Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is a rabbit warren of narrow streets and alleys, lined with small shops and houses, washing strung over balconies to dry in the Mediterranean sun. Every so often, the claustrophobic streets open up into large, open squares, with tables, chairs and a generally continental buzz. Back in the alleys, there are some [...]
Markets have been the social and cultural hubs of towns and cities for centuries, millennia, even. They’re meeting places, trading places, places to eat and drink, places that play a central part in the community they serve. The traveler can gauge the temperature and mood of a town by heading straight for its market. Ambling [...]
Frank Camorra owns and operates a Spanish restaurant in Melbourne, Australia called MoVida. It’s wildly successful and highly acclaimed. This book, MoVida Rustica, written in conjunction with Richard Cornish is Camorra’s latest evangelistic push for Spanish cuisine. MoVida Rustica is an absorbing and captivating book, part recipe book, part travelogue, documenting Camorra’s culinary trips of [...]
Paella is the cornerstone of Spanish food. This version marries chicken with artichokes and the deep, sweet smokiness of old oloroso sherry. Start by browning 350g of boned and skinned chicken, cut into 2cm chunks in olive oil over a moderate heat in a wide frying pan or paella pan. The chicken doesn’t need to [...]
These croquetas are from Sam and Sam Clark’s Moro Cookbook, a book that’s seeing some real service in my kitchen recently. It’s a wonderful book, full of practical and delicious recipes. Croquetas are a standard tapas dish, something you’re going to find nearly anywhere in Spain. They’re the perfect snack food, and, really, what’s not [...]