Roscón de Reyes “Mm, look what I’ve bought,” says Francisco every January 5, thrusting under my nose a giant ring-shaped bun with a few bits of red and green candied peel stuck on top and a plastic toy hidden somewhere inside for me to break a tooth on. I fail to show much enthusiasm . [...]
Villancico The Spanish word for Christmas carol has its origin in the old Castilian word villano, meaning ‘villager’ – as opposed to noble or squire. During the 15th and 16th centuries the villancico was a jolly sort of song-and-dance knees up for country folk, and it was only in the following centuries that the songs [...]
OK, so it’s January 7 and you really need to give the liver a break from tipples of any kind for at least a few days. However, yesterday was a holiday, today it’s if it was one, and the weekend began a shot of anis and a rosco de vino ago. So, one last licor [...]
Crema de orujo might not have the beautiful people-filled TV commercials, but it’s every bit as delicious as the latest fancy Baileys creation. Made from post-squashed-to-death grapes, orujo or aguardiente is the most shudderingly-blow-your-mouth-off spirit on the planet, with a 50 % alcohol content (that’s 100º proof!). Tamed with cream, coffee, cocoa and caramel, though, and [...]
Why should you swap steady old JB or Ballentines for a brand with such a smirk-inducing name? Well, it’s more economical for starters – about a third of the price in the supermarket, and possibly a Euro or two cheaper for a copa in a bar. And if you’re going to do like the Spanish in [...]
