My Spanish Holiday: Brief reflections on food and drink

Jamon, Jamon, Jamon, oh how I love thee! Iberico only thanks.

As my holiday in Spain (and a brief sidetrip to Fes, Morocco) winds down, I am reflecting back on my holiday season libations.

In Seville, it was easy and pleasurable to drink fresh fino or manzanilla sherry with most meals, with the occasional local beer for a refreshing change.
The tangy, salty, nutty tasting sherries went perfectly with the local fried or marinated seafood and olives I ate every day. Serious lip-smacking goodness.
Pulpo Galiciano (tender octopus in paprika laced olive oil)




In Morocco, it was mint tea every day, all day. Which was a delicious diversion from my usual vinous route. The exception was a joyous and impromptu (for us anyway) Christmas day lunch at Cafe Clock in Fes. If I did share some anonymous cups of wine with anyone that day, it will remain a secret, as wine must be in Fes. Mad respect and much love to all the other adventurous spirits we befriended that day at Cafe Clock: Mike, Max, Aimee, Philomena, Nancy, Lisa, Evelyn, etc.

The gorgeous terrace area at Cafe Clock in Fes. Delicious camel burgers!



In Barcelona, I have usually ordered local cavas or beers. My occasional request for decent casual house wine or wines by the glass has been disappointing. One exception was the crisp Txakoli I had at a Basque style tapas bar in the Barri Gotic district.
Good cheap house wines and by the glass offerings are abundant in Paris and I forget the rest of Europe does not always follow suit.
But I digress unnecessarily, because the cava has been wonderful in Barcelona. Not to mention, the delicate orange and cinnamon liqueur (made by Cistercian monks in Spain) I enjoyed with my pine nut and marzipan treats last night at Caelum cafe.

Baby squid & olive oil fried eggs from El Quim, La Boqueria Market


Roasted leg of cabrito