From oozing croquettes and hand-cured jamon to patisserie, Spain is an epicurean dream come true. Taste's Abigail Donnelly and Hannah Lewry visited the land of Gaudí, gazpacho and gambas and discovered that it offers infinite delights, no matter your budget.
Taste Food Editor Abigail Donnelly (AD) was treated to the best of Spain on a journey where no cent was spared:
“It’s not often that a business-class ticket lands on a food editor’s desk, so when one did, courtesy of the Spanish Embassy and ICEX, the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce, I was not about to pass up the opportunity to discover Spain’s many tasty delicacies … Olé!”
Follow Abigail on Twitter: @AbiDonnelly
.jpg "Assistant Food Editor Hannah Lewry")
Assistant Food Editor Hannah Lewry (HL) visited the country on a tight budget with her family:
“Spain really is a culinary mecca. It’s all about late nights, sun-soaked days, tapas, architecture and friendly locals itching to show off their beautiful cities. It offered us the perfect opportunity to extend our tastebuds without overextending our purses.”
Have any questions about Hannah's trip? Email her: hannah.lewry@newmediapub.co.za
TAPAS TO DIE FOR
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SPLURGE: “The Mas Gourmets store (www.masgourmets.com) in Madrid is an indoor market offering everything from tiny rolls filled with grass-fed beef, to chargrilled octopus and tiny steamed pink prawns, grilled green peppers and purple artichokes, thinly sliced and deep-fried until crispy.” – AD
- SAVE: “For great local tapas at a fraction of the price, the TaPalma Fiesta Gastronomica is worth a visit. This tapas festival, held annually in Palma Majorca, sees neighbourhood restaurants offering tapas for a set price.” – HL
READ MORE ABOUT TAPAS:
MARKET MADNESS
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SPLURGE: “I love visiting local markets when I travel, so as soon as I arrived in Barcelona, the heart palpitations began. La Boqueria (www.boqueria.info) is one of Europe’s largest open-air markets and, at Bar Central, razor clams smothered in lemon and olive oil, and octopus, were the order of the day." – AD
- SAVE: “More low-key than La Boqueria, but an ideal day trip, the charming openair food market in Sóller, about an hour outside Mallorca, is definitely worth a visit. Catch the restored train to the village on a Saturday and tuck into traditional Spanish pastries, slabs of burnt caramel praline and handcrafted breads. Stop off at Sa Fàbrica de Gelates (www.gelatsoller.com) for its fresh orange ice cream.” – HL
TRY THIS DECADENT PRALINE RECIPE:
TRY A FEW OF OUR SPANISH RECIPES:
PASTRY PARADISE
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SPLURGE: “Having not yet tasted churros, I wasn’t about to miss out. Crunchy, sugary cylinders of dough are deep-fried and dipped in sugar and served with a paper cup of thick, pure hot-chocolate indulgence. Leche frita is bread dipped in milk then gently fried and sprinkled with sugar. The cuajada – little pots of junket made from ewe’s milk and honey – are also heavenly.” – AD
- SAVE: “Ensaimadas – silky soft, twisted pastry buns with a strong, almost sour, taste, sweetened with a dusting of icing sugar – are available in almost every patisserie on Mallorca, the island of their origin. For some of the most popular ensaimadas in Mallorca, look out for Café des Casal Solleric (Calle Es Born 27; tel: +34 971 722 092). Artisa Barcelona (www.artisa.es), on the outskirts of the Plaça Reial Square, just off Las Ramblas in Barcelona, makes delicious dark-chocolate croissants – get there early and enjoy one with a gorgeous coffee on the side.” – HL
DON'T LEAVE SPAIN WITHOUT
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Tinned anchovies for their beatiful packaging and great value – AD - Hand-crafted aluminum candleholders pressed with pretty patterns by B Connected in Palma Mallorca (www.bconnectedmallorca.com) – HL
- Pedro Ximénez sherry, which isn’t available in South Africa – AD
- Powdery sea sand in the pockets of your shorts from the Cala Major beach west of Palma Mallorca – HL
- Panellets, a traditional sweet delicacy made with almonds, pine nuts, sugar, egg white and mashed potato – AD
- Tins of surimi: minute fish that look like spaghetti, perfect for tapas – AD
VISIT MORE PLACE: