Travel Inspiration

One of the more enjoyable things about traveling is the opportunity to try new food. In Spain, we had delicious paella, tapas, and pixtos (another style of tapas). We discovered the wonderful Rioja wines and had the best sangria anywhere. In France, I had an incredible version of sauerkraut and sausages. And of course, the croissants in Spain and France were wonderful.

Yesterday Melissa went to Spanish Table in Berkeley and picked up the necessary ingredients and a pan to make paella. Tonight was her first attempt. It came out quite good. It had zucchini and chorizo, and some spicy peppers. I am looking forward to the next try!

No visit to Spain is complete without trying jamon Iberico, the amazing cured ham made only in Spain. The flavor is rich and complex, and the texture is wonderful. This is what ham is meant to be! It used to be impossible (short of risking fines and prison) to get this ham in America. However, that is all about to change. A small producer has obtained USDA approval to export their product to the USA. So watch your favorite Spanish specialty store, or head over to La Tienda.com and pre-order a hunk of heaven.