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Category: Food and Wine

Antonio Banderas’ El Pimpi and the Amazing Anchovies of Malaga

There are more famous residents of Malaga, Spain. Picasso for example. For art lovers, put the Picasso Museum Málaga on your must-see list. Several of his works are on display and there are art history and ceramic workshops. The great man is dutifully honored in the city park and you can take the requisite pics sitting on the bench. But for my money, a tapas lunch at El Pimpi offers …

Stunning Views and Palace Intrigue: Princesses of Chateau de Chillon

Clos de Chillon The Castle has its own vineyard spread along the shores of Lake Geneva, just 10 minutes walk from the castle. Each year, its grapes produce a Grand Cru known as the Clos de Chillon. The white wine is made using the chasselas variety, and the red from a blend of the gamaret, garanoir and merlot varieties. I have no idea what that means but our guide mentioned …

It’s Fun to Pop A Cork in Azaruja Portugal!

You’ll never open another bottle of wine or champagne again without thinking of this. Cork is one of Portugal’s biggest and most important exports. In fact, Portugal is the biggest cork producer in the world and produces more than 50% of the world’s cork supply. The vast majority of this is made into those forgettable or collectable wine bottle stoppers but increasingly, more and more cork is being sold to …

Welcome to My Dacha: Lunch With a Russian Friend

Meet my friend Natasha. She hosted a lunch at her dacha for me a few years ago. This was formerly her great grandparents’ vacation home but is now permanent residence for her family… her husband and son. What is a Dacha? The noun “dacha”, coming from verb “davat” (to give), originally referred to land allotted by the tsar to his nobles; and indeed the dacha in Soviet times is similar to the allotment in …

Birthplace of Bullfighting and Hemingway Haunt: You’ll Love Ronda, Spain

This city is PACKED with drama: visual, architectural, historical, literary, culinary. It’s easy to visit, (less than a 2 hour drive from both Seville and Malaga ), to navigate on foot and has great restaurants and tapas bars. In one day you can see many of its major attractions, take pics, wander the streets and shops, marvel over its bullring and tributes to ancestral families of great matadors and relax …

Sachertorte, Schloss Mirabell and St. Nicholas Market: Sweet Secrets of Salzburg

Sachertorte has a sweet secret. In 1832, the Austrian State Chancellor challenged his kitchen staff to prepare a “dessert to impress” special guests. With the Head Chef taken to his bed, his 16-year old apprentice, Franz Sacher performed the original culinary magic creating a chocolate cake which soon gained a cult following. From the imperial court to the world stage of desserts. Here’s the original recipe. Order it in any …