Spain... on the road Again

Gwyneth Cooking at Home

2009-06-25T05:08:00.000-07:00

One of the best parts about a road trip is taking what you‘ve learned and bringing it home. For example, in Galicia at the casa rural, Maria made an incredible stewed capon dish. Mario and I spoke about using the same technique – browning the bird and then braising it with flavorful liquid with different ingredients. And that‘s how my Chinese duck recipe was born! Get a very good organic duck. Cut it into 14 pieces (see Capon Grandma–Style). Prick the skin all over with a sharp paring knife. Rub with some softened butter that‘s been mixed with 3 or 4 minced garlic cloves. Sprinkle with ground cloves and black pepper. Brown the duck well in olive oil in a large heavy pot. Pour off all but a few tablespoons of the fat and add a cup each of Madeira and sake, some mirin, a sprinkle of sugar, lots of grated fresh ginger, a few crushed garlic cloves, and 2 star anise. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 3 1/2 hours, or until the duck is very tender. During the last 10 minutes, add soy sauce to taste. Serve garnished with tons of chopped cilantro and sliced scallions. –GWYNETH

Liguid Nitrogen

2009-06-03T06:57:00.001-07:00

Ferran Adriá often employs liquid nitrogen in his cooking, but he explains that it’s “just a tool, like anything else.” In a way, it makes sense – like fire or acid, applying liquid nitrogen to food manipulates it, transforming it from one state to another. Liquid nitrogen is pure nitrogen in a liquid state, and it boils at minus 321°F. Pretty cold. It freezes things on contact. To demonstrate liquid nitrogen’s abilities when we were eating lunch together, Ferran had Chef Paco dip a rose into it, and when it emerged, Gwyneth gently flicked it with her fingers. We were surrounded by shattered petals.

–MARIO

What’s a Benjamin?

2009-05-27T07:50:00.001-07:00

Mario and I saw ‘benjamin’ listed on the drinks menu at Ca’n Joan de S’aigo in Mallorca. We found out that a benjamin is a small bottle of cava, a single serving. Apparently in local slang the benjamin of the family is the smallest child, hence the smallest bottle. Great for sipping with breakfast!

–CLAUDIA

What to Eat When Everyone's Eating Jamón

2009-05-14T06:32:00.000-07:00

Spain is known for its jamón, or dry– cured ham – many say it’s the best in the world. My travel companions regularly indulged their porcine affection. Claudia eats jamón every morning at breakfast, Mario and Mark both slipped slices onto their pan con tomate. I got a lot of slack for not succumbing to the jamón temptation, but there are a TON of special, particular Spanish foods that I’m thrilled to fill my plate with. After all, the more jamón they eat, the more anchoas (cured anchovies), berberechos (a type of clam), and Manchego (the renowned cheese) for me.

–GWYNETH

Recipe of the Week: Caldo Gallego

2009-05-12T06:33:00.001-07:00

This is the traditional, restorative soup of Galicia. With a little bread, you‘ve got a great meal on your hands. Maria‘s version was especially good and it‘s no coincidence that she grows her own greens.

Serves 4 to 6

- 1/2 pound thickly sliced pancetta or slab bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice
- 1 cup dried white beans, soaked overnight in water to cover
- 1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 2 baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 2 turnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 1/2 pound Spanish chorizo, casings removed and sliced 1/4 inch thick
- 1 pound turnip greens (or other dark leafy green), stemmed and coarsely chopped

Cook the pancetta in a large heavy pot over medium heat until most of the fat is rendered, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the beans, add them to the pot, along with enough water to cover them by 2 inches and bring to a boil. Skim off the foam, then lower the heat and simmer gently, partially covered, for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the beans are beginning to soften.

Add the onion, potatoes, and turnips and cook for 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened. Add the chorizo and greens and cook for 10 minutes, or until the greens are tender.

All Natural Hand–Sliced Jamon Serrano!

2009-05-08T08:08:00.000-07:00

Introducing a new, hand–sliced Jamon Serrano from Monte Nevado. It is the only all natural Spanish ham for purchase in the US right now. Please see the link below for more information.

Buy Here! www.latienda.com

Canned Tuna

2009-05-07T07:10:00.001-07:00

Canned tuna isn’t held with particularly high esteem. It’s usually hidden under gobs of mayonnaise and sandwiched on bad white bread. Spanish canned tuna is a totally different story. It’s harvested in northern Spain, cooked in seawater, and packed in good quality olive oil. It's not at all dry – in fact, its texture is almost silky. Best left in its olive oil with maybe just a bit of good salt and freshly ground pepper. Perhaps a piece of toast or some good sliced tomatoes, but a fork alone is just fine.

Buy Here! www.latienda.com

Paella Burners

2009-05-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

Paella pans should be evenly heated if you want to make perfect paella. It’s worth investing in a special propane burner to ensure the best paella possible, especially if you’re using a pan big enough for a crowd! You can buy them here: http://www.tienda.com/paella/paella_burners.html.

–GWYNETH

Boquerones

2009-05-01T06:20:00.001-07:00

Boquerones are the great Spanish white anchovies pickled in vinegar and stored in olive oil. Since they’re not preserved in salt, like most anchovies, they don’t have the intense saltiness usually associated with anchovies. Instead, they’re mild and tender. Great on pan con tomate or just a toothpick!

–CLAUDIA

Recipe of the Week: Mushroom and Egg Yolk

2009-04-29T08:04:00.000-07:00

Mark and Claudia ate these in a pintxo bar in San Sebastián with Juan Mari Arzak. This is one of the easiest ways to prepare mushrooms, but it is also decadent and impressive. The Basque Country is known for its mushrooms, and you find this dish in pintxo bars all around the region.

Serves 4
* 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra–virgin olive oil
* 1 pound porcini or mixed wild mushrooms, cut into 1/8 inch–thick slices
* 1 garlic clove, minced
* 4 large eggs
* 2 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley
* Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat 1/4 cup of the oil in a large skillet over medium–high heat. Add the mushrooms and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until beginning to soften. Add the garlic and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the mushrooms are nicely browned and softened. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.

Fry the eggs sunny–side up in the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet until the whites are set but the yolks are still runny. Transfer to a cutting board and cut away the whites from the yolks (discard the whites). Spoon the mushrooms onto four plates and sprinkle with the parsley, salt, and pepper. Make a little space in the center of each portion of mushrooms, and nestle the yolks in the mushrooms. As you eat, mix the yolk with the hot mushrooms to create a rich, silky sauce.

Twitter

2009-04-21T15:15:00.000-07:00

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One of the Best Breads in the World

2009-04-07T08:46:00.000-07:00

In Galicia, Mark and Mario found the bread from that particular regions very delicious and full of flavor. Give it a try in your own home with olive oil and a speckle of salt!
Buy it here: www.latienda.com

Mark Bittman: Spanish Seafood Pancakes

2009-03-31T08:56:00.000-07:00

"A COUPLE of years ago, a friend took me to Taberna Toscana, in Madrid. "We don’t need a menu," he said. "We’ ll get the veal shoulder and the tomato salad, like everyone else." He was both right and wrong; those dishes were amazing, and I ate them the next couple of times I went there.

Then I took the time to explore the menu and found tortillitas. These cute little no–egg pancakes, originally from Andalusia, feature chickpea flour, shrimp or other seafood, onion, herbs and olive oil. Not much else. Yet they are a near–perfect appetizer or small meal, quickly and easily made."

Read More..

Girona

2009-03-25T17:35:00.000-07:00

Mario and I took a little side trip to Girona, a small, historic city north of Barcelona. Walking through its old Jewish Quarter was one of the most memorable parts of the trip for me.

—GWYNETH

Quimet y Quimet

2009-03-23T05:37:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately we didn't get to visit one of my favorite Barcelona spots on this road trip, but it's worth visiting should you be in town. It's called Quimet y Quimet and it's roughly the size of a large walk–in closet. They prepare small bites, mostly interesting combinations of preserved and pickled food. It's quirky, a little funny, and totally eccentric.

Click Here For My Article

–MARK

Mallorcan Salts

2009-03-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

Some of the world’s best salt – huge crystals with a clean, round flavor – is harvested on Mallorca’s coasts. There’s a fun trend of grinding different flavors with the salts – hibiscus and black olives, for example. Mario and Claudia tried them at Felipe Jordi’s apartment in Mallorca with Chef Benet Vicens. The mixtures lend wonderful flavor to meats and fish, pastas and salads.

–GWYNETH

Buy Here! www.latienda.com

Vichy Catalan Water

2009-02-26T12:08:00.000-08:00

Vichy Catalan is mineral water from Catalunya that some people adore, some not so much. It’ s got a bit of salinity to it, and a full, mineral—y flavor. The best way to drink it is probably with a slice of lemon and a splash of vodka.

— Mario

Buy Here! www.latienda.com

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: PAN CON TOMATE

2009-02-26T11:59:00.000-08:00

Mario and Gwyneth prepared pan con tomate (bread with tomato), perhaps the most emblematic of all Catalan food, at the Rene Barbier vineyard. It is served everywhere with everything and is more a method than a recipe. Gwyneth especially loves it when it’s topped with a few boquerones (anchovies).

A few slices of Catalan or peasant bread
A garlic clove, halved, Buy Here! www.latienda.com
Extra-virgin olive oil, Buy Here! www.latienda.com
A really ripe tomato, cut in half
Coarse sea salt, Buy Here! www.latienda.com

Grill the bread or toast it under the broiler until browned on both sides. Rub with the garlic and drizzle with as much olive oil as you like. Rub and smash the tomato against the bread so that the pulp saturates the toast. Sprinkle with salt, and enjoy.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: GRILLED VEGETABLES

2009-02-26T11:21:00.000-08:00

While in wine country, Gwyneth and Mark met up with a local chef named Nino. He arranged for a wonderful lunch consisting of vegetables fresh from the lush Basque landscape. He put a metal grate on the ground, piled grape vines on top, and set them on fire. When the vines burned down, he threw some salt on the fire “to give it a little life,” then grilled endive, carrots, leeks, eggplant, onions, and peppers. He served the grilled vegetables with boiled potatoes and borage, all doused with coarse salt and olive oil. And that’ s the recipe, folks. Fire, vegetables, good salt and olive oil.

Recommended Olive Oil www.latienda.com
Recommended Salt www.latienda.com

Navajas

2009-02-26T11:08:00.000-08:00

Navaja is the Spanish word for both a fighting knife and a razor clam. I’m more interested in the clams, which look like knives— about five inches long and very thin. Cook them as you would any other clam. They’re especially great prepared on a hot plancha!

— MARK

Unto

2009-02-26T11:05:00.000-08:00

Unto is a cured pork belly product, sort of like the Spanish version of pancetta. We couldn’t seem to find it anywhere outside of Galicia. There it’s used as the base for caldo gallego and is why, I think, caldo gallego tastes better in Galicia than anywhere else in the world you might be served it.

&mdash MARIO

Meet Mario!

2009-02-18T14:52:00.001-08:00

Mario will be at NYC's Apple Store in Soho on February 26, at 7pm. Stop by if you are in the area!

For more information:
Click Here

Mario and Gwyneth Cook with Oprah!

2009-02-09T12:28:00.001-08:00

In case you missed it last fall, Mario and Gwyneth's episode with Oprah will replay on Thursday, February 12th! In addition to an interview, Mario and Gwyneth cook some of the recipes featured on the show and in Spain...A Culinary Road Trip.

For more information:
http://www.oprah.com

Azafrán

2009-02-09T08:16:00.001-08:00

Azafrán, or saffron, is one of the world's most valuable spices. It's distinctive floral smell and burnt orange color can't be confused for anything else. It's vital in many Spanish recipes, including paella. Fun fact: saffron is actually the stigma of bright lavender crocus flowers. Available at www.latienda.com

—CLAUDIA

Cortado

2009-02-09T08:10:00.000-08:00

A cortado is a small, strong Spanish coffee with just a kiss of warm milk, no foam. With just a small spoonful of sugar, I can think of no better way to start the day.

—MARIO