Food and Drink in Spain
When holidaying in Spain you will no doubt want to try the wonderful food that’s available. Whether you choose to enjoy the luxury of dining out or are self-catering and want to buy and prepare your own meals, you will be delighted at the quality and quantity of fresh produce and tasty dishes that are on offer. You will also no doubt encounter some foods and dishes that are unfamiliar to you. Travelling round by car is a great way to explore the region and the wide variety of foods that Spain has to offer. Having your own transport from car hire in Malaga airport provides the ideal means to do this.
Spain’s food is typically Mediterranean but with Moorish and Jewish influences from its rich past. Olive oil and garlic are widely used, as are the herbs and spices grown in Spain, such as paprika and saffron. Many typical dishes are quite simple and you will find stews and casseroles on most menus. Pork is probably the most popular meat used in dishes in Spain and appears in such dishes as solomillo de cerdo and cerdo secreto. You will also come across beef, lamb and chicken as well as game such us partridge, pigeon, quail, rabbit, venison and even wild boar.
Potatoes, onions, aubergines, pulses of all types (especially chickpeas), mushrooms, artichokes and asparagus are all cultivated in Spain and widely used in its typical dishes. Espinacas con garbanzos is one such typical dish, a stew of spinach and chickpeas, and berenjenas con miel is a delicious dish of fried aubergine slices served with honey. It may sound a little strange but you will love it.
Of course, for a country with such a large coastline, fish and seafood are always widely available and of the topmost quality too. Fish is often served simply fried with lemon and garlic, called pescao frito and many beach restaurants specialise in barbecued fresh fish such as sardine, which really can’t be beaten. You will also have plenty of opportunities to try prawns, anchovies, squid, swordfish, tuna, mullet, cod, octopus, mussels and clams. River fish such as trout are also popular and of high quality.
Spain is one of the biggest producers of fruit and vegetables in Europe and you will see this for yourself if you have the chance to visit one of the big markets in places such as Malaga city. Here you will find stalls overflowing with beautiful fresh produce and at very reasonable prices too. There will usually be stalls selling not only fruit and vegetables but also fish stalls, meat stalls, cheese stalls and bread and pastry stalls. Markets are great places to stock up with produce if you’re self-catering or fancy a picnic. Just get in your car from car hire in Malaga airport and enjoy a gastronomic experience.
Oak Flooring for That Special Look
A restaurant floor in its normal daily life takes an incredible amount of wear and tear; if it is not prepared for when first laid can have a devastating effect on the floor that may result in unnecessary replacement. The ideal way to minimise the risk is to select the best floor material at the start; this is where oak flooring has the advantage over its rivals.
Oak is a hardwood and by definition has long term qualities of robustness having been habitually used to build and decorate buildings over many centuries. The decorative effects of oak are comparable to its sturdiness. Looking at the natural grain and markings in the woods surface will reveal how beautiful it looks.
Most people have heard of ‘oak apples’, these are not, surprisingly, edible apples but are formed by the secretion of a female gall wasp into a developing leaf bud.
There is a price to be paid for using oak flooring planks and that is the time it takes to get from start to finish.
It starts with the selection of the oak product needed for the project. The United Kingdom produces very little oak in the present day and we are reliant on imports from Europe and North America for our supplies. This, however, opens up the choices available because one type of oak tree is not the same as another.
Once the oak planks are selected, the majority of the oak products will come supplied as tongue and groove for a better fix, order allowing for 5% wastage. The planks come in various widths so choosing the best width for the project is important.
Once the oak has been delivered place it in the restaurant area where it is to be fitted. Thoroughly check it for any damage and allow it to stand for between 3 and 5 days. This will allow it to become accustomed to the environment in which it will be fitted. Fixing it in place before this is allowed to happen may result in shrinkage or expansion which could ruin the whole project.
Fixing each plank in place should be done carefully ensuring each tongue is firmly embedded in each groove sticking each plank using a wood adhesive or secret nails. It is not advised to just push the planks together as they will all react separately to changes in humidity, where if they are fixed to each other they will move as one.
The finishing touches are very important as this is the part of the job that will be seen by all. The planks should come sanded but it is well worth giving them a final sand to ensure they are perfectly smooth before applying the finish coats. It is also very important to ensure all dust and debris is removed from the surface.
There are several different finishes for natural oak flooring the most popular being lacquer or an oil and wax combination. Lacquer applies more easily and is easier to look after, oil and wax takes more care to apply but is better for long term maintenance.
There is nothing quite like a finished oak flooring project, it is tough and beautiful down to its core.
What to Know Before Attempting to Make White Wine
If you like drinking white wine then you may have thought about actually making your own. This is a hobby that many people have taken up. What could be better than actually sitting down to enjoy a glass of white wine that you have made yourself?
If you have decided that you want to take up white wine making as a hobby then you should do some research first. It is important that you are aware of what is involved before you start so that you are not tempted to give up half way through. White wine making is not something that will be simple for everyone but if you are really serious it is definitely worth having a go.
White wine which is made by amateurs can either be good or bad. If it is badly made it will probably taste similar to vinegar but if it is well made it could be compared to a good table wine in a restaurant. So if you are still interested, you will want to think about the equipment you are going to need to get started. Luckily there are wine making kits that you can buy which will get you on your way to producing your own white wine in under two months. So where to begin?
You should know that there are certain types of grapes that are required before you can get started. You must find grapes which have been grown specifically for making wine as it will not be as successful if you use table grapes. Some people use grape juice or grape concentrate as an alternative to grapes.
Before you start you must ensure that all your equipment is properly sanitised. It is essential that you clean and sterilise everything that you are going to be using. This includes your fermentation containers as well as the bottles you are going to put the wine into.
You need to make sure you have the correct ingredients. For example, it would be a good idea to choose a particular grape and find a recipe that uses that grape. This will mean you can avoid experimentation with sugar quantities. The yeast you use should be of a high quality. The best type of yeast to buy is a variety of the Saccharomyces cerevisae yeast.
When it comes to pressing the grapes you may think that you should remove all the grapes from their stems before pressing. However, leaving them on their stems while you press can help to create a more delicate flavour. This is due to the tannin content in the stems and can lead to a white wine which has a more fruity smell and taste. You can then remove the stems after you have pressed the grapes and before you begin fermenting. However, there are those who believe that removing the stems before pressing will result in a white wine with more body so you will have to decide which you prefer.
So there are a few things which you should know before you start making your own white wine. But if you are really serious you could be sipping your own wine in no time at all.