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Book of the Month: Doors of Spain

Gwen — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:25:24 +0000

Have you ever stopped to look at the doors of churches, homes, administrative buildings in Spain? They have some of the most varied and interesting knobs and rosettes that you might see in any European country. Here’s a book that will help you to look–close ups that offer you a new angle to this country of light and shade.

As the author writes: “Over the course of my travels to Spain, I have been consistently astonished by the play of light and shadow, the sharp contrast between the vivid, clear blue sky and the dark lines of the special blend that is Spanish architecture—Moorish, Christian and contemporary. The juxtaposition of brilliant light and intricate design captured my imagination and led me to develop a completely different view of the architectural elements that are so often taken for granted, if not overlooked.”

Purchase the book on iTunes.

La Isla del Tesoro – Treasure Island

Gwen — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:55:22 +0000

Contrary to what you might think from the title of this post, this is the name of a vegetarian restaurant. And a very good one indeed, a treasure in Madrid. Angel Cano, an activist and hyperactive entrepreneur, has just recently inaugurated the second restaurant of this name. The first one has been open and running for over 20 years. Its claim to fame–bringing vegetarian food to madrileños in a unique, romantic, cozy space. Since the first restaurant opened, locals have filled the place and come back for more. Aside from the special atmosphere, the food is very good. He’s repeated this brand and success with the second restaurant, conveniently located on calle Atocha, between the touristy Plaza Mayor and Sol and one of my favorite original language movie theaters.

I just had lunch there today. Below are some photos of the beautiful space and two of the dishes that I enjoyed in company of Angel.

The restaurant on Atocha has two floors, with seating for about 100. However, plenty of elbow room. And they organize events–talks, music, shows, exhibits. You can go for the events or just have a quiet evening with your partner or friends.

Visions Life Transitions

Gwen — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:54:41 +0000

With this suggestive title, Sharon Stepman immerses us into her world viewed through an incisive mind and a photographer’s lens (visions). Aside from the introduction to her work, there is no other text in the book. Nor should there be. The images “speak” for themselves, in quiet, evocative ways. Her works are not easy. They can be unsettling, certainly dark, and often poetic. I’m very pleased the photos are in book form, because that allows one not only to perceive a certain visual trajectory, an artist’s journey (life, transitions), but also provides one the privilege as a viewer to return as often as one likes to each photo and each time glean something new from among the shades and shadows. Photos are taken in some of the locations that mark Stepman’s life and travels–New York City, Italy, France.

The book can be viewed and purchased on Blurb.com.

Visions Life Transitions by Sharon Stepman

A Happy Rediscovery: Can Punyetes Madrid

Gwen — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:07:30 +0000

The other day, meandering through the neighborhood of Huertas, in Madrid center, we came across a city classic: Can Punyetes, a Catalan restaurant that’s been around since 1981.

Grilled calçots, grilled, wrapped and ready to serve

Even more exciting, they were serving calçots! These green onions are grilled on an open flame and served with romenescu sauce. You peel back the first layer, dip in the sauce, lift the whole stalk over your upturned face and munch it down. Delicious! Toss back with a rosé or a red house wine and you’ve got a fantastic appetizer. Then dig into grilled toast with tomato, garlic, olive oil and salt and other goodies on top, followed by a butifarra, chicken or chorizo. This must be the only place in Madrid where madrileños and catalanes, always in opposition, are happy to sit next to each other!

Life on the Douro – local and little known Portugal

Gwen — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:45:18 +0000

Zev Robinson is a hyper active painter and filmmaker. My impression of him is that he works and travels constantly. And this is paying off. He’s completed a unique documentary film about the Douro wine region in Portugal that is ambitious in scope–covering 300 years of history, of the region, of the families that make the Douro port. This is an informative and eye-opening film about a spectacular and well-preserved region.

The film has already screened around the US and Europe and will continue to do so. You can also purchase the DVD right on the film’s website store.

Here’s a trailer to give you an idea:

Book of the month

Gwen — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:54:20 +0000

It ain’t Spanish cooking, but it’s still truly local. And, hey, we’re all about good food, anywhere, especially in the Mediterranean region. So, welcome to our recommendation:

A downloadable, colorful and, most importantly, flavorful concoction of a book, artfully done by a small New York publishing house.

Salento Flavors. The Taste of Tradition

There are roads in life that your destiny obliges you to take. Anna Maria Chirone Arnò’s path to cooking is not only one of these but also a gesture of love. Love for her family and her land, Salento, in Puglia.

Since antiquity, Salento has been at the crossroads of many Mediterranean civilizations, a place where knowledge and flavors mingled to bring us what is known today as Salento Flavors. This is a cuisine rich with scents and textures capable of giving intense flavor to even the simplest of ingredients.

Allow Anna Maria to accompany you on a voyage through her beloved Salento. This introduction to the history and traditions of her land that will leave you wanting more. More delicious dishes to prepare and enjoy with family and friends. More Baroque churches, old farmhouses, centennial olive trees, and the stunning crystal clear Mediterranean Sea. You will be so capitivated that your next vacation will be a culinary one. You will want to travel to Salento to discover this beautiful region, its people and new recipes with Anna Maria at her cooking school, Il Gusto del Tacco.

To purchase the book, click here.

For more about Salento and the Puglia region, visit here.

Buona cucina Salentina a tutti!

La verdad misma – Absolute truth

Gwen — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:41:36 +0000

There is no way to get around it, I have to copy this editorial out in full because it hits on the button about the state of affairs in Spain today. Apologies to non-Spanish readers, but no translation for now. Elvira Lindo, a well-known author who has published a series of children’s books based around an adorable character called Manolito Gafotas, and who is also married to another renowned cultural figure, Antonio Muñoz Molina, write a regular column in El País. Since she is the sacred list of “famosísimos” but notably in literary and “intellectual” circles, then her column is daily and essentially she is free (it would seem) to write pretty much what she pleases.

So, here goes–her column from Wednesday January 11 2012 lays out some home truths about absurd Spanish behavior over the past twenty years that has contributed to mire the country so deeply in its own sh%@.

Como la memoria es débil podemos caer en el error de que todo ocurrió a nuestras espaldas. El enriquecimiento de Matas, los trajes de Camps, Gürtel, el proyecto Palma-Arena, los negocietes gaseosos del yerno, los aeropuertos fantasma, las ciudades diseñadas por un mismo arquitecto, las televisiones autonómicas deficitarias e hinchadas de plantilla, los ERE falseados, los periodistas al dictado de las autoridades, los viajes de políticos autonómicos al extranjero con un séquito en el que iban incluidos periodistas destinados a hablar del impacto de la visita de su presidente, el alquiler de uno de los salones del Waldorf Astoria (por ejemplo) para presentar un premio de poesía granadino, el incomprensible cambio de los viejos adoquines de ciudades y pueblos por suelos hormigonescos, los sueños de El Pocero en Seseña, los museos que fueron construidos aunque no hubiera obra con los que llenarlos, las universidades que fueron construidas aunque no hubiera estudiantes con que llenarlas, el chollo en que se convirtió España para los arquitectos estrella, la insostenibilidad de muchas de esas construcciones mostrencas, la destrucción sistemática de las costas españolas, la manera en que se aceptó que la cultura tenía que cambiar de signo según quien gobernara, la resignación con que se aceptó que las televisiones autonómicas cambiaran de sesgo editorial según quien hubiera ganado las elecciones, la impotencia con que se asumió que cada partido podía cambiar todos los cargos culturales cuando llegara al poder, las urbanizaciones hoy convertidas en poblados fantasma que destrozaron parajes naturales…

Abrimos hoy el periódico y viendo entrar en los juzgados a alguno de los personajes que protagonizaron tal desvarío nos echamos las manos a la cabeza. Pero ¿no ocurrió todo eso delante de nuestros ojos?

La santa verdad. La verdad como la vida misma. Verdad de la buena. Verdad absoluta. Suma verdad.

Tweaking into the New Year

Gwen — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:54:22 +0000

Still fixing up some of the glitches on the spanking new MNBTV website. But here we are, healthy and ready to to film, to taste, to travel and to share.

Welcome one and all into the new adventure of 2012.

End of year news: New site and new sights

Gwen — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:30:49 +0000

Aside from a whopping new site, that allows for easier navigation and, more importantly, uploading of content (thank you, dear web builder!), we’re also venturing further into the social media world with an account on Tumblr. Check it out!

Why? Because sometimes we just want to post images, of all kinds, from everywhere, taking advantage of our smart phones and more adventures on the run. Enjoy.

Anthony Bourdain loves f&%@ing Spain

Gwen — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 20:54:28 +0000

On Facebook, of course, I stumbled across a video of Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” which features a series on restaurants and food around Spain. I feel vindicated. Por fin, it’s official and on national TV in the US–Spanish food (from and in Spain) can be called the best of the Western world. And he goes on to prove it, with meal after meal, from Madrid to Barcelona and all along the Northern coast.

Thanks to FB (again), I also discovered that a couple of my expat friends who live in Madrid love a restaurant that I have not yet tried (what??): La Gabinoteca apparently is the place to go. So, I’d better go there. Now I’m desperately searching for the mention of this restaurant in Bourdain’s series.

I can’t help but share this one episode of No Reservations, that includes Guillermo Fesser, once known as part of the comic duo Goma Espuma.