u\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EFrom one of the most economical to the most extravagant, let's move on to saffron,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Eazafrán\u003C\/i\u003E, also known as the\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003Emost expensive spice in the world and harvested in Spain\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;(introduced by the Arabs in the 9th century to the Iberian Peninsula, but now primarily\u0026nbsp;found in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/La_Mancha\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELa Mancha\u003C\/a\u003E, did you know that?). A kilo of saffron threads from the grocery store will set you back over 5,000 euros, but keep in mind 225,000 stigmas are needed to produce one pound of product! But in reality you don't need that much, a simple pinch goes a long way and is the perfect ingredient to achieve that fabulous golden hue that suffuses through world famous paella dishes. ¡\u003Ci\u003EOjo\u003C\/i\u003E! Be careful as many restaurants will attempt to copy this color with an industrial colorant, which of course loses the unique flavor that the saffron stigmas develop during their drying process and lend to the final product. A packet of ground saffron (\u003Ci\u003Eazafrán\u0026nbsp;molido\u003C\/i\u003E), say 40g like the Carmencita package seen below, will last for various recipes and costs just under 2€.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-O5_Oc8vRyeA\/UT8LcqK6QlI\/AAAAAAAALuo\/eKuqWki-qiY\/s1600\/_MG_7983.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-O5_Oc8vRyeA\/UT8LcqK6QlI\/AAAAAAAALuo\/eKuqWki-qiY\/s640\/_MG_7983.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cu\u003EBread:\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;\"\u003Ci\u003Ees pan comido\u003C\/i\u003E\" (meaning it's as easy as (apple) pie), but none the less an ingredient that never fails to be present in Spanish households. In fact, quite a furry of panic can occur if there is no bread left. Children on their way home from school, fathers WhatsApp'd by their wives \"Honey, please pick up some bread.\" A simple\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ebarra\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(baguette loaf) of bread can be found in almost every corner of the standard Spanish city; obviously at the bakery, but also Middle Eastern fruit stands, Chinese owned 99 cent stores, or even bulk candy stores (\u003Ci\u003Echucherías\u003C\/i\u003E). To eat a meal without bread, is to not eat. It's a fork, a source of energy and a super economical way to wrap jamón york (ham slices), Nocilla (Spanish chocolate spread like Nutella) and whatever else is found in the fridge for a quick snack, the end result being the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ebocadillo\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(sandwich).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-NoOsWplzWCc\/UTXGF9wkmXI\/AAAAAAAALok\/1qNum9A_jWc\/s1600\/MadridFebruary+007.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-NoOsWplzWCc\/UTXGF9wkmXI\/AAAAAAAALok\/1qNum9A_jWc\/s640\/MadridFebruary+007.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZAzrDldL3ls\/UTXQOp5RISI\/AAAAAAAALpI\/CTi-ykKvcMY\/s1600\/ElArboldelPanMADRIDpanBread+(13).JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ZAzrDldL3ls\/UTXQOp5RISI\/AAAAAAAALpI\/CTi-ykKvcMY\/s640\/ElArboldelPanMADRIDpanBread+(13).JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cu\u003EVinegar:\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;So we've deduced that every family in Spain has olive oil coming out of their ears, but what about vinegar? I mean what's a salad without oil and vinegar (essentially\u0026nbsp;the only dressing found in Spain)? Well I'll go a little out on a limb here and one up that statement, that not only should every home have vinegar on hand, but that they should be using\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Evinagre de jerez\u003C\/i\u003E, Sherry vinegar, none of that Modena stuff. That\u0026nbsp;after all\u0026nbsp;would be supporting the local\u0026nbsp;economy and something we're all aboard for during this economic crisis riffling through Spain.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-mJUb0n7VJ_8\/UT8LZeNtLeI\/AAAAAAAALuA\/1dzmsLO48DI\/s1600\/_MG_7961.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-mJUb0n7VJ_8\/UT8LZeNtLeI\/AAAAAAAALuA\/1dzmsLO48DI\/s640\/_MG_7961.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ESanchez Romate\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Evinagre de Jérez reserva\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(sherry wine vinegar, aged 3 years). Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cu\u003EPimentón:\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Another \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/06\/Spanish-paprika-pimenton.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ecrimson colored spice\u003C\/a\u003E, and one that is used with much more looseness of the wrist than saffron due in part to its price and the abundance of recipes that require it.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EPimentón dulce\u003C\/i\u003E, a sweet or mild paprika, similar\u0026nbsp;to that of Hungary and the Balkans; of this variety there are the DOs (denomination of origin)\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ede la Vera\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;and Murcia. Its smoldering taste comes from the manner in which it is dried by the smoke of oak branches. It can also be purchased in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Eagridulce\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(moderately spicy) and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Epicante\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(spicy); all three\u0026nbsp;varieties\u0026nbsp;originate from different red chilies and bell peppers brought from the Americas when\u0026nbsp;Columbus\u0026nbsp;returned to the\u0026nbsp;peninsula\u0026nbsp; At home, it's used in making chorizos,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Efabada Asturiana\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Emojo picón\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(pepper sauce from the Canary Islands), and\u0026nbsp;countlessly sprinkled directly over potatoes, eggs, and some cheese rinds.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ua-eY9LA-EA\/UT8Lbns00-I\/AAAAAAAALuc\/_6iOIoF1Yck\/s1600\/_MG_7981.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ua-eY9LA-EA\/UT8Lbns00-I\/AAAAAAAALuc\/_6iOIoF1Yck\/s640\/_MG_7981.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cu\u003ECanned Seafood:\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;You certainly can tell if you're in the home of a Spaniard if you peruse the kitchen and find numerous amounts of seafood in tins; tuna, sardines, mackerel, mussels, razor clams, squid - the list goes on and on. Believe it or not, prices range from extremely affordable (.99-1.20 euros for a can of sardines) to exorbitant\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ealmejas blancas\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(white clams) at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.espinaler.es\/ListaProductos.aspx?Fam=6\u0026amp;lan=en\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E60 euros a tin\u003C\/a\u003E. Either way you open it, Spaniards put an important emphasis on these seafood products and much pride in their industry (see more on \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/05\/hump-day-anchoas-sanfilippo-cantabrian.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehow anchovies are packaged\u003C\/a\u003E and sold in Cantabria, Spain).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QDU6e3KF_FM\/UT8LZs89YQI\/AAAAAAAALuI\/7Odz_MzXntk\/s1600\/_MG_7970.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QDU6e3KF_FM\/UT8LZs89YQI\/AAAAAAAALuI\/7Odz_MzXntk\/s640\/_MG_7970.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cu\u003ECoffee:\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Last but not least we have coffee, which of course is not, and never will be a product of Spain, but that remains a crucial factor in the culture of Spanish ways of life. Meeting with your friends for an afternoon chat? Have the coffee pot\u0026nbsp;on-hand\u0026nbsp; On your 11am work break? Go for a coffee. Just finishing your two hour lunch meal? What better way to fight off the food coma ensuing in your belly than\u0026nbsp;shooting-up with an espresso?! In fact, it doesn't even have to be a coffee, but the word \"coffee\" in these contexts encompasses the act of getting together and being surrounded by friends, relatives,\u0026nbsp;acquaintances\u0026nbsp;or coworkers.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EToday, every Spanish household is the proud owner of the now very in fashion\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Moka_pot\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMoka pot\u003C\/a\u003E, an early 20th century invention that swept Europe and pretty much created a monopoly for home brewing. Only in the last 5 years or so has the phenomenon of\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.nespresso.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENestle's Nespresso\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(coffee capsules) and home espresso machines caught on. But you can guarantee that\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Eestés donde estés\u003C\/i\u003E, wherever you are, developing a relationship with a Spaniard, will end with the ubiquitous coffee date.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-K7Q5x1HuGUM\/UTiTrzKi8HI\/AAAAAAAALqw\/rUNuY6sSDkg\/s1600\/_MG_2386.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-K7Q5x1HuGUM\/UTiTrzKi8HI\/AAAAAAAALqw\/rUNuY6sSDkg\/s640\/_MG_2386.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EThanks for reading! Do you agree? Did I miss something in the Spanish pantry? If you'd like to comment, please do - I love\u0026nbsp;interacting\u0026nbsp;with other Spanophiles. Or follow me on\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SobremesaInSpain\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFacebook at Sobremesa In Spain\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003EAlso need to mention a tip from Cat at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/sunshineandsiestas.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESunshine and Sietas\u003C\/a\u003E regarding my last post, she brought to the conversation the importance and prevalence of garlic!! ¡Sí señor!"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/4161607710475262694\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/07\/spanish-foods-what-to-buy.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/4161607710475262694"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/4161607710475262694"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/07\/spanish-foods-what-to-buy.html","title":"Inside the Spanish Pantry: What All Spaniards Should Have At Home Part 2"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-qA1jacl-wJc\/UTXVhNq7ytI\/AAAAAAAALqg\/NAZ1vJ6BX1Q\/s72-c\/_MG_2877.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Spain"},"georss$point":{"$t":"40.463667000000008 -3.7492200000000366"},"georss$box":{"$t":"14.545170500000008 -45.057814000000036 66.3821635 37.559373999999963"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-2407862155509705339"},"published":{"$t":"2013-06-19T09:33:00.002-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-06-19T11:41:37.824-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"DO"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"extremadura"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"food culture"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"hand collected"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"hump day"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"La Vera"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Murcia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"paprika"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"peppers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"products"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"spain"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Spanish food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"spices"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"trade routes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"traditional"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Hump Day: Pimpentón Spanish Paprika "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003EPaprika has changed my life. Well that's quite a bold statement, but I have to admit that this magical spice (most commonly known through Hungary, Portugal, Serbia and Spain) is one of my greatest passion points about Spanish food culture.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhat would a \u003Ci\u003Epulpo a la gallega\u003C\/i\u003E be without a dashing of \u003Ci\u003Epimentón\u003C\/i\u003E on top, and my beloved lentils and scrambled eggs without such culinary game-changers as \u003Ci\u003Echorizo\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003Echistorra\u003C\/i\u003E? Did you know Spanish charcuterie\u0026nbsp;happens to be filled with paprika?\u0026nbsp;Lest we forget the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/10\/locals-only-madrid-more-of-best-patatas.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003Epatatas bravas\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E of Madrid and the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/04\/asturias-food.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFabada Asturiana\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe story goes that monks returning from the Americas brought a whole lot of peppers back with them in the 1500s, and began (metaphorically speaking) spreading their seeds around the Iberian peninsula and beyond throughout Europe; beginning with the monasteries along the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/03\/buen-camino-sobremesa-in-spain-walking.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECamino de Santiago\u003C\/a\u003E (Way of St James). Sometime after all this pepper growing, famine, droughts, etc., they found a way to preserve the peppers by creating a new food stuff.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn Spain there are 3 kinds of paprika exported from and consumed within Spain:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003Epimentón dulce\u003C\/b\u003E - sweet, made from Bola and Jaranda peppers\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003Epimentón agridulce\u003C\/b\u003E - bittersweet; a mixture of the two other paprikas\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003Epimentón picante \u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;- spicy, hot, made from Jeromín and Jariza peppers\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EPimentón de La Vera D.O. (appellation of origin) is distinct from the other varieties, as the peppers are hand harvested in early fall, and then smoked over an oak wood fire where they will spend 10-15 days being carefully watched and turned until the perfect dehydration point has been reached. Speed of the milling process, pepper, and temperature all have to do with its aroma, flavor and color, and are listed as the most important facets of the final product.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe micro-climate of Caceres (Cáceres as it is spelled in Spanish), Extremadura proves to be a prosperous growing grounds for paprika and they have been carrying on the tradition originally practiced by the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hieronymites\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EOrder of Saint Jerome\u003C\/a\u003E since the 16th century; where inside the walls of the Monastery of Yuste they discovered the possibility of drying and smoking these red peppers (capsicum annuum) of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EOcales\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;group, then grinding them into a fine powder, finalizing in that discerning smoky taste.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn the other side of Spain, the \u003Ci\u003Epimentón de Murcia\u003C\/i\u003E (Guadalentin Valley), also another D.O., is bright red in color and produced from the bola peppers; which were traditionally sun dried - although mass drying rooms are becoming more common.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QSUSYRT8n_M\/UcGQOMG20XI\/AAAAAAAAMLQ\/ofnEtywwRFs\/s1600\/_MG_7981.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QSUSYRT8n_M\/UcGQOMG20XI\/AAAAAAAAMLQ\/ofnEtywwRFs\/s640\/_MG_7981.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EWith \u003Ci\u003Epimentón dulce\u003C\/i\u003E, a rust like color and subtle flavor is given off. This variety is also quite commonly used as a colorant for paellas. Photo is of \"La Odalisca\" brand from Murcia, Spain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-rayu4YKiKX0\/UTiT5-2r9MI\/AAAAAAAALq4\/yjV1CD1x51Y\/s1600\/MF2012+Day2+029.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-rayu4YKiKX0\/UTiT5-2r9MI\/AAAAAAAALq4\/yjV1CD1x51Y\/s640\/MF2012+Day2+029.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPimentón de la Vera receives numerous accolades from home cooks to master chefs for its smoky characteristics and antique drying process. Spanish food laws regulate the production of this product, so that only the finest is packaged.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EPimentón\u003C\/i\u003E (paprika) generally holds a shelf-life of 2 years, and I find that it makes great gifts, as the authentic and trusted brands maintain popular designs and collectible tins.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EPurchase Spanish paprika from the following online food retailers:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.zingermans.com\/Product.aspx?ProductID=P-PSW\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZingerman's\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.deandeluca.com\/new-and-seasonal\/pantry-staples\/smoked-sweet-paprika.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDean \u0026amp; Deluca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tienda.com\/food\/smoked_paprika.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELa Tienda\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EPlease like \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SobremesaInSpain\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESobremesa In Spain on Facebook\u003C\/a\u003E or follow my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/jamonyvino\/spanish-food\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPinterest board\u003C\/a\u003E for more delectable Spanish food products.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/2407862155509705339\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/06\/Spanish-paprika-pimenton.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/2407862155509705339"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/2407862155509705339"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/06\/Spanish-paprika-pimenton.html","title":"Hump Day: Pimpentón Spanish Paprika "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-QSUSYRT8n_M\/UcGQOMG20XI\/AAAAAAAAMLQ\/ofnEtywwRFs\/s72-c\/_MG_7981.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-5852237174171026428"},"published":{"$t":"2013-05-02T05:46:00.002-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2015-08-21T17:40:26.142-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"artisan"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"chocolate"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"chocolate makers"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"entrepreneurs"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"environmental"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"gourmet"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"ho chi minh"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"saigon"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"small batch"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"vietnam"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003EDo you remember the days when all you needed to satisfy a chocolate craving was a few Hershey's Kisses, a Twix candy bar or maybe if you were treating yourself to the good stuff, a Dove chocolate piece? What about when chocolate was simply broken down into three categories; dark, milk and white? Well we've evolved quite a bit as a species since then and thankfully our days of \"chocolate\" consumption can now be satiated by \u003Ci\u003Ereal\u003C\/i\u003E chocolate, those finely crafted bars with a true punch of healthy antioxidants (cacao is rich in flavonoids), offering a quick blood flow boost for the heart and brain.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo you might ask what is real chocolate anyways and who is making it? Would you be shocked to hear that chocolate can be sourced from Vietnam? Yes, that beautiful rice paddy and pho soup paradise. During the 19th century cacao was introduced to Indochina, then sadly left and forgotten during the years of the war, only to be rediscovered within the last decade. The Marou farms are family owned along and throughout the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands. All of their dark chocolate is crafted using the highest quality local Vietnamese ingredients, created in the Marou workshop in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh),Vietnam.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-2Z6c0lql0KM\/UXlKdPd9NQI\/AAAAAAAAMCw\/-g4MQHgUc-s\/s1600\/_MG_8199.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-2Z6c0lql0KM\/UXlKdPd9NQI\/AAAAAAAAMCw\/-g4MQHgUc-s\/s640\/_MG_8199.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003EMarou single origin chocolate is the\u0026nbsp;self-proclaimed\u0026nbsp;dream child of two \"\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.marouchocolate.com\/?page_id=14\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eunusual Frenchmen\u003C\/a\u003E\" Samuel and Vincent, and is a pioneer in the modern chocolate world (similar to the profile I wrote on\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/12\/Dandelion-chocolate-SF-smallbatch.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDandelion in San Francisco\u003C\/a\u003E).\u0026nbsp;They are bean to bar chocolate makers - meaning that they produce and regulate the entire process from farm and bean selection,\u0026nbsp;to roasting, to tempering and finally wrapping. It's an exciting time in the industry. We consumers are no longer solely concerned with eating chocolate, but knowing where the cacao beans come from, what other ingredients were used to create it and if the raw materials were fairly traded* or not.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI surmise that many of you will quickly turn to believers when you hear the glorious snap of their chocolate bars.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-rxuX1-_I5us\/UXlKgryY_kI\/AAAAAAAAMC4\/hZ87-L6BGlE\/s1600\/_MG_8205.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-rxuX1-_I5us\/UXlKgryY_kI\/AAAAAAAAMC4\/hZ87-L6BGlE\/s640\/_MG_8205.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EMarou Faiseurs de Chocolat; Produit du Vietnam. Made and sourced in Vietnam. There are only 3 ingredients; cacao beans and their naturally created cocoa butter, and sugar cane.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-dcho-qEqdIM\/UXlK1Gi3AFI\/AAAAAAAAMDI\/fQ4iHTTGha8\/s1600\/_MG_8222.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-dcho-qEqdIM\/UXlK1Gi3AFI\/AAAAAAAAMDI\/fQ4iHTTGha8\/s640\/_MG_8222.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ESamuel and Vincent of Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat with cacao farmers in Vietnam.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-gziVrGvEdSQ\/UXlK43tT6aI\/AAAAAAAAMDQ\/EUC9Oi5MS2o\/s1600\/_MG_8226.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-gziVrGvEdSQ\/UXlK43tT6aI\/AAAAAAAAMDQ\/EUC9Oi5MS2o\/s640\/_MG_8226.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EAs I carefully unwrapped the divine Marou packaging, childhood sensations of glee and later awe, as the last detail of their creativity and branding came to life.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis year the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.academyofchocolate.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAcademy of Chocolate\u003C\/a\u003E has awarded them the following:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBest Dark Chocolate, bean to bar: SILVER Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat Tien Giang 70% \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E- Is described as \"A full bodied chocolate with spicy, fruity notes, made from cacao organically grown by farmers of the Cho Gao Co-op in the Mekong Delta.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E- In my tasting I noted a bit more acidity in the\u0026nbsp;initial bite, then it warmed and sweetened the longer it was left in the mouth. A great bar for those converting to real chocolate.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBest Dark Chocolate, bean to bar: BRONZE Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat Ben Tre 78%\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E- Is described as \"An intense yet balanced chocolate, from Ben Tre province in the Mekong Delta, where cacao trees are planted among coconut groves.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E- I personally tasted some bitterness of green bananas or coffee, and found a tart red fruit aftertaste. A really unique chocolate!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFind them:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.marouchocolate.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMarou Chocolate\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhere to purchase, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.marouchocolate.com\/?page_id=493\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003EFacebook \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MAROU.CHOCOLATE\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMarou Chocolate\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ETwitter \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MarouChocolate\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMarou Chocolate\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ETheir packaging is also something to spark a coffee table discussion. The imagery based on nature and history, eloquently describes the southern Vietnam that Samuel and Vincent call home.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"360\" mozallowfullscreen=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/45629100?autoplay=1\" webkitallowfullscreen=\"\" width=\"640\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMORE TIPS ON BUYING AND ENJOYING \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cu\u003EREAL\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E CHOCOLATE\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E1. Read the ingredients. Much of the quality control can be understood from the back of the package. If the ingredient list starts with sugar, put it down. Same for milk power, soy products or vanilla. A truly good chocolate bar won't require additional additives for the palate. Chocolate mass, natural cocoa butter and sugar (roughly 30%) is tested\u0026nbsp;make-up for letting the flavors speak for themselves.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E2. Chocolate percentage is not such an important part of the equation. It's a bit of personal\u0026nbsp;preference\u0026nbsp;as well as the influence of marketing. It's also about what the chocolate maker has deemed as the\u0026nbsp;appropriate\u0026nbsp;blend for a particular bean. Again, the key factor is more about where it was cultivated and how it was manufactured. However I think that most dark chocolate lovers tend to enjoy between 68-78%. White chocolate does not have any pure chocolate (chocolate liquor) whatsoever, often containing less than 20% cocoa butter, making the rest of the composition heavy in sugar, other (vegetable) fats and milk products.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E3. Seeing a \"Fair Trade*\" sticker is often not enough to\u0026nbsp;guarantee\u0026nbsp;ethics and business dealings. The price and futures of chocolate are generally based on Euronext, a commodity exchange system in Amsterdam, much like that of the coffee industry. See the documentary\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/blackgoldmovie.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBlack Gold\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;for more on that. Personal anecdote; The other day I saw a Kit Kat bar at the checkout with a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/programmes\/b006mg74\/features\/fairtrade-chocolate\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFairtrade sticker\u003C\/a\u003E - this blew my mind - it seems to be another marketing tactic to sell and control our spending habits with false charity. I would much rather know that my chocolate producer actually has a relationship with their cacao producers, and that the chocolate bar was indeed created from 100% of the labeled beans (where in the cases of Nestle and other conglomerates, the beans could have been mixed - legally).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E4. Single Origin. The does not mean to say that it comes from one grower. It refers to the region or place of origin. Much like wine, the cacao beans lend to their place of origin, to the \u003Ci\u003Eterroir\u003C\/i\u003E. When buying fine chocolate, \"exotic\" areas such as Central and South America, Asia and Madagascar are highly coveted - for their lush, tropical environments and growing conditions. Quite commonly West Africa, particularly\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cocoa_production_in_Ivory_Coast\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Ivory Coast\u003C\/a\u003E is known for producing a mass product - they produced 40% of the world's chocolate in 2012. Where going back to the Fairtrade comment, you can surely bet that if it came from this region, it was more likely commissioned by a multinational CPG company, that it was not harvested in the prime conditions; i.e. health and respect to the workers, land and final product.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E5. Price. Fine chocolate bars run anywhere from $7-10 for a 70 gram or 100 gram bar. Comparing it to standard chocolate, it generally is the case of higher price = higher quality - you get what you pay for - but remember to read the ingredients thoroughly and research the chocolate company regarding their practices and social responsibilities. As mentioned earlier in this post, the $.85 bars of yore were and are priced that way for a reason."},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/5852237174171026428\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/05\/Marou-chocolate-vietnam.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/5852237174171026428"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/5852237174171026428"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/05\/Marou-chocolate-vietnam.html","title":"Marou Faiseurs de Chocolat: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-2Z6c0lql0KM\/UXlKdPd9NQI\/AAAAAAAAMCw\/-g4MQHgUc-s\/s72-c\/_MG_8199.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam"},"georss$point":{"$t":"10.8230989 106.6296638"},"georss$box":{"$t":"9.8248239 105.33877030000001 11.8213739 107.9205573"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-5856605969667874564"},"published":{"$t":"2013-04-23T04:48:00.002-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-04-28T01:42:11.597-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"agriculture"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"andalusia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"biodynamic"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"farms"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"joel salatin"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"local"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"malaga"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"organic"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"polyface"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"ronda"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slow food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"spain"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Spanish food"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Ground Breaking News: Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm Visits Spain"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-uZai6UVLqoI\/UXZwMpJdlgI\/AAAAAAAAMBA\/6_IEvWhrhGo\/s1600\/IMG_8183.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-uZai6UVLqoI\/UXZwMpJdlgI\/AAAAAAAAMBA\/6_IEvWhrhGo\/s640\/IMG_8183.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EIt takes a village. Joel Salatin, Polyface Farms, Virginia, visited Ronda, Andalusia this past weekend, giving his first conference and appearance in Europe at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lusitanos.ladonaira.com\/home\/enter#home\/enter\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFinca La Donaira\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHis words sent chills down my back. It's easy for me to sit on my soapbox and grumble over the lack of interest in organic lifestyle. I never created this site to harp on the bad, but to highlight the good that people are doing, those going against the grain in a true position of minority; \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/04\/crica-valladolid-spain-no-mala-leche.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECrica in Valladolid\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/08\/good-eggs-rio-grande-huevos-ecologicos.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERio Grande of Malaga\u003C\/a\u003E, or my latest meeting with \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.huertalavega.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHuerta La Vega\u003C\/a\u003E in Asturias. But finally the moment came, the \"world's greatest farmer\" in my neck of the woods,\u0026nbsp;chastising\u0026nbsp;the current agriculture situation in Spain, and he seems to have struck a cord. The word is out, Spain will have its moment to decide the future for the health of its citizens, for the conservation of its land and biodiversity, and for the preservation of farming generations to come. But this change, this alter of perceptions must come from the citizens, from the consumers. Will we be ready to stand up and fight for good? Will we battle pesticides, herbicides, cancer causing agents, and harmful water runoff into the peninsula's vast oceans? I sure hope so.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI hope you'll take the time to get to know where your food comes from, the people that dedicate 12-14 hours a day to livestock, land and sea. I hope we'll begin to see that organic isn't expensive -- (last week at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.herboristeriaaloe.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAloe\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;in Malaga I purchased avocados at 3.15€ a kilo and oranges at 1.25€!!!) -- it's the intermediary spokes of the wheel that suck the highest % from the consumer and leave the farmers with cents per kilo. Many of us\/Spaniards come from \u003Ci\u003Epueblos\u003C\/i\u003E, we\/they still visit our\/their birthplaces or vacation homes on the weekends. I would guarantee that if you looked closer, investigated a little further during your next visit, you'd be amazed at how gracious and ardent the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Etoda la vida \u003C\/i\u003Efarmers and agriculturists of our society\u0026nbsp;are; pull into the olive oil estate, ask the\u0026nbsp;shepherd if he'll sell you some milk, offer your afternoon to harvest almonds. Through this thought process, the future looks very bright, the community is that much stronger, and the power over your decisions is \u003Cu\u003Eyours\u003C\/u\u003E, not the puppets controlling\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ela bolsa\u003C\/i\u003E (stock market) or your \u003Ci\u003Ebolsillo\u003C\/i\u003E (wallet). It takes a village.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-06sgg0e8yKE\/UXZwORbQtMI\/AAAAAAAAMBI\/wuYd4MSXEU0\/s1600\/IMG_8185.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-06sgg0e8yKE\/UXZwORbQtMI\/AAAAAAAAMBI\/wuYd4MSXEU0\/s640\/IMG_8185.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERead below his summary of feelings while in Spain (or read the original text\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Polyfacefarm\/posts\/10151335241756105\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E):\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003E\"I arrived in Spain on Friday (April 19, 2013) to do a two-day seminar for \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/regenag.com\/web\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERegenAg\u003C\/a\u003E, an international\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eorganization devoted to pollinating the world with the best agricultural ideas available.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003EI flew into Malaga in the south of Spain, then drove an hour and a half inland to Ronda,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Ea city of about 35,000 that straddles a famous canyon, is the gateway to Andalucia, and\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Ehome of the oldest bull fighting arena in the world. In the canyon right under my hotel--\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Emy room is perched literally on the cliff of the canyon wall--is a holding cell where the\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003EConquistadors kept Montezuma (yes, THE Montezuma from Mexico) for a few years.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003EThis area was invaded and held by the Romans--on the edge of town is a military installation\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Ebuilt by the Romans to house two legions of soldiers. Later, the Moors (Muslim Arabs) took\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eover the area. Essentially, this area skipped the industrial revolution, then had a republic\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Ethat Franco overthrew, and today is a Socialist Democracy paying the price for government\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eexpansion.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003EUnemployment is 27 percent. In the age bracket of 18-25 year olds, the unemployment is\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003E50 percent. Every day several people commit suicide by throwing themselves off house and\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eapartment balconies. It's a country in deep despair. The conservatives (Democrats) have\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Etaken power and are trying to shrink government, but it's a tough battle with so many people\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eon welfare, unemployment, and government payrolls and pensions. Here, the Republicans\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eare the liberals. In a country of 43 million\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Epeople, the easy money after joining the European Common Market created a building boom\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Ewith government money that crashed the economy. Today, hundreds of thousands of empty\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Ehomes, brand new, sit in massive urban developments around the country. By some estimates\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003E1.5 million homes and apartments are unoccupied. To put that in perspective, an equivalent\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Enumber in the U.S. would be about 13 million. Massive projects, half built, have been\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eabandoned. In some cases, the cranes still sit in the half-finsihed skeletal hulks, waiting for\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Ebetter days.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003EThis despair has created a tremendous interest in the Polyface message of land healing hope\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eand agricultural opportunity. The seminar hosts hoped for 50 registrants, and had 107. The\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Ethirst and hunger for a better way and new opportunities is palpable. The people are warm\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eand friendly, and treated me to a Flamenco party last night. Preserving the cultural traditions\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eof the Arabs and Spanish into the Gypsies, Flamenco music and dance is a cultural icon of\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Ethis region.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003EThe U.S. influence is remarkable. Some 300 yards from my hotel in Ronda, arguably a central\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Epoint of heritage culture, is a McDonald's. This morning in the vestibule of my hotel an American\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Efamily readied their belongings to check out and a 6-year-old boy dutifully carried his McDonald's\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Ehelium balloon--why would an American family come here to Ronda, Spain, and eat at McDonald's?\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003ETo say that this Mediterranean countryside is unique and beautiful is an understatement--olives,\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Evineyards, and lots of rain this spring to make it really green. BUT, it's a desertifiying, soil-losing\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Elandscape, desperately in need of organic matter, perennials, hydration, ecological massage.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003EGrain fields are everywhere on hills so steep it's hard to imagine how a tractor can even stay\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eupright on them. Deep gullies, raw scars, course down these fields.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003EAmazingly, ponds are illegal because the powers that be don't want anything to interfere with\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Ethe flow of water heading downhill. Dear people, ponds will keep the water from rushing downhill\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eand create a hydration system to keep springs and streams flowing during dry times. I've been\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eworking on La Doneira farm on the outskirts of El Gastor, a working village of 1,500 people. This\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eseminar, drawing all these people from around Spain, Portugal and even Sweden, created quite\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Ea stir in this town and created a literal one-day turn-around among the mayor and local bureaucrats\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eto get out of the way of La Doneira's plans to develop a grass-based farm as an agritourism mecca.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003ENot on everything by any means, but on many.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003EThe rules are amazing. It's illegal to have hay in chicken nest boxes. Imagine, chickens cannot\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Emake a nest when they lay eggs. The farm's eggmobiles cannot have ANY wood in them--they\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Emust be constructed completely of metal. Chickens may not come into contact with wood--these\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eare sanitation requirements. The list doesn't end, and a host of environmental police routinely\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Ecruise farms to see if an infraction has occurred. My hottest selling book here?--EVERYTHING I\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003EWANT TO DO IS ILLEGAL.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003EDesperate to maintain things as they are, the preservationists have convinced politicians to pass\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Elaws that forbids salvaging and rebuilding tumbled-down homes. The picturesque countryside\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eis littered with these old skeletons that cannot be salvaged, lest it undermine the rustic naturalness\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eof the landscape. My hosts, as they explain all these things, simply laugh gaily and say: \"This is\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Ea crazy country.\" Only the Spanish could laugh about such idiocy. It breaks your heart to see these\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Efun loving, smart, romantic, creative people so suffocated by bureaucracy, EU regulations, and UN\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Eagendas that it rips the soul out of their indigenous food and farming. These farms that used to\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Emake goat cheese and cure acorn-finished ham can no longer do so. Meanwhile, I've met many\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Efarmers desperate to relocalize their food system and create a place for the next generation on\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003Etheir farms.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003EIndeed, it's far more like the U.S. than you can imagine. And that's the report from Spain.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\" \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003EBendiciones (Blessings).\"\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 13.600000381469727px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/5856605969667874564\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/04\/joel-salatin-polyface-spain.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/5856605969667874564"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/5856605969667874564"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/04\/joel-salatin-polyface-spain.html","title":"Ground Breaking News: Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm Visits Spain"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-uZai6UVLqoI\/UXZwMpJdlgI\/AAAAAAAAMBA\/6_IEvWhrhGo\/s72-c\/IMG_8183.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"29400 Ronda, Málaga, Spain"},"georss$point":{"$t":"36.742515999999988 -5.159355000000005"},"georss$box":{"$t":"36.69161849999999 -5.2400360000000052 36.793413499999986 -5.0786740000000048"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-6725180017502160063"},"published":{"$t":"2013-04-12T05:45:00.001-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-04-16T04:31:29.967-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asturian"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"asturias"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"atlantic ocean"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"bay of biscay"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"cider"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"fabada asturiana"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"food culture"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"food trends"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"gijon"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"huerta la vega"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"local"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"oviedo"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"spanish beverages"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Spanish food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Photo Essay: Asturias By Mouth"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ENow that we've visited\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/03\/travel-asturias.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAsturias By Land\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/04\/photo-essay-asturias-by-sea.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAsturias By Sea\u003C\/a\u003E, today we'll see -- if only we could taste -- Asturias By Mouth; all of the glorious deliciousness that you'd find sandwiched between \u003Ci\u003Eel mar y la montaña\u003C\/i\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EThey basically had to roll me out of Asturias after my nine days there. It's hearty, soulful food. Simple ingredients, but grand results - that's more or less the motto of the Asturian kitchen - using what the land offers you and creating pragmatic yet tasteful dishes from those ingredients. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EBreakfast\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003ELike many Spanish breakfasts, what we saw in Asturias was quite similar. A \u003Ci\u003Ecafé con leche\u003C\/i\u003E (more on \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/08\/tutorial-how-to-order-coffee-or.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehow to order a coffee in Spain\u003C\/a\u003E) and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Eun\u0026nbsp;bollo\u003C\/i\u003E (pastry) were enjoyed by university students and elderly women sharing a chat.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-kdGXJmhc7xI\/UUWxNyR8QSI\/AAAAAAAAL2o\/bH1QmGUqNzU\/s1600\/_MG_7637.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-kdGXJmhc7xI\/UUWxNyR8QSI\/AAAAAAAAL2o\/bH1QmGUqNzU\/s640\/_MG_7637.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003ECider House Rules!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EThe cider culture of Asturias perhaps was what offered the greatest impression for me (besides the kindness of its people). Coming from nearly four years of witnessing the \u003Ci\u003Ecaña\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(small beer from the tap) obsession throughout Spain, it was an extremely welcome relief to see the \"glass half full\" of cider. It's an extremely common drink in Asturias, in fact the majority of their drink production never leaves the Asturian borders - they consume nearly all of the good stuff - leaving few brands on the national shelves! The history of this beverage goes back decades; long traditions of apple cultivation and drink production. The \u003Ci\u003Ellagar\u003C\/i\u003E (cider house\/production facility) and \u003Ci\u003Esidería\u003C\/i\u003E (watering hole and often restaurant specializing in typical fare and cider) provides a social-economic view of the region. Local festivals, meeting friends for pre-dinner bar hopping, or an \u003Ci\u003Eabuelo\u003C\/i\u003E enjoying his half-shelled sea urchins with a cider bottle alongside his lunch meal, are all common occurrences\u0026nbsp;and part of everyday life here.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ECider is so important to the culture that there is even a Spanish verb to describe the pouring of this drink \"\u003Ci\u003Eescanciar\u003C\/i\u003E,\" wherein the \u003Ci\u003Eescanciadores\u003C\/i\u003E (servers who pour) lift a bottle high above their head and tilt into the widemouthed glasses below. This trick serves to quickly\u0026nbsp;oxygenate\u0026nbsp;and catalyst the\u0026nbsp;carbonation\u0026nbsp;of the cider. After the pour, the glass is quickly handed to you -- drips and spills are common on your clothes, the server and the bar floor! -- and within one or two gulps you are suggested to finish your glass (served about 1\/5 full). The viewing and partaking of this phenomenon is quite a sight and experience!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tOv1yWZK7wc\/UUWzdU2Y8dI\/AAAAAAAAL4w\/j6x-EWR7JS0\/s1600\/_MG_7870.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tOv1yWZK7wc\/UUWzdU2Y8dI\/AAAAAAAAL4w\/j6x-EWR7JS0\/s640\/_MG_7870.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/--SHHX4kVEQY\/UUWzgH0gWaI\/AAAAAAAAL5I\/6w72u5TQypQ\/s1600\/_MG_7873.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/--SHHX4kVEQY\/UUWzgH0gWaI\/AAAAAAAAL5I\/6w72u5TQypQ\/s640\/_MG_7873.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EIn the past cider was served specifically by \u003Ci\u003Eescanciadores\u003C\/i\u003E, but in modern times various inventions have come to the market so that cider consumption can continue at the table, in cases where the bar servers wouldn't be there at every beckon call.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EAsturian Cheese\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EIf you could see the green pastures of Asturias you'd quickly come to understand the prevalence of cheese in the Asturian diet. Most famously known for their blue cheese, a D.O. called\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003ECabrales\u003C\/i\u003E, as well as other cow's milk cheeses such as: Beyos, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/la-peral\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAfuega'l Pitu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/culturecheesemag.com\/la-peral\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELa Peral\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003C\/i\u003EThey've even found numerous ways to incorporate cheese in daily recipes such as blue cheese croquettes or the caveman sized \u003Ci\u003Ecachopo\u003C\/i\u003E - a huge veal fillet stuffed with ham and cheese (think a Spanish cordon bleu).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_e4yEUWGzpM\/UWU_r4Vg_6I\/AAAAAAAAL9E\/3aENmSRFA50\/s1600\/_MG_2574.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-_e4yEUWGzpM\/UWU_r4Vg_6I\/AAAAAAAAL9E\/3aENmSRFA50\/s640\/_MG_2574.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-tn79Az2gXJ8\/UWf3HIDoDhI\/AAAAAAAAL9c\/v-NIQCnkwGs\/s1600\/cheesefromspain.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"588\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-tn79Az2gXJ8\/UWf3HIDoDhI\/AAAAAAAAL9c\/v-NIQCnkwGs\/s640\/cheesefromspain.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ESee the concentration of cheeses from Northern Spain?? Yummmm! Image \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/lacasa.delsommelier.9\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELa Casa de Sommelier\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-jl4uji1OhN4\/UUWzg1lLZZI\/AAAAAAAAL5Q\/Y-6g8yfLTLc\/s1600\/_MG_7875.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-jl4uji1OhN4\/UUWzg1lLZZI\/AAAAAAAAL5Q\/Y-6g8yfLTLc\/s640\/_MG_7875.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EThe Faba Bean\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EOne of the staples of Asturians' past diets, now a regional specialty. These beans, in Spanish also known as \u003Ci\u003Ehabas\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(broad beans), proved to be a prized crop because they withstood the harsher winter months, as they sat dried and stored in \u003Ci\u003Ehorreros\u003C\/i\u003E (grain houses). Used\u0026nbsp;predominately\u0026nbsp;for stews, winter plates that warm the belly and soul, most famously \u003Ci\u003Ela fabada\u003C\/i\u003E, a bean and Asturian meat (bacon, blood sausage and chorizo) based dish spiced with paprika.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rH2joRW382s\/UUWxh9E9HwI\/AAAAAAAAL3I\/-s4dvVjObmI\/s1600\/_MG_7625.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rH2joRW382s\/UUWxh9E9HwI\/AAAAAAAAL3I\/-s4dvVjObmI\/s640\/_MG_7625.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-CVbcg8Ff8mU\/UUWxh4BX_0I\/AAAAAAAAL3A\/BPIgd2V4Vbw\/s1600\/_MG_7726.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-CVbcg8Ff8mU\/UUWxh4BX_0I\/AAAAAAAAL3A\/BPIgd2V4Vbw\/s640\/_MG_7726.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EWe had the joy of visiting \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.huertalavega.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHuerta La Vega\u003C\/a\u003E, an Asturian farm and family run business outside of Gijon, specializing in organically grown \u003Ci\u003Efabes asturianos\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;and other produce.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mKA8kJj1Leg\/UUWzfJtJZhI\/AAAAAAAAL5A\/BXxY5CvPhGk\/s1600\/_MG_7757.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-mKA8kJj1Leg\/UUWzfJtJZhI\/AAAAAAAAL5A\/BXxY5CvPhGk\/s640\/_MG_7757.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ELa fabada\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003Eis a dish to share, as it's made in large quantities and meant to fill.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-RTzu5CDw5wc\/UUWxVBHAa0I\/AAAAAAAAL2w\/6ojJarGCgUs\/s1600\/_MG_7674.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-RTzu5CDw5wc\/UUWxVBHAa0I\/AAAAAAAAL2w\/6ojJarGCgUs\/s640\/_MG_7674.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EIn 5 days we tried 3 \u003Ci\u003Efabadas\u003C\/i\u003E, which\u0026nbsp;unbeknownst\u0026nbsp;to us is apparently a bit of a faux pas. Most Asturians don't eat this dish with such frequency - obvious diet reasons (see the oil?) and the arduous elaboration process, which requires soaking the beans the previous day, and then a cooking time of 3-4 hours.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EDesserts-Merienda\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Epastel carbayón\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;an almond based sweet covered with icing, provided me with another reason to let my belt loose.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EFrixuelos\u003C\/i\u003E a sort of crepe and \u003Ci\u003Ecasadielles\u003C\/i\u003E walnut paste filled turnovers covered in sugar -- were quite typical of \u003Ci\u003ECarnaval\u003C\/i\u003E and during the weeks leading up to \u003Ci\u003ESemana Santa\u003C\/i\u003E (Holy Week). All in all, \u0026nbsp;Asturias has everyone's\u0026nbsp;sweet-tooth\u0026nbsp;covered.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-kRjsl3iDKcU\/UUWzZq46RrI\/AAAAAAAAL4Q\/IUCJ_w5RH1A\/s1600\/_MG_7780.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-kRjsl3iDKcU\/UUWzZq46RrI\/AAAAAAAAL4Q\/IUCJ_w5RH1A\/s640\/_MG_7780.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-fJc-WPW8e1c\/UUWyqftgNxI\/AAAAAAAAL3o\/9kGc_Sh4KTs\/s1600\/_MG_7743.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-fJc-WPW8e1c\/UUWyqftgNxI\/AAAAAAAAL3o\/9kGc_Sh4KTs\/s640\/_MG_7743.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EAlmond cake in Gijon, Spain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LmLGzJfdgL4\/UUWzWv-J7uI\/AAAAAAAAL3w\/ewnpg8_EyZo\/s1600\/_MG_7739.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-LmLGzJfdgL4\/UUWzWv-J7uI\/AAAAAAAAL3w\/ewnpg8_EyZo\/s640\/_MG_7739.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELike any Spanish city, there are endless options for a coffee break. We lucked out in Gijón at a cute contemporary café.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EOther Specialties\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EYears of immigration and\u0026nbsp;emigration\u0026nbsp;to and from Asturias have provided a bit of overlap in Asturian cities. Galician restaurants were plentiful in the three largest cities we visited. Common fish and seafood varieties also seen in \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/search\/label\/cantabria\"\u003ECantabria\u003C\/a\u003E (above all from the Cantabrian Sea) were popular market options. As well as some other Spanish specialties such as, the Spanish omelette (\u003Ci\u003Etortilla española\u003C\/i\u003E) - a national dish, and suckling pig (\u003Ci\u003Ecochinillo\u003C\/i\u003E) hailing from Segovia.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-oIgJY7Ue9Lw\/UUWzasumPwI\/AAAAAAAAL4Y\/_ywqGHKbkIg\/s1600\/_MG_7819.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-oIgJY7Ue9Lw\/UUWzasumPwI\/AAAAAAAAL4Y\/_ywqGHKbkIg\/s640\/_MG_7819.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EPulpo a la gallega\u003C\/i\u003E. Boiled\u0026nbsp;octopus\u0026nbsp;with olive oil and paprika, a typical dish from Galicia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Dp0pXB_pOvk\/UUWxI8obqFI\/AAAAAAAAL2g\/xbTSq_BzO14\/s1600\/IMG_7676.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Dp0pXB_pOvk\/UUWxI8obqFI\/AAAAAAAAL2g\/xbTSq_BzO14\/s640\/IMG_7676.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\"This little baby pig went to the.....\" Roasted suckling pig made for a Sunday afternoon treat for one Asturian family.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-btDMKkIQTKI\/UUWzhP7NdFI\/AAAAAAAAL5U\/2JiMwakY_LU\/s1600\/_MG_7943.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-btDMKkIQTKI\/UUWzhP7NdFI\/AAAAAAAAL5U\/2JiMwakY_LU\/s640\/_MG_7943.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EPastel de cabracho\u003C\/i\u003E. Scorpion fish pate, a timeless Asturian classic for entertaining.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWant more Spanish food?? Join us on \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SobremesaInSpain\"\u003EFacebook\u003C\/a\u003E. Thanks for reading!\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/6725180017502160063\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/04\/asturias-food.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/6725180017502160063"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/6725180017502160063"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/04\/asturias-food.html","title":"Photo Essay: Asturias By Mouth"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-kdGXJmhc7xI\/UUWxNyR8QSI\/AAAAAAAAL2o\/bH1QmGUqNzU\/s72-c\/_MG_7637.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Principality of Asturias, Spain"},"georss$point":{"$t":"43.2504393 -5.9832576999999674"},"georss$box":{"$t":"41.7707998 -8.5650446999999676 44.730078799999994 -3.4014706999999675"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-2265207814394304063"},"published":{"$t":"2013-03-27T10:47:00.001-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-05-29T02:32:50.281-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"artisan"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"cheese"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"extremadura"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"farms"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"finca pascualete"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"gourmet"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"hump day"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"luxury foods"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"quesos"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"raw milk"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"spain"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Spanish food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"world's best"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Hump Day: Finca Pascualete of Trujillo, Spain"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-uaIzPXVVgXg\/UUhVW1Mh6II\/AAAAAAAAL6g\/yUrg3OB_Y_U\/s1600\/MadridFebruary+019.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-uaIzPXVVgXg\/UUhVW1Mh6II\/AAAAAAAAL6g\/yUrg3OB_Y_U\/s640\/MadridFebruary+019.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EA foodie friend of mine recently tipped me off that \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.fincapascualete.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFinca Pascualete\u003C\/a\u003E, an Extremaduran cheese company, is currently front and center in world food news, more specifically centerfold of the magazine\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com\/attachment\/u\/0\/?ui=2\u0026amp;ik=1db8eaa4fb\u0026amp;view=att\u0026amp;th=13d7e402414b4a0e\u0026amp;attid=0.1\u0026amp;disp=inline\u0026amp;safe=1\u0026amp;zw\u0026amp;saduie=AG9B_P93NVPC0y1Hw0UiXl_jm6k9\u0026amp;sadet=1364123732253\u0026amp;sads=Hkl2KGgmjSXCeg2a-dDXy9tEC4w\u0026amp;sadssc=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECulture: the word on cheese\u003C\/a\u003E. They are the royal family of artisan cheese production in Spain; generations of noblemen living in the countryside since the Moors were \"directed to leave\" the region in the 13th century. Yes, indeed it's a\u0026nbsp;fairy-tale\u0026nbsp;of curds and whey, an American CIA agent beauty meets Luis Figueroa y Perez de Guzman el Bueno, in a setting of never-ending\u0026nbsp;grey-green tones of olive groves and acorn trees. In Trujillo, Extremadura, one of the few Spanish provinces that to this day is seldom obscured by tourists or development, you can find this incredible Spanish delicacy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EThe \u003Ci\u003Efinca\u003C\/i\u003E is located on 10,000 acres of pristine grazing area, in the heart of \u003Ci\u003Ela dehesa extremeña\u003C\/i\u003E (famous ecosystem in southwestern Spain; same place where much of Spain's best ham comes from). The Torta de Trujillo (mini) raw sheep's milk cheese receives its texture from the vegetable coagulant agent known as\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cardoon\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ecardoon\u003C\/a\u003E rennet. The flavor from wild growing juniper, thyme, rosemary and blackberry bushes, of which their flocks of Extremaduran Merino and French Lacaune sheep produce 750,000 liters of milk per year. Some call the flavor complex, on the nose it most certainly is; this clearly isn't your standard provolone. The traditional way of serving is to slice off the top rind and serve the cheese from the round - and always at room temperature to balance the notes. What awaits the cheese consumer is a creamy almost soupy consistency. I'd pair with raisin toasts and a Belgian beer.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EThe grandson of the above love story, Juan Figueroa, is a bilingual\u0026nbsp;businessman and Finca Pascualete's general manager. He could easily pass for a Ralph Lauren catalogue\u0026nbsp;model, which makes sense when you see the packaging, and realize the color coordination and design put into their rustic yet classy wrappings. In the last 9 years they have worked to become a popular international name. In 2011, the Torta de Trujillo mini (pictured above) won gold at the World Cheese Awards.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EYou can find this \u003Ci\u003Equeso\u003C\/i\u003E at various outlets within Spain and abroad.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhere to buy in the US:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.therogerscollection.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Rogers Collection\u003C\/a\u003E, a responsibly sourced artisan foods company based in Portland, Maine;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.therogerscollection.com\/Wholesale\/Cheeses\/Spanish_Cheeses\/fincapascualete.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Efact sheet\u003C\/a\u003E on the Torta de Trujillo Mini\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tienda.com\/food\/cheese.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELa Tienda\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;online\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bklynlarder.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBrooklyn Larder\u003C\/a\u003E New York\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.centralmarket.com\/location.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECentral Market\u003C\/a\u003E locations in Texas\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cowgirlcreamery.com\/san-francisco-ferry-building-cheese-shop\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECowgirl Creamery\u003C\/a\u003E in the San Francisco Ferry Building\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBuying in Spain:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EEl Corte Ingles and\/or El Club del Gourmet\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.laboulette.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELa Boulette\u003C\/a\u003E Madrid\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/losquesos.delamelie?fref=ts\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELos Quesos de L'Amelie\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;Madrid\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EAnd the following national\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.fincapascualete.com\/tiendas-quesos-queserias\/page\/3\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Elocations\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EIf you're a cheese lover like me, please follow \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SobremesaInSpain\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy Facebook page\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and join the conversation below.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/2265207814394304063\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/03\/finca-pascualete.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/2265207814394304063"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/2265207814394304063"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/03\/finca-pascualete.html","title":"Hump Day: Finca Pascualete of Trujillo, Spain"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-uaIzPXVVgXg\/UUhVW1Mh6II\/AAAAAAAAL6g\/yUrg3OB_Y_U\/s72-c\/MadridFebruary+019.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Extremadura, Spain"},"georss$point":{"$t":"39.4937392 -6.067919399999937"},"georss$box":{"$t":"36.3441372 -11.231493399999938 42.6433412 -0.90434539999993735"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-3332420523265171866"},"published":{"$t":"2013-03-25T04:11:00.001-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-04-04T10:24:46.431-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"agriculture"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asian food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Bees Unlimited"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"cambodia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Dani Jump"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"entrepreneurs"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"environmental"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"fair trade"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"farms"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"food tours"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"handmade"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"homemade"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"market"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"market fresh"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SE Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Siem Reap"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"street food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"temples"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Interview: Dani Jump of Bees Unlimited, Siem Reap, Cambodia"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'd venture to say that Antonio and I had never met a character quite like Dani Jump before. He's an American by passport, raised in India, served three Peace Corps terms around the world and now has roots firmly planted in Cambodia. Immediately you get the sense that this guy is honest, intelligent, wise and true to his self and follow humans. Using his skills, personality, language (he's fluent in Khmer), and compassion for the country and the Cambodian people, he's developed the perfect and unique way to blend his passions and give back to the community - and really give, not a sealed charity enveloped where who knows how much goes to the people, the NGO, the transportation costs, or the company's computer\u0026nbsp;maintenance, for example. I have a hunch that this guy is going to do great things (even more so than he has already done).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWith Dani we were introduced to people we would never have met otherwise. We saw things that before we had only seen on TV and movies or touched on\u0026nbsp;supermarket shelves; making coal, the process of palm sugar production, families making rice noodles from scratch. More importantly we left with a different perspective, our trip was that much richer because of his introduction to Cambodia, and we felt confident that our tourism presence had had a more positive effect on the local Siem Reap economy; we personally meet the people who were to receive our tourism dollars - and that is priceless in today's \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/01\/travel-photo-essay-inle-lake-myanmar.html\" target=\"\"\u003Ehunt for authenticity\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JVzUGbQxwYY\/UUxiHHad5II\/AAAAAAAAL8E\/rJ5nNsxuIIo\/s1600\/_MG_7087.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JVzUGbQxwYY\/UUxiHHad5II\/AAAAAAAAL8E\/rJ5nNsxuIIo\/s640\/_MG_7087.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003EDani with one of the families that we visited at a palm sugar production \"facility,\" in reality their home and business.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThank you Dani for the interview and the amazing day in Siem Reap! Below you can find his contact details.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat were you doing prior to moving to Cambodia?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt seems so long ago and far away that I was showing \u003Ci\u003Ecampesinos\u003C\/i\u003E (farmers and villagers) in Paraguay how to transfer feral colonies of ‘Killer Bees’ into homemade hives, take them home, raise, and exploit them for their delicious honey. 20 years on, and I’m still working with bees and villagers—half-a-world away; only this time, I've added tourists to the mix.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHow long have you been running Bees Unlimited\u003C\/b\u003E—\u003Cb\u003EYour Temple Tour Alternative?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBU—YTTA has been around now for a few years—hidden on the Eco-Tour link of \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.beesunlimited.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy website\u003C\/a\u003E, which few people knew about. All that changed in 2012, with the opening of a Facebook account and my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BeesUnlimited-YourTempleTourAlternative\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBees Unlimited page\u003C\/a\u003E, some tours for local expats, and subsequent reviews\u003Cbr \/\u003Eon \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.co.uk\/Attraction_Review-g297390-d2639538-Reviews-%20Bees_Unlimited-Siem_Reap_Siem_Reap_Province.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETripAdvisor\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;It’s all really happened in the past few months.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat's your favorite part of showing foreigners your Siem Reap?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe greatest satisfaction I get from the tours is the privilege of showing people things I know and love about this country—the things most tourists never experience; sharing the experience with others—watching them shoot up the countryside and people with their cameras; their delight at being able to taste something new at a local market, and get out into the villages with someone who speaks their language, knows the area, and can communicate with the locals.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe temples are impressive, of course; but the indelible memories will be those of culinary discoveries, interaction with local residents, and the time spent getting to see and know the country.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-urwn2oQUEDg\/UUxiBUR7U8I\/AAAAAAAAL7o\/m2Q7ld_FI30\/s1600\/_MG_7061.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-urwn2oQUEDg\/UUxiBUR7U8I\/AAAAAAAAL7o\/m2Q7ld_FI30\/s640\/_MG_7061.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWe got an early start at the local market - a Cambodian woman prepares jackfruit for sale, as the sun rays cast\u0026nbsp;warmth and color.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHow are the locals reacting to the influx of tourists? Positive or negative effects on economy,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eenvironment, lifestyle....etc.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI arrived in Cambodia way back in 1994, when Siem Reap was just a quaint little country town with a few hotels and a handful of guesthouses and restaurants. Power was sporadic, at best; few of the roads were paved, traffic lights were unheard of—as was traffic. There were no \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Auto_rickshaw#Cambodia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etuk tuks\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E in town, no tour buses and no Night Markets. The few resident expats worked primarily for international and non-governmental organizations—whether in \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Land_mines_in_Cambodia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Edemining\u003C\/a\u003E or development. People came to Cambodia to help Cambodians.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-2PiTRqX9QC4\/UUxh2E-llgI\/AAAAAAAAL7I\/5MPOVVA5ZnM\/s1600\/IMG_7177.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-2PiTRqX9QC4\/UUxh2E-llgI\/AAAAAAAAL7I\/5MPOVVA5ZnM\/s640\/IMG_7177.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003EPhoto inside the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cambodialandminemuseum.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Camdobian Landmine Museum\u003C\/a\u003E. Dani was flexible about our interests and what we wanted to see during our tour. We arranged a stop to the museum, Antonio paid and entered, and I sat resting outside with a refreshing coconut.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn those days, it was considered culturally insensitive—and downright unacceptable for men to wear shorts in town; women certainly didn't wear them! They wore skirts down to their ankles—and many still do; so it comes as quite a shock to most to see female tourists ‘parading’ around the center of Siem Reap in shorts up to their anus.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDress codes have changed, and are changing, to be sure (Cambodian men actually wear shorts now)—but let’s not be so culturally insensitive! Look around, see what the locals are wearing, and dress accordingly!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBy far the biggest impact of the tourist boom here is economic—and more and more Cambodians are moving to Siem Reap to exploit the situation. There are now hundreds of hotels and guesthouses; and just as many places to eat and drink; seems like there’s a Night Market around every bend; tuk tuks number in the thousands, and tour buses clog the roads. Siem Reap is definitely not the sleepy little town it once was…We even have a few traffic lights now; and many—but not all—of the roads are paved. Traffic is horrendous; accidents, many. By the way, there’s a reason why tourists are not allowed to rent motorbikes here: it’s simply too dangerous; most Cambodians drive like absolute idiots!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-31Wguizbgr4\/UUxiFlkZSHI\/AAAAAAAAL74\/Awi9xLbvZvc\/s1600\/_MG_7075.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-31Wguizbgr4\/UUxiFlkZSHI\/AAAAAAAAL74\/Awi9xLbvZvc\/s640\/_MG_7075.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003EWe got stuck in a mini-traffic jam on our way out of the market. Siem Reap, Cambodia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor all those who strive to make an honest buck there are those who prefer dishonest means; whereas crime was unheard of when I first arrived in Siem Reap 19 years ago, it now pays to be prudent.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhere would you like to see the business in 5 years?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBU-YTTA, caters to individuals, couples, families, and small groups—as many people as can fit in one tuk tuk, really. Our intention is to provide our clients with an unforgettable Cambodian experience, off the temple track, where they can touch, taste, smell, see, and hear the Cambodia of today.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EPresently, if we had a tour a day, 5-6 days a week, I’d feel extremely satisfied; but I don’t want our tours to become so popular that I have to turn people away!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat's your number one recommendation for folks visiting Cambodia?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDon’t fool yourself into thinking that if\u0026nbsp;you've\u0026nbsp;seen Angkor Wat you've seen Cambodia. BIG\u003Cbr \/\u003EMISTAKE!! Visit a local market, get out into the countryside, meet the people, eat their food. That’s what I’d recommend. Judging from the feedback posted on TripAdvisor, if I were you\u003Cbr \/\u003EI’d contact Bees Unlimited—Your Temple Tour Alternative, and book one of our “Discover\u003Cbr \/\u003ECambodia” tours, to experience the Cambodia of the here and now. You won’t be disappointed!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-GAG7su5YmzI\/UUxhvw40woI\/AAAAAAAAL60\/yP-VRFIOxvg\/s1600\/IMG_7152.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-GAG7su5YmzI\/UUxhvw40woI\/AAAAAAAAL60\/yP-VRFIOxvg\/s640\/IMG_7152.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003EOn Dani's \"Discover Cambodia\" Tour we headed out into the countryside and had first-hand encounters with all sorts of wildlife - including these beautiful carnivorous plants.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAnything else you'd like to share?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor those who take our recommendation seriously, may I just say that \u003Cu\u003EMarket Tours\u003C\/u\u003E are good anytime; \u003Cu\u003EAngkor Nature Tours\u003C\/u\u003E are best in the rainy season (June-Nov); \u003Cu\u003EBee Tours\u003C\/u\u003E are best Dec-March; \u003Cu\u003EVillage\/Countryside Tours\u003C\/u\u003E are particularly pleasant during the rainy season, with the dry season (Dec-May) being hot and dusty; but there is always something interesting and unusual to experience any time of year. Hope to see you soon!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-mOPvVuP2txk\/UUxh9NvyhRI\/AAAAAAAAL7Y\/ihc_t93b7ck\/s1600\/IMG_7193.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-mOPvVuP2txk\/UUxh9NvyhRI\/AAAAAAAAL7Y\/ihc_t93b7ck\/s640\/IMG_7193.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003EHappy campers with Dani Jump of Bees Unlimited after a full day of touring, learning and tasting.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E_________________________________________________\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EGet in touch with Dani and Bees Unlimited—Your Temple Tour Alternative at (beesunlimited @ yahoo dot com) for a tour the next time you are rolling through Siem Reap or follow them\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BeesUnlimitedYourTempleTourAlternative\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eon Facebook\u003C\/a\u003E for amazing photos of Cambodian wildlife and rural beauty!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhere to stay in Siem Reap:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ETanja \u0026amp; Frank were gracious hosts and recommended our awesome tour with Dani! Stay with them at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bayon-garden-guesthouse.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBayon Gardens Guesthouse \u0026amp; Backpackers\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;or follow \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/pages\/Bayon-Garden-Guesthouse-Backpackers\/126444710771742\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eon Facebook\u003C\/a\u003E."},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/3332420523265171866\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/03\/bees-unlimited-siem-reap.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/3332420523265171866"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/3332420523265171866"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/03\/bees-unlimited-siem-reap.html","title":"Interview: Dani Jump of Bees Unlimited, Siem Reap, Cambodia"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-JVzUGbQxwYY\/UUxiHHad5II\/AAAAAAAAL8E\/rJ5nNsxuIIo\/s72-c\/_MG_7087.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Siem Reap, Cambodia"},"georss$point":{"$t":"13.36866 103.86440300000004"},"georss$box":{"$t":"-12.1533745 62.555809000000039 38.8906945 145.17299700000004"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-4824287812688789832"},"published":{"$t":"2013-03-20T12:24:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-03-20T12:24:33.118-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"alcoholic beverages"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"exportation"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"hump day"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"jamón"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"la rioja"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"products"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"seasonal fruit"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"sobremesa in spain"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"spain"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"spanish beverages"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"strawberries"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"vino"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"wine"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Hump Day: Predicador Wine, La Rioja"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESpain is the third largest wine growing nation on our planet. Of the 62 wine regions found within Spain, La Rioja is undoubtedly the most\u0026nbsp;well-known\u0026nbsp;of all of them. International fame has bestowed itself upon this community and D.O. (\u003Ci\u003EDenominación de Origen\u003C\/i\u003E), so much so that it could rival Bordeaux (IMHO).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EToday, on this first day of spring there is indeed much to celebrate. We're shedding our layers day by day as temperatures warm. We are given another opportunity to start again if plans didn't go our way in early 2013, as the cherry blossom and almond trees bloom. Easter is around the corner in Spain, a time for gathering with family and toasting to a brighter future and a quick and painless recovery through the economic crisis. Erasmus students will return for a weekend, lovers will hop on 1 1\/2 hour flights to take advantage of the \u003Ci\u003Epuente\u003C\/i\u003E, and \u003Ci\u003Eabuelos\u003C\/i\u003E (grandparents) will walk their Mary Jane clad grandchildren past the town's cathedral. \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EUndoubtedly a lot of \u003Ci\u003Ejamón\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003Evino\u003C\/i\u003E will be consumed over the holidays. If I may, I'd love to recommend one of my favorites to you, as surely a month full of catharsis and red fruits pairs well with a deep intense red wine. Allow me to introduce Predicador.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt received 90 points in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate from June 2011, and my personal praise in 2012. A real bargain wine when compared to its \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.b-21.com\/2008-Benjamin-Romeo-Contador\/productinfo\/SRJCON08CE\/#.UUoBxxxnpMk\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esister wine, Contador, that values around $300\u003C\/a\u003E, and that is produced with similar quality standards.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-EhhwCbVTSfY\/UF9AFTd_p-I\/AAAAAAAAHzg\/RTqqnI_0OtE\/s1600\/_MG_2490.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-EhhwCbVTSfY\/UF9AFTd_p-I\/AAAAAAAAHzg\/RTqqnI_0OtE\/s640\/_MG_2490.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EThe symbolic top hat image of Predicador.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-YiWouepH0HQ\/UF9AKjdJqfI\/AAAAAAAAHzw\/5wLrqlX8DeU\/s1600\/_MG_2497.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-YiWouepH0HQ\/UF9AKjdJqfI\/AAAAAAAAHzw\/5wLrqlX8DeU\/s640\/_MG_2497.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EPredicador. Spanish wine standout by Benjamin Romero.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DWLkmHJJYfw\/UF9AM063mzI\/AAAAAAAAHz4\/w9R0e4F8sDI\/s1600\/_MG_2499.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-DWLkmHJJYfw\/UF9AM063mzI\/AAAAAAAAHz4\/w9R0e4F8sDI\/s640\/_MG_2499.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-FrzZkMkw9NQ\/UF9ATdgvsbI\/AAAAAAAAH0M\/pxBkLyE7NIE\/s1600\/_MG_2519.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-FrzZkMkw9NQ\/UF9ATdgvsbI\/AAAAAAAAH0M\/pxBkLyE7NIE\/s640\/_MG_2519.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EMarkets are aflush with strawberries in Spain. March is a great time to find them coming from Huelva - \"Strawberry Kingdom.\" Might you find strawberry notes in your glass of \u003Ci\u003Evino tinto\u003C\/i\u003E?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-hpR9FQ_ro4w\/UF9AXvMc5rI\/AAAAAAAAH0U\/djvkX1dUh1o\/s1600\/_MG_2534.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-hpR9FQ_ro4w\/UF9AXvMc5rI\/AAAAAAAAH0U\/djvkX1dUh1o\/s640\/_MG_2534.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EProduct of Spain. Predicador wine. 2008 Harvest.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EPredicador by \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.bodegacontador.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBodega Contador\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERegion: La Rioja, Spain\u003Cbr \/\u003E- 96% Tempranillo, 3% Garnacha, 1% Viura\u003Cbr \/\u003E- French oak\u003Cbr \/\u003E- Aged 16 months\u003Cbr \/\u003ENotes: Cherry cola, incense, black raspberry, Asian spices, dark red fruits\u003Cbr \/\u003EPrice range: \u0026nbsp;18-23 euros\u003Cbr \/\u003EBest drinking time frame: 2013-2020\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EU.S. residents may \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.jjbuckley.com\/2008-Benjamin-Romeo-Predicador-Rioja-Tempranillo\/p~2008~14512~750\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Epurchase online from J.J. Buckley\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIf you are new to my page, welcome! Please follow along my culinary adventures at \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SobremesaInSpain\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESobremesa In Spain on Facebook\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/4824287812688789832\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/03\/la-rioja-wine.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/4824287812688789832"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/4824287812688789832"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/03\/la-rioja-wine.html","title":"Hump Day: Predicador Wine, La Rioja"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-EhhwCbVTSfY\/UF9AFTd_p-I\/AAAAAAAAHzg\/RTqqnI_0OtE\/s72-c\/_MG_2490.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"La Rioja, Spain"},"georss$point":{"$t":"42.2870733 -2.5396029999999428"},"georss$box":{"$t":"41.5352143 -3.8304964999999429 43.038932300000006 -1.2487094999999429"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-4244900574248291890"},"published":{"$t":"2013-03-04T03:43:00.002-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-04-24T06:20:34.611-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"artisan"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"burma"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Burmese food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"food culture"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"home cooking"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"homemade"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"inle lake"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"local"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"market"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"market fresh"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"myanmar"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SE Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"street food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"traditional"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel guides"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel tips"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Flavors and Sights of Myanmar (Burma) "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt's been two months since we departed Rangoon's airport, the sticky and humid air of Burma's previous capital - but it's the warmth of the people and memories of never-before-eaten dishes that have stuck around. In fact, I'm still glowing. Throughout our three month \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/search\/label\/SE%20Asia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESoutheast Asian\u003C\/a\u003E adventure we spent a lot of time with other travelers spitting back and forth the following questions: \"Where are you from?\" \"How long have been you traveling for?\" \"What's your itinerary been and where are you headed?\" Swapping stories of the do's and don'ts of travel, insider secrets; that Pai is the new Chiang Mai, that Cambodia's beaches are a taste of what Thailand was like 20 years ago, and that Burma (Myanmar) is the must go-see-do travel destination of this year (decade?).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt's true, all the hype, it's a really special place, and there's a part of me that fears going back won't reproduce my first impressions, or perhaps the next time around it will be so different that I won't recognize it - luxury hotels, legitimate tourist buses and McDonalds. Frankly I couldn't spot Burma on a map before this trip, I knew nothing of their culinary history and I could vaguely rouse a recollection to Kipling's stories or my father pointing out \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yoke_th%C3%A9\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBurmese puppets\u003C\/a\u003E in Washington DC's Natural History Museum. Perhaps this ignorance aided in the creation of my internal responses, that I could be easily swooned one way or another; the slate was clean. But now looking back on those wonderful \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/search\/label\/myanmar\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ememories of Myanmar\u003C\/a\u003E, I couldn't have imagined this trip without our two weeks there, which in hindsight was too little.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBurmese history more or less seems to have been confined to various history books, select writers, and the likes - not much reached outside its borders - but suddenly there is a flood gate opening, hope for the future in sight, a changing of the guard - the ruling military junta replaced by a president and the Union Government. While many things seem slow to change; political unrest still continues in the Kachin and Rakhine States, national telephone calls are rather expensive and few have cell phones, lack of Internet presence or outside media, etc., there is still much to be\u0026nbsp;absorbed. Indian, Thai, Nepalese, Chinese influences and facial characteristics make up the assorted Burmese background. To this day, a meticulously preserved culture within each\u0026nbsp;province all lends to a very different perception to the outsider - if they are allowed in - the people remain strong in diversity, even if the majority are wearing \u003Ci\u003Elongyi\u003C\/i\u003E of the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bamar\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBamar\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMuch like the multifarious facets of the Burmese people, its cuisine consists of a plethora of flavors (\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Burma-Rivers-Flavor-Naomi-Duguid\/dp\/1579654134\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ea river of flavors as author Naomi Duguid describes\u003C\/a\u003E) with profiles such as: salty, bitter, sour, astringent, sweet and spicy (although not nearly as spicy as their Thai neighbors).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'm in 100% agreement with Anthony Bourdain, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/IAmA\/comments\/197ji0\/i_am_anthony_bourdain_ask_me_anything\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ewhen he said in a recent Reddit AMA chat\u003C\/a\u003E that Burma has one of the most underrated cuisines of the world.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003ERangoon\/Yangon, Burma:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe Sights...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ICZkeMHCZZ8\/UTOD9Xps_qI\/AAAAAAAALmQ\/wqLSA4Ou-uQ\/s1600\/_MG_5604.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ICZkeMHCZZ8\/UTOD9Xps_qI\/AAAAAAAALmQ\/wqLSA4Ou-uQ\/s640\/_MG_5604.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EBuddhism, a way of life in Burma.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-13TqnDSHTH4\/UTOD9-X5miI\/AAAAAAAALmY\/zgoor-ve0QI\/s1600\/_MG_5646.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-13TqnDSHTH4\/UTOD9-X5miI\/AAAAAAAALmY\/zgoor-ve0QI\/s640\/_MG_5646.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EShwedagon Temple by night. The most important religious structure in Burma.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-RTT71glM5ZA\/UTOD_wPbqdI\/AAAAAAAALmg\/dZdZp3xoPfU\/s1600\/_MG_5694.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-RTT71glM5ZA\/UTOD_wPbqdI\/AAAAAAAALmg\/dZdZp3xoPfU\/s640\/_MG_5694.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EYangon River as dusk. Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-NZJxC7Ds1jg\/UTOEANEQexI\/AAAAAAAALmk\/10wue_OOwc8\/s1600\/_MG_6164.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-NZJxC7Ds1jg\/UTOEANEQexI\/AAAAAAAALmk\/10wue_OOwc8\/s640\/_MG_6164.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EDecaying colony buildings, hot and humid temps, young people heading to university at Sule Pagoda.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-8eukMCCki2A\/USN4EnsDC-I\/AAAAAAAALbA\/8TxA9scLOzk\/s1600\/IMG_5725.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-8eukMCCki2A\/USN4EnsDC-I\/AAAAAAAALbA\/8TxA9scLOzk\/s640\/IMG_5725.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EAll aboard! Agriculture is an enormous part of Burmese culture, tradition and lifestyle. More than 2\/3 of the country's population is dedicated to this practice - therefore, you can bet that you'll always eat fresh, local, seasonally and dare I say organic food all the time!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Cjouoc-ap_c\/USN4E0IrONI\/AAAAAAAALbM\/HpD_WMmYBpI\/s1600\/IMG_5588.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Cjouoc-ap_c\/USN4E0IrONI\/AAAAAAAALbM\/HpD_WMmYBpI\/s640\/IMG_5588.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EStreet market in Rangoon, Myanmar.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EThe food...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-LUKr2JjUL_U\/USN4JVEtePI\/AAAAAAAALbY\/DcEAckDZJa8\/s1600\/_MG_6149.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-LUKr2JjUL_U\/USN4JVEtePI\/AAAAAAAALbY\/DcEAckDZJa8\/s640\/_MG_6149.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EFreshly squeezed, sugar cane juice. Really, really fresh, maybe too much so, choose your vendor carefully - if they're are many customers that's a good sign, but also watch the ice that they are using, and if they are using gloves or sanitary means to extract the pulp from the cane, in theory the machine (which makes a lovely jingling sound as you walk through the streets of Yangon) should be able to pull the juice on its own.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-HZjfvHe2LiE\/USN4MZjClJI\/AAAAAAAALbw\/BPATOYXXE4E\/s1600\/_MG_6155.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-HZjfvHe2LiE\/USN4MZjClJI\/AAAAAAAALbw\/BPATOYXXE4E\/s640\/_MG_6155.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EShan Htamin Chin. Yellow rice cakes with tomato sauce from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Restaurant_Review-g294191-d2432577-Reviews-999_Shan_Noodle_House-Yangon_Rangoon_Yangon_Region.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E999 Shan Noodle House\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-vAhZa_vtLto\/USN4QqKrcVI\/AAAAAAAALcE\/i798X6sVHXg\/s1600\/_MG_6145.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-vAhZa_vtLto\/USN4QqKrcVI\/AAAAAAAALcE\/i798X6sVHXg\/s640\/_MG_6145.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EDry rice noodles with peanuts, spring onions and sauteed pork. Street food stall in front of the Bogyoke Aung San Market, Yangon, Myanmar.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E*Naomi Duguid recommends the coconut noodles at Osaka Noodle Shop (ask a taxi driver to take you there, be sure to arrange the price first).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EBagan, Myanmar:\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Sights...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/--U1yj5WJf0I\/USOH3buQesI\/AAAAAAAALe8\/cTXLOcE4V08\/s1600\/IMG_5806.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/--U1yj5WJf0I\/USOH3buQesI\/AAAAAAAALe8\/cTXLOcE4V08\/s640\/IMG_5806.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ETemple-yourself out in Bagan!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-DDbv4hLn5vA\/USOH72An9CI\/AAAAAAAALfM\/kjDsuyYavQg\/s1600\/_MG_5773.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-DDbv4hLn5vA\/USOH72An9CI\/AAAAAAAALfM\/kjDsuyYavQg\/s640\/_MG_5773.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EMuch of what you'll find inside is well worth the trek and bike ride. Bagan, Myanmar.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-IwYpS0Hqxqc\/USOH90pUfMI\/AAAAAAAALfU\/zVKgXymzhfk\/s1600\/_MG_5862.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-IwYpS0Hqxqc\/USOH90pUfMI\/AAAAAAAALfU\/zVKgXymzhfk\/s640\/_MG_5862.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EArtichoke and gourd looking temples. Bagan, Burma.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gqbJsZwFLH0\/USOIA6aXDVI\/AAAAAAAALfc\/nzaGcdCKTs4\/s1600\/_MG_5903.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-gqbJsZwFLH0\/USOIA6aXDVI\/AAAAAAAALfc\/nzaGcdCKTs4\/s640\/_MG_5903.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EInside one temple, looking at another. Loved the detail of the windows.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Fy6HxFfJMqU\/USOIBy73OqI\/AAAAAAAALfk\/xyRnU07WBT0\/s1600\/_MG_5901.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Fy6HxFfJMqU\/USOIBy73OqI\/AAAAAAAALfk\/xyRnU07WBT0\/s640\/_MG_5901.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EAnd a closer look. Temples in Old Bagan, Myanmar.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EThe food...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EConsidering the small size of Nyaung U, smack between the Irrawaddy River and Old Bagan, there were a surprisingly large quantity of restaurants; ranging from tea houses, Irish pubs, a burger shack, pizza shops and traditional Burmese food. I was sensately interested in trying all things Burmese - their cuisine intrigued me so.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe lucked out with a few places and led a surprisingly easy to follow vegetarian diet during our 4 days in Nyaung U: a noontime rice meal with all you can eat 'toppings' options (sweet corn, fermented black bean, pennywort, curried vegetables, etc.), lunch at Moe Pyae San, and lots of tea stops.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-8OcldHNHYQw\/USN28vslFTI\/AAAAAAAALaE\/HTb1bcvf-kY\/s1600\/_MG_5841.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-8OcldHNHYQw\/USN28vslFTI\/AAAAAAAALaE\/HTb1bcvf-kY\/s640\/_MG_5841.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ETofu curry stir-fry with rice. Bagan, Burma.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JdqBUwSdvfU\/USN2_qWD1MI\/AAAAAAAALaM\/go3UF5nTRXI\/s1600\/_MG_5846.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-JdqBUwSdvfU\/USN2_qWD1MI\/AAAAAAAALaM\/go3UF5nTRXI\/s640\/_MG_5846.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EFermented tea leaf salad (\u003Ci\u003Elahpet thoke\u003C\/i\u003E) a Shan recipe at our favorite restaurant Moe Pyae San in Nyaung U, Bagan, Myanmar.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DOR8o4iQnUU\/USN3AoBAzPI\/AAAAAAAALac\/F1XvU-EDogU\/s1600\/_MG_5887.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-DOR8o4iQnUU\/USN3AoBAzPI\/AAAAAAAALac\/F1XvU-EDogU\/s640\/_MG_5887.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ESpecial eggplant (aubergine) salad. Amazing! The Burmese really know how to balance textures and flavors. Smoky, roasted tastes of the eggplant, crunch of the cabbage and nuttiness of the peanuts and sesame.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-fyHBM2OnCY4\/USN3DMkx5rI\/AAAAAAAALak\/fLIiL02FRyc\/s1600\/_MG_5889.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-fyHBM2OnCY4\/USN3DMkx5rI\/AAAAAAAALak\/fLIiL02FRyc\/s640\/_MG_5889.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EI'll admit, the 'fried potato with chili' dish came from a desire to get something resembling \u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/10\/locals-only-madrid-more-of-best-patatas.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Epatatas bravas\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E. And while it certainly wasn't Spain, it did give that homey potato feeling.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ENot straying so far from our Spanish roots, we opted for afternoon \u003Ci\u003Emeriendas\u003C\/i\u003E of tea, or started the day with a fried bread and tea breakfast. Tea house can be found throughout the dusty town of Nyaung U.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ky8OiXHzAbk\/USN3EIb4hJI\/AAAAAAAALas\/jpYb_AkkDXE\/s1600\/_MG_5894.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-ky8OiXHzAbk\/USN3EIb4hJI\/AAAAAAAALas\/jpYb_AkkDXE\/s640\/_MG_5894.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/12\/tea-time-in-myanmar-burma.html#\"\u003ETea time\u003C\/a\u003E became a sacred ritual for us in Myanmar and a great way to immerse ourselves into local culture.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EGoogle Maps isn't quite developed yet in Burma, however I recommend you rent a bike and cruise through the Nyaung U main road to find food spots that interest you. Don't miss the market environment, or the activity at the jetty (which isn't all that pretty, but gives an authentic look into many locals' lives). \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EVegetarian Meals at Moe Pyae San\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ERecommended: Lime juice, all of their salads! (fried bean, pickled tea leaf, and aubergine were good picks), and tofu curry. The fried rice, fried noodle portions were extremely large, but not as tasty IMHO.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ELook for the small \"shack\" with art work hanging inside near the May Kha Lar guesthouse; outside benches and inside seating available.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EWarning: All meals will generally take between 15-25 to be served - which was no problem for us as we enjoyed the break from biking and temples - but goes to show the handmade nature and attention to detail. Family run business with limited English skills - point with precision (we had a of couple menu surprises...no biggie!).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nw92sEr18RI\/USN3EiiyJ8I\/AAAAAAAALa0\/hFumaHuo1Fo\/s1600\/_MG_5893.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nw92sEr18RI\/USN3EiiyJ8I\/AAAAAAAALa0\/hFumaHuo1Fo\/s640\/_MG_5893.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ciframe frameborder=\"0\" height=\"480\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?hl=en\u0026amp;q=may+kha+lar+guest+house\u0026amp;ie=UTF8\u0026amp;hq=may+kha+lar+guest+house\u0026amp;hnear=\u0026amp;t=m\u0026amp;ll=21.200317,94.903378\u0026amp;spn=0.009603,0.013733\u0026amp;z=16\u0026amp;iwloc=A\u0026amp;output=embed\" width=\"640\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csmall\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?hl=en\u0026amp;q=may+kha+lar+guest+house\u0026amp;ie=UTF8\u0026amp;hq=may+kha+lar+guest+house\u0026amp;hnear=\u0026amp;t=m\u0026amp;ll=21.200317,94.903378\u0026amp;spn=0.009603,0.013733\u0026amp;z=16\u0026amp;iwloc=A\u0026amp;source=embed\" style=\"color: blue; text-align: left;\"\u003EView Larger Map\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/small\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EInle Lake\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EThe Sights...\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2O8QrHb0r2o\/UTOTLL3EH-I\/AAAAAAAALm4\/Eh7UicM1nDU\/s1600\/IMG_6034.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-2O8QrHb0r2o\/UTOTLL3EH-I\/AAAAAAAALm4\/Eh7UicM1nDU\/s640\/IMG_6034.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EMarket day and pagoda activities. Inle Lake, Myanmar.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-F8uQus28xaE\/UTOTOWVdF6I\/AAAAAAAALnA\/cyOvWS66Jsg\/s1600\/_MG_5993.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-F8uQus28xaE\/UTOTOWVdF6I\/AAAAAAAALnA\/cyOvWS66Jsg\/s640\/_MG_5993.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EIntha fisherman on \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/01\/travel-photo-essay-inle-lake-myanmar.html\"\u003EInle Lake, Myanmar\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-HTuJrpQ6rPw\/UTOTPe3awKI\/AAAAAAAALnI\/axoKfHiLt3c\/s1600\/IMG_6035.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-HTuJrpQ6rPw\/UTOTPe3awKI\/AAAAAAAALnI\/axoKfHiLt3c\/s640\/IMG_6035.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EStupas of Inle Lake. Taung Tho Kyaung Pagoda. Burma.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-KDR--QGkeUY\/USN7jC-YnQI\/AAAAAAAALd4\/uaoV7xLVtHU\/s1600\/_MG_6095.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-KDR--QGkeUY\/USN7jC-YnQI\/AAAAAAAALd4\/uaoV7xLVtHU\/s640\/_MG_6095.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EPerched atop the estate.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EThe food...\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/--rR5uN2ePb0\/USN7a5OaIII\/AAAAAAAALdU\/ZL32E9XLfpI\/s1600\/IMG_6103.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/--rR5uN2ePb0\/USN7a5OaIII\/AAAAAAAALdU\/ZL32E9XLfpI\/s640\/IMG_6103.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EYes, there is wine in Myanmar - we couldn't believe it either, but there it was, Red Mountain Estates Vineyards.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-mokaPxQvOxM\/USN7dRxQe4I\/AAAAAAAALdc\/FguhY-nUJg4\/s1600\/IMG_6092.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-mokaPxQvOxM\/USN7dRxQe4I\/AAAAAAAALdc\/FguhY-nUJg4\/s640\/IMG_6092.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EA gorgeous trip through the countryside and well worthy views from the top. Red Mountain Estates Winery, Inle Lake, Burma.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-T23mt_ZmC_g\/USN7ildL6_I\/AAAAAAAALdw\/QXkjQGjmU0w\/s1600\/_MG_6122.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-T23mt_ZmC_g\/USN7ildL6_I\/AAAAAAAALdw\/QXkjQGjmU0w\/s640\/_MG_6122.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ELemon salad (front) and tea leaf salad (back) served with pickled spicy veggies and fresh garlic and chilies; from the night stall that we visited every evening of our trip. We couldn't resist the deliciousness of the food, the amazing service and family dynamic (English speaking daughter took orders and charmed, the mother cooked, and the father was responsible for cleaning up).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-sFeDwForoKA\/USN7qw0sGLI\/AAAAAAAALeM\/F8pFJJTKwzM\/s1600\/_MG_6129.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-sFeDwForoKA\/USN7qw0sGLI\/AAAAAAAALeM\/F8pFJJTKwzM\/s640\/_MG_6129.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EBulk dry foods, lentils, beans, tamarind and garlic (an very essential ingredient in Burmese cuisine and locally grown). Front right are \u003Ci\u003Eto hpu gyauk\u003C\/i\u003E, sun dried yellow tofu crackers for frying and snacking.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-E9uZujOHKV8\/USN7rmZer_I\/AAAAAAAALeU\/zkdIIQF2KXA\/s1600\/_MG_6130.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-E9uZujOHKV8\/USN7rmZer_I\/AAAAAAAALeU\/zkdIIQF2KXA\/s640\/_MG_6130.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EShan tofu salad at a stall in the Nyaungshwe Central Market (\u003Ci\u003EMingalar Zay\u003C\/i\u003E), Nyaungshwe, Burma\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E*Also when in Myanmar, order '\u003Ci\u003Emohinga\u003C\/i\u003E' basically the national dish of Burma; thick rice noodles (or varying sizes), a fish stock with a dense consistency, boiled vegetables and fun crunchy toppings.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EFor more adventures in the culinary world - street food to Michelin stars, please follow me at \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SobremesaInSpain\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESobremesa In Spain on Facebook\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/4244900574248291890\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/03\/flavors-of-burma.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/4244900574248291890"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/4244900574248291890"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/03\/flavors-of-burma.html","title":"Flavors and Sights of Myanmar (Burma) "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ICZkeMHCZZ8\/UTOD9Xps_qI\/AAAAAAAALmQ\/wqLSA4Ou-uQ\/s72-c\/_MG_5604.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Burma"},"georss$point":{"$t":"21.913965 95.956223000000023"},"georss$box":{"$t":"-7.5692445 54.647629000000023 51.397174500000006 137.26481700000002"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-3633399336401295897"},"published":{"$t":"2013-02-20T01:50:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-03-26T12:57:17.539-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"churros"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"eating out in madrid"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"grilled meats"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"hump day"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"jamón"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"malaga"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"merienda"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"olive oil"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"sardinas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"spain"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Spanish food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"tortilla de patatas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"tortilla española"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"typical Spanish"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Spanish Hump Day Round-Up"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;I'm rather tardy to my own series of '\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/search\/label\/hump%20day\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHump Day\u003C\/a\u003E.' But it's not entirely my fault, you see I was living out a necessary \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/11\/sobremesa-in-spain-update.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Elife changing decision\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and now I'm back \"home\" in Malaga, Spain after about three months abroad in \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/search\/label\/SE%20Asia\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESoutheast Asia\u003C\/a\u003E. Everyday was magical, and I wouldn't change it for the world. However, as much as I adored sipping tea, cracking open coconuts, and hunting down street food vendors - I did think about Spanish food every now and again.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESo without further ado, I bring to you a hyperbole Hump Day.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhat was it exactly that I missed? What typical Spanish dishes sent me to dreamland at night?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E1. Jamón\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ETraveling to Buddhist, Confucian and\/or Christian-influenced countries signified that there would likely be a lot of pork in our adapted travel diet. Perhaps not to the extreme of Spain's reverence to \u003Ci\u003Ejamón ibérico\u003C\/i\u003E, but none the less, present in many dishes; and that was certainly true. We were often served rice with peppered pork cubes, pork pad thai, noodle soup with pork meatballs, or pork spring rolls. Some was satisfying, but none of it was \u003Ci\u003Ejamón\u003C\/i\u003E - \u003Ci\u003Ejamón de verdad\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESimply landing in Spanish soil confirmed that Spain is the land of jamón. Immediately \u003Ci\u003Ebocadillos\u003C\/i\u003E (sandwiches), vacuumed sealed \u003Ci\u003Elonchas\u003C\/i\u003E (thin slices) and \u003Ci\u003Ejamoneros\u003C\/i\u003E (ham-leg cutting stands) came into view. \u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EQué alegria\u003C\/i\u003E, we can finally partake of this amazing velvety salt-cured delicacy.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-6t6brlPTDPE\/URFmfnuEnfI\/AAAAAAAALZg\/6orxJnudm_Y\/s1600\/_MG_1148.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-6t6brlPTDPE\/URFmfnuEnfI\/AAAAAAAALZg\/6orxJnudm_Y\/s640\/_MG_1148.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EJoselito, one of Spain's premiere brands on the market.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-8-bSf7O_8-A\/URFlanMXW0I\/AAAAAAAALYw\/Xu37jFkn1Dw\/s1600\/MF2012_Day1+149.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-8-bSf7O_8-A\/URFlanMXW0I\/AAAAAAAALYw\/Xu37jFkn1Dw\/s640\/MF2012_Day1+149.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EIf you've got the dough, splurge on the good stuff. A plate, \u003Ci\u003Eración de jamón\u003C\/i\u003E, will cost between 18-24€. But I highly recommend going to a \u003Ci\u003Echarcutería\u003C\/i\u003E (meat shop) and hand selecting your jamón, then bringing back to share with family and friends at home. In store prices range between 80-140€ a kilo depending on quality, availability\u0026nbsp;and current promotional offers.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-njGM8P4lvrI\/URFlbFe281I\/AAAAAAAALY0\/Hwl0CLVlic0\/s1600\/MF2012_Day1+146.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-njGM8P4lvrI\/URFlbFe281I\/AAAAAAAALY0\/Hwl0CLVlic0\/s640\/MF2012_Day1+146.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EArturo Sanchez \u003Ci\u003Ejamones\u003C\/i\u003E. Madrid Fusion. The hind or front legs as they are typically seen hanging from butcher shops or tapas restaurants and bars.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E2. Tortilla\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI recently had a friendly conversation with another American about tortillas and\u0026nbsp;omelettes. I told her never to tell a Spaniard that a tortilla is an omelette, and never to let a Frenchman think that an omelette is a tortilla. This may sound like a crazy bunch of bologna, since both are made from eggs...but trust me, they are different.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EMost commonly la tortilla de patatas (sometimes with onion), will be the Spanish tapa, racion, dish on display in glass cases found in local bars, on the \u003Ci\u003Emenu del día\u003C\/i\u003E, or cooked up in households around the country. To my knowledge - and I would love for someone to butt in - there doesn't seem to be a specific region of origin, so the tortilla has become renowned as purely Spanish.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-oVWbrKRl1zE\/URFkZrLD0UI\/AAAAAAAALYI\/YvrG2TdNQRU\/s1600\/_MG_0847.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-oVWbrKRl1zE\/URFkZrLD0UI\/AAAAAAAALYI\/YvrG2TdNQRU\/s640\/_MG_0847.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ETortilla de patatas\u003C\/i\u003E, also popularly known in Spain and abroad as \u003Ci\u003Etortilla española\u003C\/i\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EGet a nice one at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/10\/locals-only-madrid-more-of-best-patatas.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBar Docamar, Madrid, Spain\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOr another fine specimen of a \u003Ci\u003Epincho de tortilla de patatas\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;at\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2011\/03\/youre-making-me-crazy-juana-la-loca.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EJuana La Loca, Madrid, Spain\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E3. Spanish Olive Oil\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EYour supermarket shelves might be stocked with Italian branded olive oil, but ask any Spaniard and they'll sharply reply that likely Italy purchased that oil from Spain. \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.oliveoiltimes.com\/olive-oil-business\/spanish-olive-oil-harvest-sets-record\/26303\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESpain is in fact the #1 producer of olive oil\u003C\/a\u003E in the world, and aside from production stats, it could be argued that some of the most delicious\u0026nbsp;olive oil on the market comes from the olive groves of Spain's vast countryside.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOne of my personal favorites is Au (liquid gold), from the Spanish region of Jaén\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-x2NdhWVFFUE\/URFnFAsQ9rI\/AAAAAAAALZo\/IxleiZeTp-0\/s1600\/MadridFebruary+013.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-x2NdhWVFFUE\/URFnFAsQ9rI\/AAAAAAAALZo\/IxleiZeTp-0\/s640\/MadridFebruary+013.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-1qi5ibvm5e8\/USOQeKoi8NI\/AAAAAAAALgQ\/VdCQ-WdyDDo\/s1600\/MF2012_Day1+200.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-1qi5ibvm5e8\/USOQeKoi8NI\/AAAAAAAALgQ\/VdCQ-WdyDDo\/s640\/MF2012_Day1+200.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EMerula (Marqués de Valdueza) of Mérida, Extremadura and Dauro of Girona, Catalonia (which is commonly exported, i.e. \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.murrayscheese.com\/olive-oil-dauro.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMurray's Cheese\u003C\/a\u003E) also stand quite high on my list of best Spanish olive oil.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-nwT5wz5-qNc\/USOQvRV7TxI\/AAAAAAAALgg\/4gEHv4ldTik\/s1600\/MF2012_Day1+197.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-nwT5wz5-qNc\/USOQvRV7TxI\/AAAAAAAALgg\/4gEHv4ldTik\/s640\/MF2012_Day1+197.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ESpain has also been able to show off its creative and modern side with newly designed and eye-catching packaging; bottles leaving the ports of Spain daily and headed for the US, UK, China, Argentina and Japan.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E4. Sardines\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EFishy, umami, low in mercury, rich in omega-3, sustainable, economical, comestible spines (if you'd like), and a silvery skin that melts - all characteristics of the sardine. While us Americans are somewhat\u0026nbsp;accustomed\u0026nbsp;to canned sardines - a more sustainable option to canned tuna - I had no idea how popular these little fishies were, until seeing firsthand consumption in Portugal and Spain. Canned food was the invention of the early 19th century French revolutionist Napoleon, as he called upon his public to devise a way to maintain food safely for his soldiers during battles.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBut the sardine's attractiveness doesn't stop at the can. Spaniards buy them fresh by the kilo (many originating from the\u0026nbsp;Mediterranean), fry them up, grill them on the\u0026nbsp;barbecue or open fire, as is customary in Malaga.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-dn74kU5J2ss\/URFlzUGJJDI\/AAAAAAAALZA\/uaC6yyk7Kl0\/s1600\/_MG_2810.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-dn74kU5J2ss\/URFlzUGJJDI\/AAAAAAAALZA\/uaC6yyk7Kl0\/s640\/_MG_2810.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Uo-oUnWO5xU\/URFlz06HIAI\/AAAAAAAALZE\/ssMFLV4V49I\/s1600\/_MG_2871.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Uo-oUnWO5xU\/URFlz06HIAI\/AAAAAAAALZE\/ssMFLV4V49I\/s640\/_MG_2871.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EEspetos\u003C\/i\u003E. Sardines typical of the coast of Malaga, protruded with a stick and grilled over on open flame.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E5. Churros\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFlour, water, yeast and a pinch of salt, the typical four agreements of a great bread product. Well no different is the \u003Ci\u003Echurro\u003C\/i\u003E, Spain's breakfast, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/search\/label\/merienda\"\u003Emerienda\u003C\/a\u003E, feria (fair) snack and beloved carbohydrate. Dipped in your \u003Ci\u003Ecafé con leche\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003Echocolate caliente\u003C\/i\u003E (hot chocolate) or a child's after school Cola-Cao.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-12D0pj2E_ug\/URFmBAA6LAI\/AAAAAAAALZQ\/epQi_IheMJo\/s1600\/_MG_2841.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-12D0pj2E_ug\/URFmBAA6LAI\/AAAAAAAALZQ\/epQi_IheMJo\/s640\/_MG_2841.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat foods do you miss most when you're traveling or away from your\u0026nbsp;home-base?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/3633399336401295897\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/02\/typical-spanish-food.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/3633399336401295897"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/3633399336401295897"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/02\/typical-spanish-food.html","title":"Spanish Hump Day Round-Up"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-6t6brlPTDPE\/URFmfnuEnfI\/AAAAAAAALZg\/6orxJnudm_Y\/s72-c\/_MG_1148.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Spain"},"georss$point":{"$t":"40.463667000000008 -3.7492200000000366"},"georss$box":{"$t":"-35.138200999999988 -168.98359500000004 90 161.48515499999996"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-4955963618259795067"},"published":{"$t":"2013-02-01T00:45:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-03-19T03:40:50.354-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Angkor"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"cambodia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"flora and fauna"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"gratitude"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"market"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SE Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Siem Reap"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"temples"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"things I'm grateful for"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel photography"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel stories"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Gratitude. Things I'm Grateful For #12"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EFinal grateful post of my Southeast Asia adventures - at least this time around. Bittersweet.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E1. Our Own Private Island\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EI love beaches. I love tranquility. And I love being away from crowds. However, I'm not an accomplished camper. This was Antonio's choice, to run away\u0026nbsp;Robinson\u0026nbsp;Crusoe style, to an island with an\u0026nbsp;ever-changing\u0026nbsp;population of roughly 200 including tourists, a green mango plantation, a couple of guesthouses, and no running water or electricity. Although it wasn't the tropical \"paradise\" I had in mind from my childhood days watching \u003Ci\u003EThe Blue Lagoon\u003C\/i\u003E, it was certainly just what the doctor ordered - 7 days break from internet; the main worries of the day consisting of taking a swim and eating 3 square meals, and the opportunity to experience almost\u0026nbsp;uninterrupted\u0026nbsp;nature, before man (or in this case Chinese businessmen) gets its greedy hands on it. Stay abreast to the outcome of Koh Ta Kiev island's future on \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/CrusoeIsland\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECrusoe Island's Facebook page\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-j0qZO52-jYA\/UQoF8S42F8I\/AAAAAAAALVk\/Qzok9DYwVDM\/s1600\/_MG_6897.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-j0qZO52-jYA\/UQoF8S42F8I\/AAAAAAAALVk\/Qzok9DYwVDM\/s640\/_MG_6897.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E7 nights with Crusoe Island. Our personal tent and \"living space\" for $5 a night.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-S2DmeByoaB0\/UQoFr_ArFFI\/AAAAAAAALVE\/nWEoQXbSV3g\/s1600\/IMG_6905.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-S2DmeByoaB0\/UQoFr_ArFFI\/AAAAAAAALVE\/nWEoQXbSV3g\/s640\/IMG_6905.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EOur temporary front yard and laundry area, where I put to use our biodegradable Spanish olive oil soap - ¡olé!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2. The Power and Presence of Plants\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EGrowing up I had a very close friend named Lily. I always thought it was so cool that she was called something so exotic and uncommon (even though I hardly knew where to look for wild growing lilies), and rather dull that I was stuck with Lauren - there were always at least three of us in each class. At the Siem Reap market I came across a beautiful\u0026nbsp;bouquet\u0026nbsp;of water lilies, I was reminded of the past, and at the same time the beauty in the present. Nature can be so moving.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ELater on we stumbled upon a very unusual species of carnivorous plants. I was amazed, they were gorgeous, bright and feminine, not anything like the Venus flytraps I general associate with that description. However, they were indeed meat eaters, insect eaters, their coral red petals glittered with a sticky glue-like substance, inviting all whom dared to touch, including me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-mvPw3y_-xCI\/UQoGDo8AvZI\/AAAAAAAALV8\/5JioVednzqA\/s1600\/_MG_7065.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-mvPw3y_-xCI\/UQoGDo8AvZI\/AAAAAAAALV8\/5JioVednzqA\/s640\/_MG_7065.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EFuchsia water lilies on display in Siem Reap's central market, Cambodia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-dMeeuZS2B28\/UQoF6xDsn2I\/AAAAAAAALVc\/8uQXDnCbqY0\/s1600\/IMG_7154.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-dMeeuZS2B28\/UQoF6xDsn2I\/AAAAAAAALVc\/8uQXDnCbqY0\/s640\/IMG_7154.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EMan-eaters or vegans?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E3. This Guy\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EWith the help of our guide \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BeesUnlimitedYourTempleTourAlternative\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDani Jump with Bees Unlimited\u003C\/a\u003E, I gathered the courage to ask this man for his photograph. He was selling fresh palm tree nectar (the same juice that is later transformed into palm sugar), which he collected by hand from the palm and served in portable wood cups. I didn't take proper advantage of the lighting, the shadow hides some of his features, but all the same I love the look in his eyes; features that I hadn't see in Burma or Vietnam, an air of kindness, shyness, modesty, as well as a veil of mystery.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-hj-CfF7plAE\/UQoFrLx1yYI\/AAAAAAAALU8\/dyNp9RtorVU\/s1600\/IMG_7084.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-hj-CfF7plAE\/UQoFrLx1yYI\/AAAAAAAALU8\/dyNp9RtorVU\/s640\/IMG_7084.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003E4. Wonders of the World\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ECan we really be that awesome? That ingenious? Is humanity able to think-up, create, build, and pay homage to the living earth and gods in the form of enormous stone structures? Yes. Time and time again, viewing \"Wonders of the World\" helps me believe in and respect the greatness of mankind. Let's hope that we are also capable of keeping these sites as reverently as they sat in peace in the jungle for thousands of years before the crowds came.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-v2kJRlh4YKA\/UQoIQwxx6ZI\/AAAAAAAALW4\/2N9dncXwWUU\/s1600\/_MG_7195.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-v2kJRlh4YKA\/UQoIQwxx6ZI\/AAAAAAAALW4\/2N9dncXwWUU\/s640\/_MG_7195.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\"Tomb Raider\" temple, \u003Ci\u003ETa Prohm\u003C\/i\u003E, nature claiming its territory after great civilizations had long left. Angkor, Cambodia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tH-EmuivTg0\/UQoIaxr44SI\/AAAAAAAALXA\/Sq2un-TT13s\/s1600\/_MG_7489.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tH-EmuivTg0\/UQoIaxr44SI\/AAAAAAAALXA\/Sq2un-TT13s\/s640\/_MG_7489.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EAngkor Wat in black \u0026amp; white at 3pm. Cambodia, January 2013. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003E5. Being a Hippie\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBoth of my parents were teenagers or in their early twenties during the 1960s in suburban Maryland and Virginia. While neither of them were hippies, my dad was a jock and my mom was a preppy, I think something about the culture of the time - certainly the music - and the idea that running off to far away places in the name of war was a bad thing, was solidified in my upbringing. In turn, I've grown up to be a pretty liberal being. I'm so grateful for my ability to adapt quickly to situations, sleep on hard surfaces (even though I've yet to master the tactic on a bus), and grow my hair out (desperately in need of a haircut as you can see). I'm happy being a \"hippie,\" whatever the translation really means, and hope I stay one for quite some time.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-S354jU3dQxc\/UQoIKylKcjI\/AAAAAAAALWo\/BHjl4r_sTfE\/s1600\/IMG_7456.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-S354jU3dQxc\/UQoIKylKcjI\/AAAAAAAALWo\/BHjl4r_sTfE\/s640\/IMG_7456.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ERaggegy hair and a happy girl. Peace, love and ancient temples. Angkor\u0026nbsp;Archaeological\u0026nbsp;Park, Cambodia.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/4955963618259795067\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/02\/gratitude-things-im-grateful-for-12.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/4955963618259795067"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/4955963618259795067"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/02\/gratitude-things-im-grateful-for-12.html","title":"Gratitude. Things I'm Grateful For #12"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-j0qZO52-jYA\/UQoF8S42F8I\/AAAAAAAALVk\/Qzok9DYwVDM\/s72-c\/_MG_6897.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Siem Reap, Cambodia"},"georss$point":{"$t":"13.36866 103.86440300000004"},"georss$box":{"$t":"-12.1533745 62.555809000000039 38.8906945 145.17299700000004"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-3719094855218473446"},"published":{"$t":"2013-01-24T21:43:00.003-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2015-10-06T19:50:17.532-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"burma"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"cambodia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"dining out"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"food culture"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"food trends"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"local"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"locals only"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"myanmar"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"street food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"thailand"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"tourism"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel photography"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel stories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"vietnam"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Where The Wild Things Are"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-PnKym0ltOG8\/UQISaf9LjOI\/AAAAAAAALT4\/GWoY4TVcST4\/s1600\/_MG_4430.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-PnKym0ltOG8\/UQISaf9LjOI\/AAAAAAAALT4\/GWoY4TVcST4\/s640\/_MG_4430.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EChopsticks on stainless-steel food-stall tables. Bangkok, November 2012.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-U5UEnhPW6mc\/UQISzU7OkKI\/AAAAAAAALUI\/AUsAtg2wtoU\/s1600\/_MG_4446.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-U5UEnhPW6mc\/UQISzU7OkKI\/AAAAAAAALUI\/AUsAtg2wtoU\/s640\/_MG_4446.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EOr white linen tablecloths\u0026nbsp;and well mannered waitstaff...what's your preference? Bangkok, November 2012.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EThe restaurant is full of tourists, a sign of establishments that we usually make a point to avoid. However, we're hungry and the idea of searching for that \"perfect\" place that meets all of our requirements and prerequisites for greatness, is too much for this evening. We cave. We forgo the BBQ pork\u0026nbsp;churning\u0026nbsp;on the spit and the locals dining on plastic red chairs for the European-managed Khmer restaurant next door.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAfter \u003Ci\u003Ehello sirs\u003C\/i\u003E and \u003Ci\u003Egood evening sirs\u003C\/i\u003E we're shuffled to a two-top and given menus in English. The description reads \"Traditional Khmer cuisine served in an environment\u0026nbsp;accessible\u0026nbsp;for Westerners.\" Are \u003Ci\u003Ewe\u003C\/i\u003E all Westerners? I sit perplexed - first pondering if the food will be up to par, next as to how to fold or unfold my polyester napkin properly in my lap. It's been ages since I've sat down at a \u003Ci\u003Eproper\u003C\/i\u003E restaurant - even if the disco tunes next door and wafting drones of cell phone melodies make their way to our secluded patio dining area. They've tried their\u0026nbsp;darnedest\u0026nbsp;to keep us\u0026nbsp;separated\u0026nbsp;from those next door, those \"hooligans\" drinking straight from the beer can and disposing of their napkins (often disguised as toilet paper) on the ground.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe waiter's dress shoes clatter a \u003Ci\u003Epit-pat-pit-pat\u003C\/i\u003E across the recently cemented floor. With permission he pours our drinks and lights an anti-mosquito coil beneath our feet. The curry arrives (a green curry with fish, which isn't bad). A moment later I stain the tablecloth attempting to balance slippery mango between my chopsticks -- I guess that's why forks are provided? What a mess. Am I out of practice or out of place? More plates arrive as our floating candle burns out and another is lit.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis façade of fine dining is\u0026nbsp;unnecessary, the training or domestication of servers unfit.\u0026nbsp; At least for me. I want to be back in the wild, back on a stool the size of a\u0026nbsp;Pomeranian,\u0026nbsp;free to lick my fingers, and throw fruit pits on the ground. I miss the Vietnamese sisters in the market that memorized my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/01\/gratitude-things-im-grateful-for-11.html\"\u003Ebreakfast fruit shake\u003C\/a\u003E order and steadily perfected their \"see you tomorrow.\" I miss toilets that are actually holes - sometimes ceramic - low to the ground. I miss feeling like one of \u003Ci\u003Ethem\u003C\/i\u003E -\u0026nbsp;and worse yet, doesn't taste as good.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-qImAwAmxtRE\/UQIRuX5eskI\/AAAAAAAALTw\/VDt-Qdd7Ijw\/s1600\/_MG_5944.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-qImAwAmxtRE\/UQIRuX5eskI\/AAAAAAAALTw\/VDt-Qdd7Ijw\/s640\/_MG_5944.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/01\/travel-photos-nyaung-shwe-myanmar.html\"\u003ENyaung Shwe, Burma\u003C\/a\u003E. December 2012.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Tn7Yh62Zc0U\/UQIQRhwVV4I\/AAAAAAAALTQ\/uaifgBbBHxs\/s1600\/_MG_5612.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Tn7Yh62Zc0U\/UQIQRhwVV4I\/AAAAAAAALTQ\/uaifgBbBHxs\/s640\/_MG_5612.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ERangoon, Burma. December 2012.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/3719094855218473446\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/01\/where-wild-things-are.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/3719094855218473446"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/3719094855218473446"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/01\/where-wild-things-are.html","title":"Where The Wild Things Are"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-PnKym0ltOG8\/UQISaf9LjOI\/AAAAAAAALT4\/GWoY4TVcST4\/s72-c\/_MG_4430.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"South East Asia"},"georss$point":{"$t":"11.5909659 121.62830980000001"},"georss$box":{"$t":"-42.4606881 39.011122300000011 65.6426199 -155.7545027"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-5435598005804511471"},"published":{"$t":"2013-01-09T00:41:00.001-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-01-09T00:55:10.450-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"artisan"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"environmental"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"farms"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"gratitude"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"handmade"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"hoi an"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"home cooking"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"international"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"products"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"rice"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slow food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"street food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"sweets"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"things I'm grateful for"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel photography"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel stories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"vietnam"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Gratitude. Things I'm Grateful For #11"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EMy first grateful post of the New Year. Boy, am I glad it's 2013. For one, 13 is one of my favorite numbers, and secondly, I have a lot of strong sentiments that this year is going to be fantastic. I'm certainly at a crossroads, but very open to receive from the universe, as well as give all that I can.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI hope that your year is off to a positive start and that you can also realize your potential through gratitude.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E1. Reaching The Top.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOn a foggy afternoon in Ninh Binh, Vietnam, we huffed and we puffed to climb the 400 steps to the peak of this mountain. A nearly 360 view of the rice fields, tributary and\u0026nbsp;staggering\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Karst\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ekarsts\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;hung below us. Indeed a highlight moment of our trip. Even the two flat tires - yes, two - that we experienced in the 45 minutes following this ascent, couldn't ruin the day.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-AY5ymP6waeQ\/UOzxfgrYjZI\/AAAAAAAALNY\/onLVJIyW6fM\/s1600\/_MG_6438.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-AY5ymP6waeQ\/UOzxfgrYjZI\/AAAAAAAALNY\/onLVJIyW6fM\/s640\/_MG_6438.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YGHI7y9rJbc\/UOzxkXcLc7I\/AAAAAAAALNk\/8i99iti6-XU\/s1600\/_MG_6439.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-YGHI7y9rJbc\/UOzxkXcLc7I\/AAAAAAAALNk\/8i99iti6-XU\/s640\/_MG_6439.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ENinh Binh Province.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;I love the \"pop\" of B\u0026amp;W images. It gives you the opportunity to see some shadows or details that you might have missed otherwise.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2. Being A Witness.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EOne of the things that I love must about traveling is people watching. Having an opportunity to admire and observe how others spend their day is a special gift I cherish, as well as having the freedom to do so. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-oy421he_woQ\/UOz5xp0lSKI\/AAAAAAAALN8\/1uoRvOJfWm4\/s1600\/IMG_6519.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-oy421he_woQ\/UOz5xp0lSKI\/AAAAAAAALN8\/1uoRvOJfWm4\/s640\/IMG_6519.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EA fisherman inspects his net in the afternoon. Dong Hoi, Vietnam.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ke0WB6eWUU0\/UOz5x4MKdhI\/AAAAAAAALOA\/0p-8dTGQAJQ\/s1600\/IMG_6507.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-Ke0WB6eWUU0\/UOz5x4MKdhI\/AAAAAAAALOA\/0p-8dTGQAJQ\/s640\/IMG_6507.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EA ship yard in Dong Hoi, Vietnam.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003E3. Being Regular.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI like being regular. Nothing too demanding, nothing requiring additional attention, or professional advice - just normal, regular. And I don't mean the contrary of being famous.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI would advocate that all paranoid travelers could throw away their Pepto-Bismol and Imodium surpluses if they partook daily of the Vietnamese \u003Ci\u003Esinh to\u003C\/i\u003E, an insanely delicious, healthy and motley fruit smoothie. Some 12 fruit ingredients (including avocado) go into making this super shake, and besides from doing a number (no pun intended) on your intestinal system, it's also consumed for the well being and clarity of your skin. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Wl4m5OFMiis\/UO0VXm__qcI\/AAAAAAAALOY\/N3Pc7JWDJqY\/s1600\/IMG_6617.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Wl4m5OFMiis\/UO0VXm__qcI\/AAAAAAAALOY\/N3Pc7JWDJqY\/s640\/IMG_6617.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ESinh To fruit shakes in Hoi An, Vietnam.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Dol4Km60bCI\/UO0Vcn_OPQI\/AAAAAAAALOs\/HlzUfL6AhCw\/s1600\/_MG_6520.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Dol4Km60bCI\/UO0Vcn_OPQI\/AAAAAAAALOs\/HlzUfL6AhCw\/s640\/_MG_6520.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EThe \u003Ci\u003Esinh to\u003C\/i\u003E pre-stir. It's served like this, and then you can swirl away at your heart's desire. Maybe you like to chew on ice? Maybe you prefer to mash until the pieces are small enough for consumption? Either way, a must eat\/order in Vietnam.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E4. Working With Your Hands.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EI've spoken about this before, my love for the handmade. Being in Vietnam the last 3 weeks, I've befallen upon so many people who spend their entire day using their hands, engaging themselves with another element; earth, wood, rice, vegetables, metal, rubber, bamboo...quite a sight and a craft.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-JJQNaG-dWQc\/UO0VYRF2_3I\/AAAAAAAALOc\/Lu-iV1EcQGM\/s1600\/IMG_6803.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-JJQNaG-dWQc\/UO0VYRF2_3I\/AAAAAAAALOc\/Lu-iV1EcQGM\/s640\/IMG_6803.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EMy little piggy. Hand-carved in Hoi An, Vietnam.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/--5NScVZEU3s\/UO0ViwHbuXI\/AAAAAAAALPI\/VwFCAB8VpJA\/s1600\/_MG_6829.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/--5NScVZEU3s\/UO0ViwHbuXI\/AAAAAAAALPI\/VwFCAB8VpJA\/s640\/_MG_6829.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThis woman is creating a rice cracker, hand-cooking it over an open fire, after she handmade the rice flour batter and dried the round rice paper.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003E5. Ducks.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EDuck was my first word; correct, even before \"mama\" or \"dada,\" I was saying duck. I suppose there still lies an affinity towards them, although it took me 29 years to finally pick one up!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MHCTJh3gILo\/UO0orS_2j7I\/AAAAAAAALPw\/bTDZTO0ZUlA\/s1600\/Duck.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-MHCTJh3gILo\/UO0orS_2j7I\/AAAAAAAALPw\/bTDZTO0ZUlA\/s400\/Duck.jpg\" width=\"367\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-0Iq_KdNFsls\/UO0pQU8fO2I\/AAAAAAAALP4\/o63u_yUtbOY\/s1600\/_MG_6817.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-0Iq_KdNFsls\/UO0pQU8fO2I\/AAAAAAAALP4\/o63u_yUtbOY\/s640\/_MG_6817.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ELittle ducks huddle for warmth and act as down pillows in Hoi An, Vietnam.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-6earGncsFJk\/UO0pREIACBI\/AAAAAAAALP8\/zsKnKd1DreE\/s1600\/_MG_6823.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-6earGncsFJk\/UO0pREIACBI\/AAAAAAAALP8\/zsKnKd1DreE\/s640\/_MG_6823.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EIn Vietnam, ducks eat rice shells not corn!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EWhat are you thankful for in 2013? \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/5435598005804511471\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/01\/gratitude-things-im-grateful-for-11.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/5435598005804511471"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/5435598005804511471"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/01\/gratitude-things-im-grateful-for-11.html","title":"Gratitude. Things I'm Grateful For #11"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-AY5ymP6waeQ\/UOzxfgrYjZI\/AAAAAAAALNY\/onLVJIyW6fM\/s72-c\/_MG_6438.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Hội An, Quang Nam province, Vietnam"},"georss$point":{"$t":"15.8800584 108.3380469"},"georss$box":{"$t":"15.635742899999999 108.0153234 16.1243739 108.66077039999999"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-2971034889549491369"},"published":{"$t":"2013-01-06T05:09:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-01-06T16:40:49.525-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asian food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"coffee"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"coffee shop"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"food culture"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hanoi"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"hole in the wall"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"local"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"locals only"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"noodles"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"street food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel guides"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel tips"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"vietnam"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Hanoi Eats and Treats: Making The Most With What You've Got"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003EI'm not going to sugar coat it. I didn't like Hanoi. My first impressions were that it was an insanely crowded (granted we hardly ventured too far), motorcycle ridden city, with often fake personalities - at least among the interactions with hotel staff and vendors - and to top it off, the Vietnamese cuisine I had been dreaming about, drooling over, since early adolescence was\u0026nbsp;substituted primarily by heavily Chinese influenced stir-fries of noodles, beef (I hope), boiled chicken and too-far-blanched\u0026nbsp;vegetable combinations. (FYI on a whole I don't like Chinese food - but that of course also requires a serious food research trip to the country). I know this all sounds very negative Nancy, and it would be fair to give it another chance, more days, however, I overall had the feeling that Hanoi would never be my bag.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAdditionally, despite my efforts to seek out amazing meals and high standard hole-in-the-wall joints, I repetitively failed at finding\u0026nbsp;consistently\u0026nbsp;delicious or memorable dishes. Antonio sympathized with my sentiments and happily sought out the \u003Ci\u003Ebia hoi\u003C\/i\u003E, outdoor draft beer saloon \"amusement parks\" (full of local happenings and the rare or maybe not so rare fist fight) and coffee houses to drowned our foodie sorrows.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat said, a few moments of glory managed to make themselves shown to us during our fog and drizzle laden five days in Ha Noi.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003ECoffee.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EYou´ll find coffee shops dotted along the motorbikes-parked-on-the-sidewalk oppressed streets serving customers from daybreak to sundown. To me this almost plaster of Paris consistency of coffee is caffeinated rocket fuel. Adding sweetened condensed milk in a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Eca phe sua\u003C\/i\u003E, makes the medicine go down. With ice it's\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Eca pha sua da\u003C\/i\u003E, and with yogurt\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Eca pha sua chua\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-SX-HMXQd7DU\/UOkVLZ0HZcI\/AAAAAAAALHo\/TD4ZJXlQ35g\/s1600\/_MG_6341.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-SX-HMXQd7DU\/UOkVLZ0HZcI\/AAAAAAAALHo\/TD4ZJXlQ35g\/s640\/_MG_6341.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EMore Coffee.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E#1. Find the signage among silk tailors and follow the narrow corridor - straight, not left.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rUMaWtGeNlQ\/UOkrLWLednI\/AAAAAAAALKo\/axlzi7hfM8U\/s1600\/_MG_6257.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-rUMaWtGeNlQ\/UOkrLWLednI\/AAAAAAAALKo\/axlzi7hfM8U\/s640\/_MG_6257.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E#2 Make your order. \u003Ci\u003ECa phe trung\u003C\/i\u003E. And walk up the windy cast iron staircase.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-wkZs-QQEfGk\/UOkVDXlIy7I\/AAAAAAAALGw\/bSWJOZXTxqI\/s1600\/_MG_6248.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-wkZs-QQEfGk\/UOkVDXlIy7I\/AAAAAAAALGw\/bSWJOZXTxqI\/s640\/_MG_6248.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E#3 Take in the view from the balcony. Continue climbing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-JqZiMhGqJwo\/UOkrMchnkCI\/AAAAAAAALKs\/dJZeBHTEZS8\/s1600\/_MG_6252.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-JqZiMhGqJwo\/UOkrMchnkCI\/AAAAAAAALKs\/dJZeBHTEZS8\/s640\/_MG_6252.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E#4 Wait on the terrace, with views of the Hoan Kiem lake and roundabout traffic below, as the server delivers your egg coffee, \u003Ci\u003Eca phe trung\u003C\/i\u003E, a\u0026nbsp;sweetened\u0026nbsp;egg meringue blended with strong Vietnamese drip coffee. Savor the moment.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-F7PuJAZsaYk\/UOkU9L88jdI\/AAAAAAAALGM\/pFvlPf3jcbo\/s1600\/_MG_6242.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-F7PuJAZsaYk\/UOkU9L88jdI\/AAAAAAAALGM\/pFvlPf3jcbo\/s640\/_MG_6242.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ECa phe trung at Ca Phe Pho Co, Hanoi. Vietnam\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ECa Phe Pho Co (also said to be the oldest café in Hanoi)\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E11 Hang Gai, Old Quarter\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EHanoi, Vietnam\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E[\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?q=11+H%C3%A0ng+Gai,+Hanoi,+Vietnam\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;ie=UTF8\u0026amp;ll=21.032276,105.85134\u0026amp;spn=0.010335,0.018475\u0026amp;sll=21.033738,105.846996\u0026amp;sspn=0.010334,0.018475\u0026amp;oq=11+hang+ga\u0026amp;hnear=11+H%C3%A0ng+Gai,+Hoan+Kiem+District,+Hanoi,+Vietnam\u0026amp;t=m\u0026amp;z=16\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGoogle Maps\u003C\/a\u003E]\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENoodles.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ECrunchy peanuts, a hearty broth and your good ol' rice noodles at Bun Bo Nam Bo. Winning combination at a reasonable price and central location. Our first experience dining with locals - watch and learn.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-C-jSBlybtQ8\/UOksFw8_cdI\/AAAAAAAALLA\/KvmSdYYF_6w\/s1600\/_MG_6224.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-C-jSBlybtQ8\/UOksFw8_cdI\/AAAAAAAALLA\/KvmSdYYF_6w\/s640\/_MG_6224.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-9NwWt0KLZx8\/UOkU9Z6rqJI\/AAAAAAAALGU\/cSpFP-humsg\/s1600\/_MG_6220.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-9NwWt0KLZx8\/UOkU9Z6rqJI\/AAAAAAAALGU\/cSpFP-humsg\/s640\/_MG_6220.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EDry beef noodle dish at Bun Bo Nam Bo.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EBun Bo Nam Bo\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E67 Hang Dieu\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EHanoi, Vietnam\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E[\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?q=67+H%C3%A0ng+%C4%90i%E1%BB%81u,+hanoi\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;ie=UTF8\u0026amp;sll=21.033738,105.846996\u0026amp;sspn=0.010334,0.018475\u0026amp;hnear=67+H%C3%A0ng+%C4%90i%E1%BA%BFu,+Hoan+Kiem+District,+Hanoi,+Vietnam\u0026amp;t=m\u0026amp;z=16\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGoogle Maps\u003C\/a\u003E]\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch4\u003ESteamed Rice Flour Stuff.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003EThis was probably the fondest food memory of Hanoi. I have this fascination and obsession with the glutinous rice texture, and the stuffed thin rice flour crepes, \u003Ci\u003Ebanh cuon\u003C\/i\u003E, of Banh Cuon Gia Truyen, did not disappoint. Filled with minced wild mushrooms, onions and pork, these make for happy bellies as well.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-8kN2bgRX2ys\/UOkVGZJVcqI\/AAAAAAAALHE\/92rsVuuxZwc\/s1600\/_MG_6278.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-8kN2bgRX2ys\/UOkVGZJVcqI\/AAAAAAAALHE\/92rsVuuxZwc\/s640\/_MG_6278.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EIced Vietnamese green tea and sweet dipping sauce (plum?) compliment the meal at Banh Cuon Gia Truyen.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-NG77LWyENDQ\/UOkVICJZTqI\/AAAAAAAALHM\/qtA5vdWFmA0\/s1600\/_MG_6283.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-NG77LWyENDQ\/UOkVICJZTqI\/AAAAAAAALHM\/qtA5vdWFmA0\/s640\/_MG_6283.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EBanh Cuon in all its glory; loads of fresh cilantro, and crunchy fried shallots adorn the silky crepes for that famous Vietnamese ying-yang texture theme.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EBanh Cuon Gia Truyen\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E14 Hang Ga, Old Quarter\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EHanoi, Vietnam\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E[\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?q=14+H%C3%A0ng+G%C3%A0,+Hanoi,+Vietnam\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;ie=UTF8\u0026amp;ll=21.036121,105.847135\u0026amp;spn=0.010334,0.018475\u0026amp;sll=21.034981,105.847029\u0026amp;sspn=0.010334,0.018475\u0026amp;hnear=14+H%C3%A0ng+G%C3%A0,+Hoan+Kiem+District,+Hanoi,+Vietnam\u0026amp;t=m\u0026amp;z=16\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGoogle Maps\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EIce Cream. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-mtLuSLxcz2Y\/UOkVDwmmHoI\/AAAAAAAALG0\/dGQVOShnFzo\/s1600\/_MG_6276.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-mtLuSLxcz2Y\/UOkVDwmmHoI\/AAAAAAAALG0\/dGQVOShnFzo\/s640\/_MG_6276.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA happy stumble-upon as we excited the post office and headed north of what appeared to be along the financial sector of town was Kem Trang Tien. At 1:30pm it was loaded with corporate workers and students fixing for a sweet bite after lunch hour, at night it's said to be jam-packed with young Hanoians on newly purchased Honda Waves.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EKem Com\u003C\/i\u003E - rice popsicle, a lightly sweetened and milky green tinged bar with actual rice grains (my personal fave). 8,000 VND ($.40)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EKem Oc Que\u003C\/i\u003E - apparently their most popular item (picture shown above), it's a coconut ice cream cone ready for take-away. 20,000 VND\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EKem Trang Tien\u003Cbr \/\u003E35 Trang Tien\u003Cbr \/\u003EHanoi, Vietnam\u003Cbr \/\u003E[\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?q=trang+tien+35\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;ie=UTF8\u0026amp;ll=21.024505,105.859542\u0026amp;spn=0.002584,0.004619\u0026amp;sll=21.024745,105.859966\u0026amp;sspn=0.010335,0.018475\u0026amp;hnear=35+Tr%C3%A0ng+Ti%E1%BB%81n,+Hoan+Kiem+District,+Hanoi,+Vietnam\u0026amp;t=m\u0026amp;z=18\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGoogle Maps\u003C\/a\u003E]"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/2971034889549491369\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/01\/hanoi-eats-and-treats.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/2971034889549491369"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/2971034889549491369"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/01\/hanoi-eats-and-treats.html","title":"Hanoi Eats and Treats: Making The Most With What You've Got"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-SX-HMXQd7DU\/UOkVLZ0HZcI\/AAAAAAAALHo\/TD4ZJXlQ35g\/s72-c\/_MG_6341.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Hanoi, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam"},"georss$point":{"$t":"21.0333333 105.85000000000002"},"georss$box":{"$t":"20.974046299999998 105.76931900000002 21.0926203 105.93068100000002"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-3050273710842488301"},"published":{"$t":"2012-12-31T01:58:00.002-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2015-06-01T22:35:44.121-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aponiente"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"artisan"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"cadiz"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Canary Islands"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"cheese"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"chefs"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"coffee"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"coffee shop"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Crica"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"granja cantagrullas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"hong kong"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"la cabezuela"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lanzarote"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"michelin"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"milk"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"quesos"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"ruben valbuena"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Sobremesa In Spain: Looking Back on 2012"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\"\u003Ci\u003ENo matter what we have come through, or how many perils we have safely passed, or how imperfect and jagged - in some places perhaps irreparably -- our life has been, we cannot in our heart of hearts imagine how it could have been different. As we look back on it, it slips in behind us in orderly array, and, with all its mistakes, acquires a sort of eternal fitness, and even, at times, of poetic glamour.\u003C\/i\u003E\" \u003Cbr \/\u003E-Randolph Silliman Bourne\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Og7s8sKcyk8\/UOFXww0guxI\/AAAAAAAALEM\/zQnFxfxDgSI\/s1600\/_MG_6262.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Og7s8sKcyk8\/UOFXww0guxI\/AAAAAAAALEM\/zQnFxfxDgSI\/s640\/_MG_6262.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt sometimes may seem from the pages and photos of this site that life is full of shiny-happy-people, unicorns and gourmet food experiences. And yet, like any mortal, I also suffer from bad days, poor food choices and horrendous\u0026nbsp;restaurant experiences, trials of my self-confidence, pimples and an every day less perky\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Eculo\u003C\/i\u003E. However, as the above quote embodies, at the end of the day, or the end of the year in today's case, I wouldn't have changed the\u0026nbsp;occurrences\u0026nbsp;in my life at all in 2012 or any other for that matter, some days even blessed me with a particular poetic glamour.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELanzarote. \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EWe still haven't made it to the Gulf of Thailand, and maybe we won't on this trip through Southeast Asia, therefore Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain remains our preferred island. We revisited the Teguise municipality, our destination for budget\u0026nbsp;accommodation, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/11\/lanzarote-island-travel-tips.html\"\u003Epartook in local activities\u003C\/a\u003E and immensely enjoyed the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/09\/locals-only-canary-islands-lanzarote.html\"\u003ELanzarote wine scene\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDumplings.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EA layover in Hong Kong (after 16 hours of travel) turned out to be one of the best happy accidents of 2012. Our 6 hours on Hong Kongian (yes, I'm not sure if it's Hong Kongese or what) soil led us to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/11\/best-and-cheapest-michelin-restaurant-in-the-world-hong-kong.html\"\u003ETim Ho Wan Dim Sum restaurant\u003C\/a\u003E, and hands down the most deliciously cheap meal of the year, as well as solidifying a crucial travel memory.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFrench cheese straight from the source.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThis may seem like a bizarre thing to add to a \"Best of the Year\" post, but the truth is, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/10\/popular-french-cheese-guide.html\"\u003EI still think about these cheeses\u003C\/a\u003E. I can still taste the nutty-sweet yet slightly sour components of the Compte. Or perhaps I'm simply waxing poetic because I haven't had a single slice of cheese in over two months?? Let's hope I'm not lactose intolerant by the time I return to Europe or the States.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDiscovering real tastes.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EI remember traveling to Spain for the first time in 2003 with my best friend Rosie. She couldn't wait to get her hands on a \u003Ci\u003Ecafé con leche;\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;I wasn't a big coffee drinker at the time, but trusted her perception that American coffee was watered down attempts of the storied European espresso traditions. When I moved to Spain and started ordering coffees on my own -- finding solace amongst the hard metal seats and espresso machine steam --\u0026nbsp; I still leaned towards the\u0026nbsp;omnipresent cafe standard,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ecafé con leche. \u003C\/i\u003EBut it wasn't until I found \u003Cstrike\u003Egood\u003C\/strike\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/06\/toma-cafe-best-coffee-in-madrid-digo-yo.html\"\u003Egreat coffee in Madrid\u003C\/a\u003E, that I actually started to appreciate origins, decipher between coffee shop offerings and really savor a good cup of joe.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/11\/locals-only-chiang-mai-thailand.html\"\u003Ehome cooking of Thailand\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/12\/my-perfect-day-in-chiang-mai-thailand.html\"\u003Eincredibly \"fresh salads\"\u003C\/a\u003E that didn't contain a speck of lettuce, were also highlights.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMeeting the folks that make our food.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EPerhaps this is one of my proudest accomplishments of the year, and also one that I cherish dearly, because it has confirmed my future. Meeting artisans such as, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/02\/la-cabezuela-new-age-ancient-way-of.html\"\u003EJuan Luis of La Cabezuela\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/04\/cheese-quesos-granja-cantagrullas-ramiro.html\"\u003ERuben of Cantagrullas\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/04\/crica-valladolid-spain-no-mala-leche.html\"\u003EJulio and Alfonso of Crica dairy farm\u003C\/a\u003E, with their passion so rigorous and their\u0026nbsp;pretension\u0026nbsp;non-existent, has made me a believer in the human power of sustainable food systems, of reversal processes and community.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBest meal of the year.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIn 2011, I\u0026nbsp;pronounced\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/01\/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust-best-meal.html\"\u003EAsador Etxebarri as the best meal of the year\u003C\/a\u003E. This year I'd like to pass the torch to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/09\/aponiente-cadiz-chef-angel-leon-michelin-restaurant.html\"\u003EAponiente in Cadiz, Andalusia, Spain\u003C\/a\u003E. While in terms of excess, this year was certainly more frugal than others and less restaurants were visited, Aponiente is still very deserving of this mention. Chef Angel Leon is not simply creating amazing plates and tasteful food, he is reinventing the restaurant experience and diners' perception of\u0026nbsp;sustainable\u0026nbsp;sourcing and consumption, whilst educating numerous folks in and out of the food industry.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-wSyqM4qBAbY\/UOFX-L-pUkI\/AAAAAAAALEU\/_fYg2y6ApYc\/s1600\/_MG_6297.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-wSyqM4qBAbY\/UOFX-L-pUkI\/AAAAAAAALEU\/_fYg2y6ApYc\/s640\/_MG_6297.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHere's to a happy, healthy and delicious 2013. May you all follow your dreams, live your lives with purpose and never fail at continuously seeking out and finding that purpose.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERelated links:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/01\/buen-viaje-we-say-goodbye-to-2011.html\"\u003EWe Say Goodbye to 2011\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/3050273710842488301\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/12\/sobremesa-in-spain-looking-back-on-2012.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/3050273710842488301"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/3050273710842488301"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/12\/sobremesa-in-spain-looking-back-on-2012.html","title":"Sobremesa In Spain: Looking Back on 2012"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-Og7s8sKcyk8\/UOFXww0guxI\/AAAAAAAALEM\/zQnFxfxDgSI\/s72-c\/_MG_6262.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Hội An, Quang Nam province, Vietnam"},"georss$point":{"$t":"15.8800584 108.3380469"},"georss$box":{"$t":"15.6357444 108.0153234 16.1243724 108.66077039999999"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-6691975375929582437"},"published":{"$t":"2012-11-25T04:36:00.000-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2013-03-03T04:11:09.626-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asian food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"chiang mai"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"food culture"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"home cooking"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"homemade"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"kindness"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"local"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"locals only"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"lunch"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"market fresh"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"people watching"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"SE Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"thai food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"thailand"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel stories"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel tips"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Locals Only SE Asia Edition: Eating With Thai Grandmas"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EWe've been walking the same streets for the last few days now. We encounter the same sleepy dogs napping in the middle of the road (plastered, almost melted to the cement), the old frail woman chewing on sugarcane in the corner, and the same old man who leisurely climbs onto his tricycle rickshaw and heads 500 meters to the market around the corner. We don't live here, we aren't neighbors, but yet it all seems so familiar, so real that we've become fast\u0026nbsp;acquaintances in simply a few strolls up and down the alley.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EAntonio picks me up from yoga class and proposes a lunch at the \"hipster restaurant\" down the street. \"Which one?\" I ask, as a bunch of San Francisco-esque skinny jeans and flannel shirts isn't something I remember seeing on Ratchamanka Soi 6. \"You know, the one with all the cool people eating outside\" he says. He leads me there and I discover that this restaurant he speaks of is in fact a house, the hipsters actually are locals enjoying their 12pm lunch and \u003Ci\u003Echa yen\u003C\/i\u003E Thai iced teas, the wooden picnic table and random plastic chairs act as makeshift dining stuff. We sit down, luckily there are two Chiang Mai regulars eating already, I try not to stare, but nonchalantly size up and down what they're having - pointing would likely be necessary, but it looks like I've got this one under control, I recognize the \u003Ci\u003Esom tam\u003C\/i\u003E green papaya salad. She spits off numerous Thai phrases, all ending in a soft and\u0026nbsp;feminine\u0026nbsp;belly laugh and a broad smile. She holds up a tiny, yet extremely spicy chili and nods my direction, as if to say \"how many?\" I hold up my pointer finger and nod \"one\" and with that she roars into a deeper laugh. I suppose the proper answer would have been at least three.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EShe fastens a surgical mask to her face - to protect herself from the smoke - pounds the chili in the mortar and pestle, grinds the peanuts and turns around to control the fire of the wok (Antonio's garlic pork and rice). Within minutes the meal is ready and presented with\u0026nbsp;elongated\u0026nbsp;sprigs of Thai basil. Again, served with a smile. Fresh and authentic, a homemade meal from a home.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EI ask for her photo, she mumbles something to her son, and he translates for me that she doesn't feel beautiful today; timidly yet with confidence she removes the mask to reveal an ear to ear smile. She's being ridiculous of course, she appears younger than her years, but the real beauty is in the act of what this meal has meant for me.\u0026nbsp;She doesn't know it, but I will remember this exact spot in Thailand, this interaction, for years to come. I will, and in fact have already forgotten the Thai\u0026nbsp;pronunciation\u0026nbsp;of her name, but I will remember her sweetness, her energy and enthusiasm to feed others, her ability to provide a temporary home to outsiders, cooking that is both sincere and honest, available for whomever may pass and whomever desires to sit down for a meal on this tiny \u003Ci\u003ESoi\u003C\/i\u003E (road).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-GmQli78rav8\/UKoeutYvafI\/AAAAAAAAKYc\/pC0v80Yh68A\/s1600\/_MG_5072.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-GmQli78rav8\/UKoeutYvafI\/AAAAAAAAKYc\/pC0v80Yh68A\/s640\/_MG_5072.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EThai green papaya salad, \u003Ci\u003Esom tam\u003C\/i\u003E, in Chiang Mai, Thailand.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-RW79_UuFPzw\/UKoei5vz4GI\/AAAAAAAAKYI\/t7WNuSAJ4xI\/s1600\/IMG_5073.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-RW79_UuFPzw\/UKoei5vz4GI\/AAAAAAAAKYI\/t7WNuSAJ4xI\/s640\/IMG_5073.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ELet's call her Rose, my Thai grandmother and local cuisine chef for the day.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-5PICzUeg8Mw\/UKoe01Z3M9I\/AAAAAAAAKYk\/iFe9Vcaw0Mg\/s1600\/_MG_5076.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-5PICzUeg8Mw\/UKoe01Z3M9I\/AAAAAAAAKYk\/iFe9Vcaw0Mg\/s640\/_MG_5076.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EThe unsuspecting storefront is a house.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EGetting there:\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ERatchamanka Soi 6\/ Bumrung Buri 2\u003Cbr \/\u003EChiang Mai, Thailand\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ciframe frameborder=\"0\" height=\"394\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?f=q\u0026amp;source=embed\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;geocode=\u0026amp;q=2+Bumrung+Buri+Mueang+Chiang+Mai+Chiang+Mai+Thailand\u0026amp;aq=0\u0026amp;oq=bumrung+buri+2+chiang+mai\u0026amp;sll=18.78268,98.984748\u0026amp;sspn=0.00132,0.002309\u0026amp;ie=UTF8\u0026amp;hq=\u0026amp;hnear=Bumrung+Buri+2,+Phra+Sing,+Mueang+Chiang+Mai,+Chiang+Mai+50200,+Thailand\u0026amp;t=m\u0026amp;layer=c\u0026amp;cbll=18.782672,98.984882\u0026amp;panoid=wGyVQCKhR0NAynk47LSzbQ\u0026amp;cbp=13,262.51,,0,0\u0026amp;ll=18.773634,98.984842\u0026amp;spn=0.031937,0.060081\u0026amp;z=14\u0026amp;output=svembed\" width=\"700\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csmall\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?f=q\u0026amp;source=embed\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;geocode=\u0026amp;q=2+Bumrung+Buri+Mueang+Chiang+Mai+Chiang+Mai+Thailand\u0026amp;aq=0\u0026amp;oq=bumrung+buri+2+chiang+mai\u0026amp;sll=18.78268,98.984748\u0026amp;sspn=0.00132,0.002309\u0026amp;ie=UTF8\u0026amp;hq=\u0026amp;hnear=Bumrung+Buri+2,+Phra+Sing,+Mueang+Chiang+Mai,+Chiang+Mai+50200,+Thailand\u0026amp;t=m\u0026amp;layer=c\u0026amp;cbll=18.782672,98.984882\u0026amp;panoid=wGyVQCKhR0NAynk47LSzbQ\u0026amp;cbp=13,262.51,,0,0\u0026amp;ll=18.773634,98.984842\u0026amp;spn=0.031937,0.060081\u0026amp;z=14\" style=\"color: blue; text-align: left;\"\u003EView Larger Map\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/small\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/6691975375929582437\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/11\/locals-only-chiang-mai-thailand.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/6691975375929582437"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/6691975375929582437"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/11\/locals-only-chiang-mai-thailand.html","title":"Locals Only SE Asia Edition: Eating With Thai Grandmas"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-GmQli78rav8\/UKoeutYvafI\/AAAAAAAAKYc\/pC0v80Yh68A\/s72-c\/_MG_5072.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Chiang Mai, Thailand"},"georss$point":{"$t":"18.7964642 98.6600586"},"georss$box":{"$t":"16.8622592 96.1332031 20.730669199999998 101.1869141"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-6537554681252909004"},"published":{"$t":"2012-11-14T02:51:00.001-08:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2012-11-14T02:56:48.617-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"champagne"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"cheese"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"comptoir"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"france"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"french"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Les Halles"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"local"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"locals only"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"lyon"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"lyons"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"market"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"market fresh"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"michelin"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"oysters"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"salad lyonnaise"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"seafood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"travel tips"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"wine"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Off the Grid Travel Series |  Part Deux Lyon France  "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"\u003EI could blab on about how Lyon (sometimes referred to as Lyons) is a UNESCO World Heritage site, a foodies dreamland, or I could tell of its silk road past, the merchant stories of old, or paint a picture of the three hills that distinguish its landscape. But this time around I'll just simply tell you that I was charmed by Lyons; its size, the facility of\u0026nbsp;maneuvering\u0026nbsp;through a European canvas stitched with colors, rivers, trees, cheese and chocolate, the kindness of the people (who never snubbed me for my poor French) and always pointed me in the right direction. A direction that points effortlessly as a destination I hope to have the ability to navigate again sometime in my life.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EFor the sweet route, a tour of Lyon's best chocolates and pain au chocolat, follow \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/10\/off-grid-travel-series-part-one-how-to.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESobremesa's guide on 'How to Spend a Day in Lyons.'\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-2iyEjR4xPwU\/UHMrMgMCTdI\/AAAAAAAAIEI\/x5ELcaapZAk\/s1600\/LyonsFrance_cityviews.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-2iyEjR4xPwU\/UHMrMgMCTdI\/AAAAAAAAIEI\/x5ELcaapZAk\/s640\/LyonsFrance_cityviews.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-coZU9UFy-wI\/UHMeVrdDQhI\/AAAAAAAAH_I\/rEB5AUSylBY\/s1600\/_MG_3582.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-coZU9UFy-wI\/UHMeVrdDQhI\/AAAAAAAAH_I\/rEB5AUSylBY\/s640\/_MG_3582.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ESketching the scenery, Lyon, France.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-m45AM57hjG8\/UHMeaSmTFzI\/AAAAAAAAH_U\/7BcumjEjG1A\/s1600\/_MG_3592.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-m45AM57hjG8\/UHMeaSmTFzI\/AAAAAAAAH_U\/7BcumjEjG1A\/s640\/_MG_3592.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ESeafood. Fruits de Mer. Lyons.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-WboB05vuRws\/UHMefEXQ-zI\/AAAAAAAAH_c\/_vxxJbouXts\/s1600\/_MG_3615.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-WboB05vuRws\/UHMefEXQ-zI\/AAAAAAAAH_c\/_vxxJbouXts\/s640\/_MG_3615.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EPaul Bocuse's Le Sud, Lyons, France.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-gqaKsBnSbAg\/UHMejBTS7wI\/AAAAAAAAH_o\/9vZv8CHiEt0\/s1600\/_MG_3625.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-gqaKsBnSbAg\/UHMejBTS7wI\/AAAAAAAAH_o\/9vZv8CHiEt0\/s640\/_MG_3625.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ECafe culture in the old city, Lyons, France.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-qMZkSU1ktuU\/UHMeoVhcpQI\/AAAAAAAAH_w\/CeSY4mNDazs\/s1600\/_MG_3649.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-qMZkSU1ktuU\/UHMeoVhcpQI\/AAAAAAAAH_w\/CeSY4mNDazs\/s640\/_MG_3649.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EMore doors that transport us in time. Lyons, France.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nz3hfi706wY\/UHMetW5_K_I\/AAAAAAAAH_4\/LY1tlxZ_wYQ\/s1600\/_MG_3650.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-nz3hfi706wY\/UHMetW5_K_I\/AAAAAAAAH_4\/LY1tlxZ_wYQ\/s640\/_MG_3650.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EQuiet streets, bold thoughts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/--5v02Qy9kCc\/UHMe2tWWJnI\/AAAAAAAAIAM\/4EGRugiXVgA\/s1600\/_MG_3656.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/--5v02Qy9kCc\/UHMe2tWWJnI\/AAAAAAAAIAM\/4EGRugiXVgA\/s640\/_MG_3656.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EBefore the storm. Basilica of Notre-Dame, Fourviere, Lyons, France.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vEUBLqIlu9w\/UHMe6O1FfdI\/AAAAAAAAIAU\/_jYd6daxsTw\/s1600\/_MG_3666.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-vEUBLqIlu9w\/UHMe6O1FfdI\/AAAAAAAAIAU\/_jYd6daxsTw\/s640\/_MG_3666.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EWhat's a trip to Lyons without a outdoor meal in a bouchon?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-UlLcFlSdrvk\/UHMfJXF26NI\/AAAAAAAAIAw\/tk-rpOO-DmI\/s1600\/_MG_3760.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-UlLcFlSdrvk\/UHMfJXF26NI\/AAAAAAAAIAw\/tk-rpOO-DmI\/s640\/_MG_3760.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EOr a cold beer along the Rhone river on a sunny day? Lyon, France.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-x_4_wEG37JQ\/UHMfNZtbDBI\/AAAAAAAAIA8\/aPdGkgjSY8o\/s1600\/_MG_3764.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-x_4_wEG37JQ\/UHMfNZtbDBI\/AAAAAAAAIA8\/aPdGkgjSY8o\/s640\/_MG_3764.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ELunch, a salad Lyonnaise and Cotes du Rhone wine at Comptoir Abel. Lyons, France.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-WUPHmrHdECM\/UHMfSewsI1I\/AAAAAAAAIBE\/0frnI3aK9lU\/s1600\/_MG_3772.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-WUPHmrHdECM\/UHMfSewsI1I\/AAAAAAAAIBE\/0frnI3aK9lU\/s640\/_MG_3772.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EInterior of Comptoir Abel, Lyons, France.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-YLNtcwhQFi0\/UHMfU0rywkI\/AAAAAAAAIBM\/81CFkslY_Wk\/s1600\/_MG_3773.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-YLNtcwhQFi0\/UHMfU0rywkI\/AAAAAAAAIBM\/81CFkslY_Wk\/s640\/_MG_3773.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EThe bar and cash register at Comptoir Abel, Lyons, France.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-WwG15Ymxlq4\/UHMfij6EVGI\/AAAAAAAAIBo\/PFLr9cyNfW0\/s1600\/_MG_3779.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-WwG15Ymxlq4\/UHMfij6EVGI\/AAAAAAAAIBo\/PFLr9cyNfW0\/s640\/_MG_3779.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EAfter lunch lull at Comptoir Abel.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EAnd finally, the awesomeness that is \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/100816973128297448992\/about?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELes Halles de Lyon Market\u003C\/a\u003E. An indoor God-send of the highest quality food stuff from the region and terrior, and the 60 plus stalls that make up this masterpiece.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EMy key takeaways.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-tN2AJeUaGFU\/UHMfm8W5_8I\/AAAAAAAAIBw\/D8jxchOKYKU\/s1600\/_MG_3781.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-tN2AJeUaGFU\/UHMfm8W5_8I\/AAAAAAAAIBw\/D8jxchOKYKU\/s640\/_MG_3781.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EVarious richelieu on display at Les Halles de Lyon.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-huXRAi0AHA4\/UHMgUPTgvoI\/AAAAAAAAIDI\/ScAASL8Tuyk\/s1600\/_MG_3819.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-huXRAi0AHA4\/UHMgUPTgvoI\/AAAAAAAAIDI\/ScAASL8Tuyk\/s640\/_MG_3819.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EDuck pistachio 'pate croute canard richelieu' (19.5 euros kilo).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-G4XBjSzC8nU\/UHMsyxcKLLI\/AAAAAAAAIEU\/FzBSFyaQ39A\/s1600\/OystersLyonsFrance.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"378\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-G4XBjSzC8nU\/UHMsyxcKLLI\/AAAAAAAAIEU\/FzBSFyaQ39A\/s640\/OystersLyonsFrance.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EOysters and champagne make for an excellent Sunday morning brunch. \u0026nbsp;Les Halles Lyon.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OQt85XpQGeE\/UHMrFC56M-I\/AAAAAAAAIEA\/QZQNZ1ug8jg\/s1600\/LesHallesMarket_LyonsFrance.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-OQt85XpQGeE\/UHMrFC56M-I\/AAAAAAAAIEA\/QZQNZ1ug8jg\/s640\/LesHallesMarket_LyonsFrance.jpg\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EFrench Cheese + \u0026nbsp;French baguettes = Heaven\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-VcMIqwspMP0\/UHMgKEgGMPI\/AAAAAAAAIC0\/9-fbgQSV7fc\/s1600\/_MG_3808.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-VcMIqwspMP0\/UHMgKEgGMPI\/AAAAAAAAIC0\/9-fbgQSV7fc\/s640\/_MG_3808.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EI couldn't resist a doggy bag. Clockwise bottom left to right; L'Etivaz AOC Switzerland, Tomme de Brebis Piment Espelette, Bleu de Gex, Crottin Chavignol goat's cheese, Compte, Raclette goat cheese. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/6537554681252909004\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/11\/off-grid-travel-series-part-duex-lyon.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/6537554681252909004"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/6537554681252909004"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/11\/off-grid-travel-series-part-duex-lyon.html","title":"Off the Grid Travel Series |  Part Deux Lyon France  "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-2iyEjR4xPwU\/UHMrMgMCTdI\/AAAAAAAAIEI\/x5ELcaapZAk\/s72-c\/LyonsFrance_cityviews.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Lyon, France"},"georss$point":{"$t":"45.764043 4.835659"},"georss$box":{"$t":"45.674946 4.6777305 45.85314 4.9935874999999994"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-4297219004233864990"},"published":{"$t":"2012-10-02T09:20:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2012-11-14T04:44:34.545-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"bars"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"eating out in madrid"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"locals only"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"low cost"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"madrid"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"patatas bravas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"potatoes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"restaurants"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"tapas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"toda la vida"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"tortilla de patatas"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"tortilla española"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"traditional"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Locals Only Madrid: More of the Best Patatas Bravas in Spain at Bar Docamar"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"\u003EWant a truly Spanish experience and a hefty portion of what some food and restaurant critics have claimed one of the \u003Cb\u003Ebest plates of patata bravas in Spain \u003C\/b\u003E(\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/08\/locals-only-barcelona-patatas-bravas-at.html\"\u003Eyou be the judge if they are better than Bar Tomás in Barcelona\u003C\/a\u003E). Well get out of your \u003Ci\u003Ebarrio\u003C\/i\u003E and head East, yes, you will have to leave the center of Madrid - but it will be worth it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESince 1963 Bar Docamar has offered generous portions of traditional and typical Spanish menu and tapas offerings. While I can't promise you that you will be met with smiles and \"of course, we'll prepare it as you like it,\" that's part of the charm of it being so \u003Ci\u003Eauthentic\u003C\/i\u003E. Nobody comes to Spain expecting that service will be out of this world, and for that reason tips are often minimal - the\u0026nbsp;waiters\u0026nbsp;receive a fixed hourly salary - typically there is no reason for them to impress you at all, just simply serve the food. Knowing what you're walking into will help keep your expectations set, and allow the food to do the talking.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-8dN63bhIXAw\/T15MDK-2QrI\/AAAAAAAAE4U\/B-LEJ1olPd0\/s1600\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(2).JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-8dN63bhIXAw\/T15MDK-2QrI\/AAAAAAAAE4U\/B-LEJ1olPd0\/s640\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(2).JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EDocamar sits in the Plaza of Quintana in Madrid's Concepción neighborhood, only two more metro stops from the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-EcC7kMBvX38\/T15MGMsqrGI\/AAAAAAAAE4c\/uMpzxEy2eAA\/s1600\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(3).JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-EcC7kMBvX38\/T15MGMsqrGI\/AAAAAAAAE4c\/uMpzxEy2eAA\/s640\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(3).JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EGet ready for lots of tapas madrileñas.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-fEbXhYGeABw\/T15MJFg0CzI\/AAAAAAAAE4k\/e64cfDPGV2s\/s1600\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(4).JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-fEbXhYGeABw\/T15MJFg0CzI\/AAAAAAAAE4k\/e64cfDPGV2s\/s640\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(4).JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EWe started off with\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Salmorejo\"\u003Esalmorejo\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, a refreshing Southern Spanish \"soup\" of sorts made from tomatoes and bread, and topped with jamón and hard boiled egg.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1gRIhL-9e8Y\/T15MLSaKaFI\/AAAAAAAAE4s\/Ui9hzqcT7gA\/s1600\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(5).JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-1gRIhL-9e8Y\/T15MLSaKaFI\/AAAAAAAAE4s\/Ui9hzqcT7gA\/s640\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(5).JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003EThe patatas bravas were what we came for, and they certainly are a specialty at Docamar, a restaurant that brings in some 2,000 kilos of potatoes per week. I had gotten wind of the establishment from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/blogs.elpais.com\/gastronotas-de-capel\/2012\/02\/la-mejores-bravas.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EJosé Carlos Capel's El Pais blog\u003C\/a\u003E, where he mentions the best bravas in all of Spain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Eb6hYxG_t5g\/T15MNzzA67I\/AAAAAAAAE44\/4D8WV0dNQfY\/s1600\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(6).JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-Eb6hYxG_t5g\/T15MNzzA67I\/AAAAAAAAE44\/4D8WV0dNQfY\/s640\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(6).JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-p_176BMLP9k\/T15MAEvljII\/AAAAAAAAE4M\/sE1dud0-FBQ\/s1600\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(1).JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-p_176BMLP9k\/T15MAEvljII\/AAAAAAAAE4M\/sE1dud0-FBQ\/s640\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(1).JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ETypical Spanish bar with beer on tap, known as \u003Ci\u003Ecañas\u003C\/i\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-efyTvqZu1T8\/T15MTlBBA0I\/AAAAAAAAE5I\/H94qmh7gU3g\/s1600\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(8).JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-efyTvqZu1T8\/T15MTlBBA0I\/AAAAAAAAE5I\/H94qmh7gU3g\/s640\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(8).JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QLK0cAf9P_Y\/T15Ma2J0cwI\/AAAAAAAAE5c\/H7ri1LUbphk\/s1600\/TortilladePatatasDOCAMAR.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-QLK0cAf9P_Y\/T15Ma2J0cwI\/AAAAAAAAE5c\/H7ri1LUbphk\/s640\/TortilladePatatasDOCAMAR.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ENot the star of the show according to our planned visit, but none the less a main event, la tortilla española was perfectly cooked, still a bit juicy in the center and the potatoes tender. Beside the portion was enormous - so much so that we had leftovers to take home.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.docamar.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDocamar\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBreakfast, Lunch (13:30-16:00) and Dinner\u003Cbr \/\u003EOpen from 8:00-24:00 Thursdays - Tuesdays. Closed Wednesdays.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ECalle de Alcala 337\u003Cbr \/\u003E28027 Madrid, Spain\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EMetro: Quintana\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ciframe frameborder=\"0\" height=\"480\" marginheight=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/maps.google.es\/maps?f=q\u0026amp;source=s_q\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;geocode=\u0026amp;q=docamar\u0026amp;aq=\u0026amp;sll=52.015752,5.556603\u0026amp;sspn=0.114734,0.338173\u0026amp;ie=UTF8\u0026amp;hq=docamar\u0026amp;t=m\u0026amp;cid=6841416850379268829\u0026amp;hnear=\u0026amp;ll=40.439174,-3.658876\u0026amp;spn=0.031356,0.054932\u0026amp;z=14\u0026amp;iwloc=A\u0026amp;output=embed\" width=\"640\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Csmall\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/maps.google.es\/maps?f=q\u0026amp;source=embed\u0026amp;hl=en\u0026amp;geocode=\u0026amp;q=docamar\u0026amp;aq=\u0026amp;sll=52.015752,5.556603\u0026amp;sspn=0.114734,0.338173\u0026amp;ie=UTF8\u0026amp;hq=docamar\u0026amp;t=m\u0026amp;cid=6841416850379268829\u0026amp;hnear=\u0026amp;ll=40.439174,-3.658876\u0026amp;spn=0.031356,0.054932\u0026amp;z=14\u0026amp;iwloc=A\" style=\"color: blue; text-align: left;\"\u003EView Larger Map\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/small\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/4297219004233864990\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/10\/locals-only-madrid-more-of-best-patatas.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/4297219004233864990"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/4297219004233864990"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/10\/locals-only-madrid-more-of-best-patatas.html","title":"Locals Only Madrid: More of the Best Patatas Bravas in Spain at Bar Docamar"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-8dN63bhIXAw\/T15MDK-2QrI\/AAAAAAAAE4U\/B-LEJ1olPd0\/s72-c\/MadridRestauranteDocamar+(2).JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"bar docamar"},"georss$point":{"$t":"40.4330722 -3.6484068"},"georss$box":{"$t":"40.431553199999996 -3.6508743 40.4345912 -3.6459393"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-4788324436545125198"},"published":{"$t":"2012-09-05T04:12:00.002-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2015-11-11T10:37:28.009-08:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"alcoholic beverages"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aperitif"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"aperitivo"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"barcelona"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"bars"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"budget"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"cocktails"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"food culture"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"homemade"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"hump day"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"local"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"madrid"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"sherry"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"spanish beverages"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"toda la vida"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"traditional"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"vermouth"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"vermut"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Hump Day | Vermouth, Sherry, Cava and More. The Forgotten Aperitif Has Its Revival"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"\u003EHere in Spain, the bars are open what seems all day. While many of the shops and markets pause for their afternoon \u003Ci\u003Esiesta\u003C\/i\u003E from 2pm-5pm, the bars open their heavy wooden doors to reveal another world inside, a culture based on conversation, meeting with friends and sitting with family. Just the other day, I entered a \u003Ci\u003Evermut\u003C\/i\u003E bar in a tiny side alley of El Raval, Barcelona only to be served by a 65 year old man, drinking next to two retirees and watching a mother (with her mother) trying to hush her screaming toddlers. Meanwhile, the shiny electronic slot machine sat in the corner awaiting its next victim. This is a \u003Ci\u003Ebodega\u003C\/i\u003E, or a \u003Ci\u003Etasca\u003C\/i\u003E or maybe even a \u003Ci\u003Etaberna\u003C\/i\u003E, and this my friends is where one can learn a lot about society. Come on in, have a drink and \"open\" your appetite.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EServed before a meal, usually with something small and cheap to pick on - like potato chips or olives - \u003Ci\u003Eaperitivos\u003C\/i\u003E prepare your taste buds for the food to come, and probably do something funny to your tummy to notify the stomach acids to wake up from their own version of a siesta, but I haven't really done my research on that subject matter.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003ECava\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;from Catalonia, vermouths, \u003Ci\u003Efino\u003C\/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003Eamontillado \u003C\/i\u003E(the latter two sherries from Jerez de la Frontera) and other dry light white wines can be served at the hour of the \u003Ci\u003Eaperitivo\u003C\/i\u003E. Throughout Spain this ritual takes place from around noon to 2pm, just before the largest meal of the day, a three course offering known as\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ela comida.\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;However in hot spots like Barcelona, the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vermouth\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Evermut\u003C\/a\u003E tradition is no longer your grandmother's\u0026nbsp;past-time\u0026nbsp;but a delicious excuse to loiter along the long marble or wooden lined bars or sit outside among the terraces of the city's most old school establishments, sipping fortified wine at a reasonable price. \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: white; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-c_laAiOleJA\/UDSVZn6yi4I\/AAAAAAAAHaM\/Pja8XoDbQro\/s1600\/IMG_1688.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-c_laAiOleJA\/UDSVZn6yi4I\/AAAAAAAAHaM\/Pja8XoDbQro\/s640\/IMG_1688.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px; text-align: center;\"\u003EAmontillado and Fino varieties of Sherry on display with our \u003Ci\u003Eaperitivo\u003C\/i\u003E cocktail olives at La Venencia, Madrid, Spain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-B9O5m2tJEDg\/UEcR4A1oLSI\/AAAAAAAAHgM\/COeoYnSSPto\/s1600\/_MG_3234.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-B9O5m2tJEDg\/UEcR4A1oLSI\/AAAAAAAAHgM\/COeoYnSSPto\/s640\/_MG_3234.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px; text-align: center;\"\u003EA house made vermouth (vermut) rests on the \u003Ci\u003Emodernisme\u003C\/i\u003E bar counter in Barcelona.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-khbNoBpkk3E\/UEcUyj5mIAI\/AAAAAAAAHgo\/0zkNkYX4oQw\/s1600\/_MG_3235.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-khbNoBpkk3E\/UEcUyj5mIAI\/AAAAAAAAHgo\/0zkNkYX4oQw\/s640\/_MG_3235.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003EVintage glass spritzers of sparkling mineral water, which is often served\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"line-height: 19.183332443237305px;\"\u003Etable-side\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;with your \u003Ci\u003Evermut\u003C\/i\u003E - giving you the option to cut the drink to your preference.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMy picks for best Vermouth bars\u0026nbsp;in Barcelona and Madrid:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cu\u003ELa Tieta\u003C\/u\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003ECarrer del Blai 1 \u0026nbsp;(Paral-lel)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E08004 Barcelona\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cu\u003ECeller de Frank Petersen\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003ECarrer Bisbe Laguarda 6 (Sant Antoni)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E08001 Barcelona\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/morrofi.wordpress.com\/bar-vermuteria-morro-fi\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMorro Fi\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003EConsell de Cent 171\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E08015 Barcelona\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cu\u003ETaberna Angel Sierra\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003ECalle de Gravina 11 (Chueca)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E28004 Madrid, Spain\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFor Cava:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cu\u003ECan Paixano\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003ECarrer de la Reina Cristina, 7 (Barceloneta)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003E08003, Barcelona\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFor Sherry:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cu\u003ELa Venencia\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003ECalle de Echegaray 7 (Sol)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003E28014 Madrid, Spain\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFor a little bit of everything:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: white; font-family: \u0026quot;arial\u0026quot; , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cu\u003EBodega\u0026nbsp;Massana\u003C\/u\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003ECarrer\u0026nbsp;d'Horta\u0026nbsp;1 (Horta)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E08031 Barcelona\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.casamariol.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECasa Mariol\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003ECarrer Rossello 442\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E08025 Barcelona\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: sans-serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 19.196969985961914px;\"\u003ENEW as of November 2015! Spain's Vermouth Renaissance Map!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ciframe height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/embed?mid=z2O84Go3sb2c.k6sKfhSHpeDg\" width=\"640\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-f6sFyOC6Dec\/UEcesQ0qGPI\/AAAAAAAAHhE\/WDWj3FIE7mE\/s1600\/HemingwayMadrid+077.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"http:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-f6sFyOC6Dec\/UEcesQ0qGPI\/AAAAAAAAHhE\/WDWj3FIE7mE\/s640\/HemingwayMadrid+077.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003ELa Venencia on Calle Echegaray, a Mecca of Sherry in Madrid's old town.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/4788324436545125198\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/09\/hump-day-vermouth-sherry-cava-and-more.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/4788324436545125198"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/4788324436545125198"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/09\/hump-day-vermouth-sherry-cava-and-more.html","title":"Hump Day | Vermouth, Sherry, Cava and More. The Forgotten Aperitif Has Its Revival"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-c_laAiOleJA\/UDSVZn6yi4I\/AAAAAAAAHaM\/Pja8XoDbQro\/s72-c\/IMG_1688.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Barcelona, Spain"},"georss$point":{"$t":"41.387917 2.1699187"},"georss$box":{"$t":"41.292614 2.0119902 41.48322 2.3278472000000003"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4643043695815494212.post-8036990318150455014"},"published":{"$t":"2012-08-20T02:54:00.000-07:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-05-05T22:45:23.775-07:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"barcelona"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"cafes"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"coffee"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"coffee shop"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"food culture"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"food trends"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"history"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"low cost"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"madrid"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"malaga"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"slideshow"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"spain"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"spanish beverages"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Spanish food"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"tight budget"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"toda la vida"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"valencia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Live Like a Local: Spain | How to order a coffee or espresso in Spain"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"\u003EIf I had to guess I would say that the US became obsessed with Dunkin' Donuts coffee not for the taste, but for the simplicity - it was much easier to simply order \"a cup of coffee.\" Not to mention the to-go factor. As a culture, we've developed a global stereotype (particularly acknowledged by Europeans and Middle Easterns) that our coffee is watered down, dull and hardly enjoyed, sipped or swigged in huge cups at the speed of a 7-Eleven Big Gulp®. It wasn't until the introduction of Starbucks that \u003Ci\u003Ewe thought\u003C\/i\u003E we got a little more class, that our coffee consumption\u0026nbsp;skyrocketed\u0026nbsp;to include fancy-pants sizes and milk variations with shiny flamboyant Italian nicknames.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThen around 2005 something called the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com\/2010\/03\/04\/ristretto-a-cortado-is-not-a-minivan\/\"\u003EGibraltar\u003C\/a\u003E happened in San Francisco to a little (now well invested! as of 2015) company named \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bluebottlecoffee.net\/\"\u003EBlue Bottle Coffee\u003C\/a\u003E - which if you know anything about being hip has helped spawn a\u0026nbsp;catalyst\u0026nbsp;within the SF coffee movement, as well as along the West Coast, over to New York and popping up in London (although they have a lot of influence from the Aussies, whom also make excellent coffee). But did that really happen? Was that really an invention? Or a renaming of the existing Spanish \u003Ci\u003Ecortado\u003C\/i\u003E? All finger pointing aside, \u003Cb\u003Ecoffee and espresso drinks are some of the most widely consumed beverages in the world\u003C\/b\u003E, and the manner in which they are ordered and prepared differs according to countries, backgrounds or the baristas' habits.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThe Spanish people have developed quite a taste, or perhaps dependency on coffee since its arrival from Turkish immigrants in the 17th century. The general consensus is that the coffee here is good, although it may be\u0026nbsp;argued\u0026nbsp;that the coffee tastes better in \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/05\/off-grid-travel-series-napoli-italy.html\"\u003EItaly\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2011\/10\/off-grid-travel-series-part-i-faro.html\"\u003EPortugal\u003C\/a\u003E, and certainly worse in France.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhat do you need to know to order an espresso drink or coffee in Spain?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESpaniards aren't known to eat a hefty breakfast, in fact for a true experience during your stay in the country, steer clear of restaurants or cafes offering an American or British breakfast. On a given day, the local eateries will be filled with common citizens, or even hotshot politicians (if they dare show their faces), munching a pastry, or toasts with tomato pulp with their \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ecafé con leche\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, 1:1 ration of strong coffee or espresso with steamed milk, or what we might register as a caffé latte.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EThat said, coffee in Spain is consumed at all hours of the day, particular after larger meals or in the late afternoon at the \u003Ci\u003Emerienda\u003C\/i\u003E hour (5-7pm roughly) served alongside a slice of olive oil or egg yolk cakes. Besides this fact -- you'll soon see for yourself during your time in Spain a culture of \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003Etomando un\u0026nbsp;café\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;(or \u003Ci\u003Etomar un\u0026nbsp;café -- \u003C\/i\u003Eto have a coffee) via patios, terraces, cafes, bars, gas stations, and restaurants offering all sorts of food stuff but also always coffee, and this practice is not only a time for caffeine, but an opportunity to catch up and meet with friends, family, colleagues, or \u003Ci\u003Eintercambios\u003C\/i\u003E (language exchanges).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECafé Solo\u003C\/b\u003E - a very strong and small serving of coffee; generally a single shot of espresso. I have no statistics to prove this theory, but I most commonly witness people ordering this version after lunch for a quick pick-me-up, therefore reducing the\u0026nbsp;likelihood\u0026nbsp;of falling into a food coma, or after dinner for the \u003Ci\u003Esobremesa\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;chats and table lingering.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECafé Solo Doble* - \u003C\/b\u003Esame as above but with a double shot of espresso and maybe a larger vessel (pending the bar\/cafe)\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E(\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECafé)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECortado\u003C\/b\u003E - an espresso \u003Ci\u003Ecut\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;with steamed milk (from Spanish verb\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ecortar\u003C\/i\u003E), typically 1:1 - 2:1 espresso to milk ration, and served in a short and stout glass. It's similar to the piccolo in Australia, the Gibraltar in US and to the Italian version of a caffé macchiato. Popularly ordered around the \u003Ci\u003Emerienda\u003C\/i\u003E hours to give a little jolt as well as the\u0026nbsp;illusion\u0026nbsp;of eating something sweet between meals (with the addition of sugar packets most likely).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECafé con Leche \u003C\/b\u003E- to reiterate from above, this is one of Spain's most popular drinks, and often the favorite for its balanced flavors and comforting sensations, equal parts milk and coffee. Breakfast is a common timeframe for this size, as is the \u003Cb\u003Emerienda\u003C\/b\u003E a 5pm snack hour, but it's really as classic as\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/El_Cl%C3%A1sico\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EEl Clasico\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(a futbol \/ soccer match).\u0026nbsp;Sometimes this drink will be served table-side, with the waiters pouring the (very) hot milk into a short \u0026amp; skinny glass, or wide brimmed demitasse cup.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003E(Café) Americano\u003C\/b\u003E - an espresso shot served in a larger glass and watered down. Usually ordered by out-of-towners looking to replace their usual coffee routine since you won't find filtered coffee in many places in Spain; espresso machines are the norm, or instant coffee.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECafé Manchado\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E- a less common order, but a popular choice nonetheless for those that like their caffeinated beverages just \"stained,\" the literal term for staining a short (café  con leche) glass of milk with a small amount of espresso. May also be referred to on some menus as a\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003Elágrima\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;- from other Spanish speaking countries like Argentina.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECafé con hielo\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;- during the hot summer months the Spaniards cool down with this espresso and ice cubes, served in a whiskey glass.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECafé Suizo\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;- a shot of espresso served with a dollop of whipped cream; identical to the Italian 'espresso con panna' although not very common on Spanish menus. \u0026nbsp;(I like \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/04\/hump-day-flan-de-mato-at-granja-mviader.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELa Granja Viader\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;in Barcelona for this drink because of their homemade cream).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECafé Bombon\u003C\/b\u003E - a café solo (espresso) served with a hefty spoonful of condensed milk, thought to have originated in Valencia, Spain.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-UAMt03XRroY\/UC9f_MsCCAI\/AAAAAAAAHZM\/ZVWDB85pxIM\/s1600\/_MG_2793.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-UAMt03XRroY\/UC9f_MsCCAI\/AAAAAAAAHZM\/ZVWDB85pxIM\/s640\/_MG_2793.JPG\" width=\"426\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECarajillo\u003C\/b\u003E - a café solo served with a touch of brandy, although whiskey or rum can be substituted.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETrifásico\u003C\/b\u003E - a less common and often regionally ordered drink along the Costa Brava and Costa Blanca, the trifásico includes three ingredients: coffee, milk\/cream\/or condensed milk and a liquor (usually anything from whiskey, brandy to Baileys).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKnow your caffeine preference upfront\u003C\/b\u003E, otherwise they will assume you want regular or strong espressos and coffee. Typically decaffeinated,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Edescafeinado\u003C\/i\u003E, comes from an instant coffee packet, \u0026nbsp;so if you want decaffeinated and from the espresso machine you must request for example,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ecafé\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;_________ +\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Edescafeinado de maquina\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAND if you didn't have enough already: You also have the option to speak up about your exact coffee preferences; so with the cortado or the café con leche you could order '\u003Cb\u003Ecorto de café\u003C\/b\u003E' (literally short on coffee) or '\u003Cb\u003Elargo de café\u003C\/b\u003E' (long on coffee).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E*\u003Cb\u003EDouble shots\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;- If you're looking for more caffeine that resembles a \u003Ci\u003Eristretto\u003C\/i\u003E then you'll need to request that your drink be made as a double shot; the standard is one. To do this, use the above terminology but add \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003Edoble\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E to the end, e.g.\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci style=\"font-weight: bold;\"\u003ECafé con leche doble, cortado doble, manchado doble\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca name='more'\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E**Also note in Spain, unlike in Italy (or other countries that I haven't visited yet), if you would like a glass of water to go with your coffee, you must ask your server for it - \u003Ci\u003Eun vaso de agua por favor\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESugars \/\u0026nbsp;Sweeteners\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESpaniards are quite generous with their sugar packets, the processed white variety, or common table sugar. Bars \u0026amp; cafes often put of a lot of effort into insuring that theirs are printed with their business name and address (reminds me of the omnipresent matches in the US during the 90s). Should you need more however,\u0026nbsp;simply ask \"\u003Ci\u003Eme traes \/\u003C\/i\u003Eor\u003Ci\u003E\u0026nbsp;me das un poco de azúcar por favor?\u003C\/i\u003E\" (will you bring \/ give me sugar please?).\u0026nbsp;If you're a fiend for raw sugar, \u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eazúcar de caña\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, \u0026nbsp;is the courser, less processed version (sometimes) available.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ci\u003EStevia\u003C\/i\u003E may be making an appearance (as of summer '15), but the mainstay sugar substitutes are: \u003Ci\u003ESacarina\u003C\/i\u003E (common brand is Sweet N' Low), \u003Ci\u003Esucralosa\u003C\/i\u003E (Splenda), \u003Ci\u003Easpartame\u003C\/i\u003E (Nutrasweet).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHoney: very rare to accompany coffee in Spain, but still worth a shot if this is your preference, and if you ask nicely. The word for honey is (la) \u003Ci\u003Emiel\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMilk \u0026amp; Alternatives\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ECow's milk (\u003Ci\u003Eleche de vaca\u003C\/i\u003E) is no doubt the most popular and default coffee accoutrement -- you'll hear it steamed-up alongside the espresso machine at all hours of the day. By craft coffee standards most cafes will burn the milk, i.e. heat it to a very high temperature (as habit and also turning their attention away from the beverage to do other things), but you can ::try to:: specify if you prefer it \u003Ci\u003Emenos\u003C\/i\u003E (less) or \u003Ci\u003Emás\u003C\/i\u003E (more)\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ecaliente \u003C\/i\u003E(hot)\u003Ci\u003E, \u003C\/i\u003Efor instance the common way you may request with lukewarm milk is '\u003Ci\u003Econ leche templada\u003C\/i\u003E'. \u0026nbsp;Also to note that Spain serves very little fresh milk, the vast majority is tetra-bric packs of UHT pasteurized milk.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ESoy milk - \u003Ci\u003Eleche de soja\u003C\/i\u003E - is picking up steam, although it is generally pre-sweetened with sugar in the bricks it comes in.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAsk your barista if alternatives are available or look for them on the menus\/walls; with more and more allergies arising in the population this might be a more common site, although certainly a nearby healthfood store would have all\/some of the below options and in a pinch you could bring your own milk to the bar\/cafe.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAlmond milk \u0026nbsp;--- \u003Ci\u003Eleche de almendra\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGoat's milk -- \u003Ci\u003Eleche de cabra\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHazelnut milk -- \u003Ci\u003Eleche de avellana\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETiger nut milk \u0026nbsp;-- horchata*\/leche \u003Ci\u003Ede chufa\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ERice milk \u0026nbsp;-- \u003Ci\u003Eleche de arroz\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp; (*note that \u003Ci\u003Ehorchata\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;the cinnamon-rice drink served in Mexico it is not the same as the Spanish version)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOat milk -- \u003Ci\u003Eleche de avena\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECoconut milk(very rare) -- \u003Ci\u003Eleche de coco\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ENow \u003Cb\u003Ethe above mentioned list should allow you to order a coffee or espresso throughout any part of Spain with no problems.\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;Be sure to visit my favorite neighborhood vendors and recommended coffee shops; \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/06\/toma-cafe-best-coffee-in-madrid-digo-yo.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EToma Café in Madrid\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2013\/12\/coffee--bikes-community-madrid.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELa Bicicleta\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/09\/locals-only-barcelona-satans-coffee.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESatan's Coffee Corner in Barcelona\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(more Spanish coffee shop recommendations at bottom of page).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EHowever, if you plan to \"monkey see monkey do\" and \u003Cb\u003Eorder a coffee like a local when in Málaga\u003C\/b\u003E, then pay attention to the following:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cafecentralmalaga.com\/\"\u003ECafé Central\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;tucked along a narrow side street in the old city of Málaga has claimed the invention of the following coffee ordering standard,\u0026nbsp;a brain scramble,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Eun\u0026nbsp;cacao mental\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;for outsiders but none the less a fascinating Andalusian\u0026nbsp;idiosyncrasy. The story goes that the \u003Ci\u003Ecamarero\u003C\/i\u003E, D. José Prado Crespo, or Pepe for short, was fed up of dealing with crazy customers requests, \"\u003Ci\u003EPepe ponme un poquito más\u003C\/i\u003E\" \"a little more coffee\/milk\" or \"¡\u003Ci\u003Eya está! suficiente leche ya\u003C\/i\u003E\" \"OK, that's enough milk.\" He developed a ten level \u003Ci\u003Ecafé\u003C\/i\u003E system to simplify his work life as well as the lives of his coworkers.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-xRvvl4WvXTQ\/UC9gJgFOUOI\/AAAAAAAAHZU\/-aIBsLZoC2U\/s1600\/_MG_2840.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-xRvvl4WvXTQ\/UC9gJgFOUOI\/AAAAAAAAHZU\/-aIBsLZoC2U\/s640\/_MG_2840.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003EOrdering a coffee in Málaga, Spain requires a bit of practice. Or point and smile : )\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: x-small;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003ESince its conception, the system has been adopted by the majority of the baristas and servers around Málaga. It goes like this: \u003Ci\u003Enube, sombra, corto, entrecorto, mitad, solo corto, semi-largo, largo\u003C\/i\u003E, and the \u003Ci\u003Esolo\u003C\/i\u003E. The nube, or cloud, contains a splash of coffee, the \u003Ci\u003Emitad\u003C\/i\u003E is equal parts 1:1 coffee and milk, and the solo is the same as in the rest of Spain, all black. However nowadays we give the servers even more work,\u0026nbsp;non-fat milk, soy requests, or even the size of the glass is ultimately \"your wish is my command.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EIf the above is altogether too complicated, ordering \"\u003Ci\u003Eun cappuccino, por favor\u003C\/i\u003E,\" will be internationally understood. Just keep your standards in check, this won't be Italy -- which a\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003Eccording to the\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.espressoitaliano.org\/\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EINEI\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;consists of:\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\"traditional cappuccinos are made up of 25ml of espresso and 125ml of steam-whipped milk, starting with cold milk (3-5°C) and brought to a temperature of about 55°C and then poured over Italian certified espresso in a cup the size of 150-160ml. The milk must be fresh bovine with a minimum of 3.2% proteins and 3.5% fat, and steam-whipped in a specific way.\" Precise isn't it? Maybe a \u003Ci\u003Ecafé con leche\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;in Spain is the way to go after all!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-feN7y0MrmC0\/VW1IDV4DS4I\/AAAAAAAAQrM\/BPg4Px_sHVM\/s1600\/coffee_sobremesainspain.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-feN7y0MrmC0\/VW1IDV4DS4I\/AAAAAAAAQrM\/BPg4Px_sHVM\/s640\/coffee_sobremesainspain.JPG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EEnjoy your food travels through Spain! If this article has been helpful, as a coffee lover if you'd like to pay it forward to a stranger, learn more how you can make an impact \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/coffeestories.co\/give-a-coffee\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EGotten this far? Here are some great coffee shops in Spain:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003EMadrid:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.co.uk\/Restaurant_Review-g187514-d8107446-Reviews-Lots_Coffee_House-Madrid.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELots Coffee House\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.yelp.com\/biz\/hanso-caf%C3%A9-madrid-3\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHanso Cafe\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E(Hanso Café on maps)\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/06\/toma-cafe-best-coffee-in-madrid-digo-yo.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EToma Cafe\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E(Café in Spanish)\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.yelp.com\/biz\/la-fugitiva-madrid\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELa Fugitiva\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/coffeandkicks\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECoffee \u0026amp; Kicks\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/bianchikioskocaffe\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBianchi Kiosko Cafe\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E(Café in Spanish)\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.labicicletacafe.com\/localizacion-en.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELa Bicicleta\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBarcelona:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Restaurant_Review-g187497-d3333631-Reviews-Satan_s_Coffee_Corner-Barcelona_Catalonia.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESatan's Coffee Corner\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E(\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/09\/locals-only-barcelona-satans-coffee.html\"\u003Eread about Marcos\u003C\/a\u003E)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/nomadcoffeeproductions.com\/visitus\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENomad Coffee Roasters\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/skyecoffeeco\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESkye Coffee\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Restaurant_Review-g1969684-d8418615-Reviews-Animal_Coffee_Bar-Province_of_Barcelona_Catalonia.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAnimal Coffee Bar\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ELMAGNIFICO\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECafes El Magnifico\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/onnacoffee.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EOnna Cafe BCN\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.yelp.com\/biz\/federal-caf%C3%A9-barcelona-2\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFederal Cafe\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sliceoflifecoffee\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESlice of Life Coffee Bar\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/coffeelabshop\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECoffee Lab\u003C\/a\u003E (Workshops \/ Barista Training)\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESan Sebastian:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/sakonacoffee.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESakona Coffee Roasters\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/Restaurant_Review-g187457-d7077301-Reviews-The_Loaf-San_Sebastian_Donostia_Guipuzcoa_Province_Basque_Country.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Loaf\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-size: x-large;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/feeds\/8036990318150455014\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/08\/tutorial-how-to-order-coffee-or.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/8036990318150455014"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/4643043695815494212\/posts\/default\/8036990318150455014"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http:\/\/www.sobremesainspain.com\/2012\/08\/tutorial-how-to-order-coffee-or.html","title":"Live Like a Local: Spain | How to order a coffee or espresso in Spain"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Lauren Heineck"},"uri":{"$t":"https:\/\/plus.google.com\/114098959756623929916"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-jw8Hbpmqqxo\/AAAAAAAAAAI\/AAAAAAAALQk\/GdB_Cead6zQ\/s512-c\/photo.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-UAMt03XRroY\/UC9f_MsCCAI\/AAAAAAAAHZM\/ZVWDB85pxIM\/s72-c\/_MG_2793.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Spain"},"georss$point":{"$t":"40.463667 -3.74922"},"georss$box":{"$t":"34.24672 -13.856642 46.680614 6.3582019999999995"}}]}});