Spanish life is not always likeable but it is compellingly loveable.
Christopher Howse: A Pilgrim in Spain
Spain.- A UK paper has has listed Europe's best cities for food. Here's someone's idea of the Iberian entries. It looks like surface-scratching for the well-heeled to me:-
- Barcelona's impressive food scene covers all manner of Spanish cuisines. Head to the maritime district of Barceloneta if it's paella you're after, but if you want traditional Catalan dishes it's best to stick inland in Barri Gòtic or Gràcia where you'll find tiled dining rooms and plenty of pa amb tomàquet (bread rubbed with tomato) and hearty fare. And of course, there are tapas everywhere – from downright classics on charming squares to modern versions at hip restaurants following in the footsteps of Ferran Adrià.
- The Lisbon food scene continues to boom. An influential wave of young local chefs have remained loyal to the culture of the Portuguese table whilst reimagining it afresh, drawing on the endless bounty from the sea and coastline, the mountains, plains and vineyards. International chefs, such as acclaimed Peruvian Diogo Muñoz, have arrived too, offering diversity on a previously almost uniquely Portuguese platform. But dining out here is not merely about fashion or trends – food is held in high regard by 'lisboetas' and eating out is a necessity rather than a luxury. Just make sure you book a table.
- Madrid has gone gourmet with a vengeance, but the best of the classic tapas bars are still packed to the rafters come dinner time. Begin a visit to the Spanish capital by sinking your teeth into roast suckling pig at the 'world's oldest restaurant' Botín, or share a plate of sizzling garlic prawns at Cabreira. Then embrace the modern at Bodega de los Secretos, or one of the many Michelin-starred hotspots, including Punto MX, the first Mexican restaurant in Europe to be awarded a star.
- In Sevilla, you can hop from one traditional tiled tapas bar to the next, trying out small plates of baby clams with artichokes, or wafer-thin slices of jamon ibérico. Alternatively, you can slide into a chic velvet booth and dine on elevated tapas: think crab tacos and tuna ceviche. Instead of sangria, an over-priced tourist cliché, order like a local and go for tinto de verano (red wine with soda water) – or else sample the sherry selection, available in most restaurants. Note that you often pay more at an outside table.
- The citizens of Porto like their food, so if you have an appetite you’ll never be short on company. Fish features heavily in the local diet, with salted bacalhau (cod) a particular favourite. Every visitor to the city needs to try a Francesinha at least once. This meat-based, cheese-soaked, beer-sauced sandwich will send your cholesterol levels off the richter scale, but it’s a Porto rite of passage. Cafés are ubiquitous and, for the most part, cheap. Despite Portugal’s colonial history, options for international cuisine are limited, but innovative local chefs, such as Pedro Barreiros, are making their mark.
- Spaniards - inter alia - in the UK are suffering greatly, it seems. Let's hope things are clarified soon. Yesterday, by chance, I read that the worst psychological state humans can find themselves in is uncertainty. Which might well be right. Though I don't personally rate it worse than clinical depression.
- The EU is not happy with how Spain still treats the small birds which have the misfortune to fly over it.
- Here's El País's positive take on the unity of the Union. The paper might well see it as more unified than Spain.
- Janet Daley, with an interesting point of view: There is, at 5 minutes to midnight, a glimmering of hope. The European Union might possibly, just maybe, conceivably be about to relent over the Irish backstop, which is the insuperable obstacle to reaching any sort of remotely acceptable agreement. . . . Brussels should be careful what it wishes for - resistance from Britain will be hell if it keeps us in - A Britain, imprisoned but unbowed, with its enraged population urging it on to give respectability and coherence to the resistance movement. The argument for “reforming” from within was lost long ago. Now there could be professionals to organise rebellion and systematic obstruction from within. Britain would have found its natural role in Europe. Message to Brussels: is that what you really want?
- Richard North today 1: My `Flexcit' plan is suddenly getting more media attention than its had for the last 2 years. In the Guardian Nick Cohen describes me, the advocate of Flexcit, as 'the most significant thinker in the Brexit movement', and has me warning that a sudden departure would wreck people's lives. I really didn't put it quite that way, although I suppose a certain amount of artistic licence could allow for that. I certainly did argue that the process of forty-plus years of political and economic integration could not be reversed in so short a period as 2 years. Click here if you want to know why a good start on the (flexible)Brexit front ended in 'craven political cowardice'. And what we have today. An 'empty idea' - perfect post-rational politics, where millions can be persuaded that the impossible is possible.'
- RN today 2: Cohen concludes that, for good or ill, you can guarantee that the arguments that affect us most are the ones that never make it on to evening news. In the case of Brexit Britain, that could not be more true. That 12-year struggle sought to shape the entire campaign, and its failure led directly to where we are today. . . . While few people even realise that an epic battle was being fought - in the Brexit camp - it is a battle that will have to be re-fought before we are finally clear of the EU, with a lasting, stable relationship.
- Me: So, thanks to stupidity, deliberate obfuscation, rank dishonesty and vaunting political ambition - not to mention 'unforgivable negligence by politicians and journalists' - there are now years of nasty negotiations to come. Unless there's a No Deal Brexit, of course. When things will be clear but even worse.
- Political commentator, Adam Boulting: My money is still on May. The PM will take us out, on her terms, on March 29. On the island-of-Ireland border issue there are signs of a slight softening across the Channel. After a week of confused messages from Dublin and the EU, Europe’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, clarified that in the event of no deal, “we will have to find an operational way of carrying out checks and controls without putting back in place a border. . . . May could well be gone at the hands of a frazzled party by next Christmas card. More likely still we’ll be out — and out her way — with a little help from Jeremy Corbyn.
- If you use Whatsapp and shun Facebook, you should be very nervous right now. For, their messaging services are going to be merged with that of Instagram. Which can mean only one thing. Even less privacy than now. I guess I should try Apple's offering - iMessage. When I have my new Apple ID, of course.
- Meanwhile: Thirty UK families have accused technology giants of abetting their children’s suicides in the wake of the death of 14-year-old Molly Russell, as the Health Secretary told social media sites to take responsibility for their effect on young lives.
- I've often wondered why Americans stick with the old English form of gotten for the modern British got. Now I know, having read this comment from an Irish politician. Ninety-two per cent of Irish people last year said they wanted Ireland to remain part of the EU and, in fact, since Brexit that figure has gotten only bigger. As with 'bring' and 'take'. For example: US and Irish: Will you bring that to your mother in the next room. Brit: Will you take . . .
- A cartoon I've laughed at this week:-
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