The couple had been sitting at the restaurant’s bar for just over 90 minutes. They’d been noshing on an array of tapas — mushroom carpaccio with wasabi vinaigrette, a mini Spanish omelet with chorizo sausage, fried eggplant with honey, chicken…
Blog Archives
All About Tempranillo
Tagged with: Barcelona, tapas, Tempranillo, Tempranillo food pairing
Posted in Our Wine Travel Log, Wine in the Glass
Posted in Our Wine Travel Log, Wine in the Glass
Do Not Fear Tapas… or the Wines That Go With Them
What is it about Spanish tapas that seem to intimidate people? Look around. Small plates are everywhere. Even restaurants not focused on small plates often offer an appetizer combo platter. But the cuisine that started it all — tapas —…
Tagged with: Barcelona, Chicago, El Soportal, Emilio’s Tapas, Pedraza, Spanish Wines, tapas, travel
Posted in Food and Wine Pairings/Recipes
Posted in Food and Wine Pairings/Recipes
When in Spain, Drink as the Spanish Do
I’ve told you a little bit about my recent wedding, and some of the things that made it anything but “normal” — a live band playing a full concert in two sets, the request for donations to the Bowlers to…
Tagged with: Austrian food, Barcelona, restaurants, Rosé, Spain, Spanish, tapas, travel, wine
Posted in Our Wine Travel Log
Posted in Our Wine Travel Log
Are There Any ‘Key Words’ to Use When Ordering Tapas in Spain?
QUESTION: We’re planning a trip to Spain, and hope to visit several tapas bars while in Barcelona. Only one problem: It has been a long time since I took Spanish in school. Are there any “key words” you could give…
Tagged with: Barcelona, dining out, Rick Steves, Spain, Spanish cuisine, tapas, wine pairings
Posted in Wine FAQ
Posted in Wine FAQ
The History of Sangria… and a Sparkling Suggestion
In yesterday’s blog, I told you about breaking my personal 35-year ban on Sangria while having dinner at a tapas bar in Barcelona. Intrepid reporter that I am, at one point during that meal I asked one of our servers,…
Tagged with: Barcelona, California Zinfandel, history, Madrid, Merlot, New York, recipe, Sangiovese, sangria, Spain, Summer
Posted in Editor's Journal, Food and Wine Pairings/Recipes
Posted in Editor's Journal, Food and Wine Pairings/Recipes
Sangria: The Perfect ‘Wine Cocktail’ of Summer
My first experience with Sangria was at a then-popular Mexican restaurant chain that included the ice-cold, sweet drink as part of its Sunday brunch. It was an all-you-could-eat buffet, accompanied by all-you-could-drink Sangria. I don’t remember much about that morning…
Tagged with: Barcelona, Merlot, Mexican food, recipe, Sangiovese, sangria, Spain, Summer, tapas, travel, Zinfandel
Posted in Editor's Journal, Food and Wine Pairings/Recipes
Posted in Editor's Journal, Food and Wine Pairings/Recipes
An Authentic Wine and Tapas Experience in Chicago
When it comes to reviewing food or wine, the older I get, the more I realize that absolutely nothing beats experience. When talking about experience, it’s important not to confuse it with age. I’ll take a 25-year-old restaurant reviewer who…
Tagged with: Barcelona, beer, Bom Bolla, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!, Chicago, Illinois, Sherry, Spain, Spanish cuisine, tapas, Wicker Park
Posted in Wine Buzz
Posted in Wine Buzz
Sangria: Red or White, It’s a Fun Drink for Summertime… or Anytime
It’s close to summertime, and in Spain, that means it’s Sangria time. Actually, the residents of Spain — at least the ones we encountered in Barcelona last fall — enjoy Sangria all year-round. And why not? It’s fun to drink,…
Tagged with: Barcelona, Pinot Gris, Riesling, sangria, Spain, Summer, Viognier
Posted in Food and Wine Pairings/Recipes
Posted in Food and Wine Pairings/Recipes
Vinous Adventures in Barcelona
Barcelona is a magnificent city, brimming with history, culture and compelling cuisine. But it wasn’t until Democracy was restored in 1978 and the city hosted the Olympic Games in 1992 that it became one of Europe’s top destinations. Today, Barcelona…
Tagged with: Barcelona, Cava, cheese, ham, Iberian Ham, Jamon Experience, Jamon Iberico, Rosato, Spain, sparkling wine, tourism, travel, wine and cheese, wine and food
Posted in Our Wine Travel Log
Posted in Our Wine Travel Log
Red Wine and Music: A Global Perspective
The first three letters of Greg Trooper’s last name provide a clue as to what he does for a living. That’s T-R-O as in troubadour — a singer/songwriter extraordinaire who glides under the radar of most people, but has a…
Tagged with: Barcelona, beer countries, Cava, Greg Trooper, Ireland, Jamboree Club, Spain, Tom Russell, wine countires
Posted in Our Wine Travel Log
Posted in Our Wine Travel Log
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