Food,Wine, & Adventures
Food,Wine, & Adventures
GOURMET ADVENTURES THAT WILL LEAVE YOU WITH A UNIQUE TASTE
Traveling around the world on a culinary quest is my passion. Here you will find some of the most incredible adventures I experienced in my many travels. These are places that offer top of the line products and exquisite cuisine. Bon Appetit!
PARMIGIANO REGGIANO FACTORY- Emilia Romagna, Italy
There are 4 stops or obligatory visits if you are in Modena: the Ferrari car factory, the Giusti balsamic vinegar factory, the Osteria Francescana restaurant and the 4th Madonne Caseificio floor of Parmigiano Reggiano.
This day I had one of the richest and most interesting and it was the visit to the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese plant.
With an extremely interesting history, it is here where I learned the importance and influence that a person or a product can have in the development of a region or a country.
The Parmigiano Reggiano that is produced today in this region is identical to the one produced more than eight centuries ago with its same flavor, appearance and aroma.
Today, hundreds of small producers come together in associations to produce one of the richest cheeses in the world.
CLOS DES MENUTS WINERY- Saint Emilion, France
During our visit to Saint Emilion we took advantage of several things, including visiting its magnificent restaurants and, above all, visiting as many wine and vineyard shops as possible.
We visited several wineries and CLOS DES MENUTS was one of the most interesting of the walk.
When arriving in its outer part it looks like a simple but old simple house, but when entering the real experience begins.
Your entrance hall is also a showroom and tasting point or wine tasting, where you can find the different vintages and varieties that the winery has.
One of the most interesting points of the wine was a beautiful stained-glass window that shows its history and gives an incredible life to the place.
The tour to their wineries starts down a staircase to go to the underground area. At first you feel a little scared because it is a somewhat dark and very cold area, but as you keep going down the magic begins.
Below is like a complex of thousand-year-old stone tunnels with different areas that serve to store barrels, wine boxes and bottles.
You can appreciate the different bottles of different years and different strains in the most optimal environment imaginable for a wine that is the constant cold not exaggerated that only an underground cave can give you.
JAMON JULIAN MARTIN- Guijuelo, Spain
Talking about Spain and not remembering their hams is almost a sin. From hams made in an artisanal way to industrialized ones, they all represent an unmistakable stamp of the unique quality and flavor of the Iberian region.
There are several types such as: Iberico de Cebo (Iberian pigs with a purity of between 50% and 75% fed with bait on farm), Iberian Cebo de Campo (Iberian pigs with a purity of breed between 50% and 75%). % fed with field bait), Iberian Bellota (Iberian pigs with a purity of breed between 50% and 75% fed with acorn) and 100% Iberian Bellota (100% Iberian pigs fed with acorns).
There are several regions where the best Iberian hams come from and this time we went to one of those called Guijuelo.
We drive almost three hours from Madrid to Guijuelo between small roads and country landscapes until we reach the main floor of Julian Martin. We received one of the heads of guided tours which we prepared for the day.
First we left the big bags or wallets stored and we put on the aprons and the head protectors to avoid contamination inside the plant. We immediately began the tour of the plant and the first was to see the different stages of the process of making different types of sausages and sausages, from the mixture of ingredients and seasoning, to maturation and packaging.
Then we went to my favorite part, which is the entire process of the whole legs from the process of salting, maturing and packaging. This is where we saw the importance of the time it takes to heal, since there are legs that can be cured for up to 36 months, which makes them extremely expensive, even more so if we are 100% Iberian pure Acorn fed.
At the end of the tour we went to the finished product sales room where they offered us a delicious lunch that consisted of the different types of chorizos and hams of the highest quality cut from the leg by their master cutter, as well as a couple of bottles of an excellent wine from the region.
As the good thing is not eternal, the trip ended and back I took the road to Madrid where another adventure awaited me.
This visit made me very happy that day and I think it shows on my face!
CHAMPIGNON CAVE- Region de Bourre, France
LA CAVE DES ROCHES O CAVES CHAMPIGNONNIERES
Touring the beautiful route of the Loire Valley knowing the beautiful castles of the region for several days, as well as its small villages, I found this particular place. It would really be false to say that I had already planned to meet you, but this is one of the coincidences in life that you appreciate having happened. A mountain used for hundreds of years to extract its precious white limestone used for the construction of its castles mainly for its high quality, but nowadays being considered a historical heritage and prohibited from exploiting its stone it is used as a mushroom producer of the highest quality and value. There are almost 75 miles of caverns or underground caves dedicated to the cultivation of this precious ingredient. Here some varieties are produced from the native Pied Bleu, to the Shiitake used especially in Asian food.
The cultivation methods are different for each variety, in some they use blocks composed of earth and organic fertilizer of horses and cows or in other made of sawdust. As part of the technique used once a month hit these blocks to give them the vibration that the species need to grow properly.
To travel through each path of the caves is to go through the history, even in its interior there are vestiges of the mining of its limestone, as well as structures built in its interior carved in its entirety in the stone. Today they are the home of these wonderful ingredients. If you suffer from claustrophobia or confinement it may be that this tour is a bit heavy, but if you do not, you will enjoy it a lot.
Something that complicates things a little is that the guides only speak French, so if you speak Spanish or English at times it is frustrating, but you can still appreciate these wonders.
A good meal starts with the ingredients, that is why knowing these places will help you to value them and above all you will be able to taste an excellent quality and freshness on the way. Bon Appetit!!!
TRUFFLE HUNT AND WINES- San Gimignano, Italy
The region of Tuscany is as wide as beautiful and rich in wonderful places. The best wines of Italy are in this region as well as fabulous ingredients such as truffles.
In this region there is a small town called San Gimignano and in its outskirts is where we find the Torciano vineyards.
The Torciano complex includes a main house where you can taste the richest and most exclusive wines of the region at its origin, a restaurant and meeting rooms, an area of vineyards and storage and processing, a truffle forest, a heliport and different gardens and orchards, that is, a wonderful oasis of nature.
It is attended by a single family for many years which gives it a special warmth.
Schedule my visit and expedition for truffle collection in advance so that's how my experience began. We arrived and were greeted in the main house with a refreshing white wine until our guide and expert in truffles arrived. Upon arrival we went to the forest but before we did the most important stop: pick up the real expert a dog which he calls "Tartufo". Tartufo was a dog of a special breed and the only one recognized in the region as a truffle finder.
We were already complete and we started the journey to the truffle forest. We toured the forest with the guide and Tartufo in search of the valuable tuber. We spent several minutes before Tartufo delighted us finding the first truffle which ate almost half, that's why I took it like that. We had a lot of fun during the expedition while the guide explained the process and everything about the truffles.
At the end with the truffles found we headed back to the main house where they cooked us some delicious dishes using fresh truffles freshly picked.
We accompany the food with an excellent wine tasting explained by a friendly oenologist.
Excellent place to visit if you are in the area of Tuscany.
CHATEAU LA GAFFELIERE WINERY- Saint Emilion, France
Small and extremely beautiful city. Located an hour away from Bordeaux famous for being the world capital of good wine, with less than 2 thousand inhabitants, a world heritage of humanity decreed by UNESCO and with 2 restaurants of 1 and 2 Michelin stars within it, make Saint Emilion a magical place.
It was during this visit that I had the opportunity to visit the Gaffeliere vineyards.
Exceptional quality wines that come from an aristocratic family for many years.
In my visit I had the pleasant explanation of a fantastic winemaker in the house who guided me through all the processes that lead to the obtaining of this excellent wine.
We start the tour through the vineyards and see the different grapes that the company handles. Of exquisite flavor, the grapes are the first factor that determine a wine of excellence.
Then we go to the area where the grape harvesting equipment is already taken from the plants since that part is carried out manually, which is what guarantees the non-abuse of the grape.
Then we move on to the area of grape processing and fermentation, which is more complex than it seems, so that we then enter one of the most interesting areas of the process, which is storage in French oak barrels. Here I explain the benefits of a good wine, proper storage and aging. In this part of the process, every detail counts and adds up to obtain a great wine.
From a perfect climate, the indicated wood, or even the right bottle, all these factors are decisive in the success of the wine.
A good wine is not only obtained by the number of years it has of aging, but also by the climate of the year when the grapes were picked. There are times when young wines are more valuable than wines of several years only because the climate of that year was perfect for the grape and that is reflected in a good wine.
Perfect area for lovers of good wine, an opportunity that should be exploited if you have it.
JAZZ CAVE- Paris, France
Since the 1500s, the Cave de la Huchette in Paris was used by the Templars and the Rosicrucians for secret meetings, which gives us a clear idea of the history and magic of this place.
Years later after Paris was released at the end of the war, Jazz music came with force and became the trendy music of bars and canteens.
It is there that the Cueva de la Huchette serves as a space for the opening of a small club that would be the first Jazz venue in the city and that would later become the temple of American Jazz (New Orleans) in Paris.
Throughout the years, the most famous Jazz musicians in the world have paraded through the Cueva de la Huchette, being this the favorite place of the bohemian nights of musicians, artists and lovers of good music.
The Cueva del Jazz is so famous that it served as a space for the movie La La Land.
The first thing you should do the night you visit the place is to arrive early, since the place is small and easily filled.
Second, you must understand that there you go only for 3 things that are: listen to the best Jazz in the city, have a few drinks and of course dance.
Third, it is not a place to snack or dine so you should eat before or after.
Finally, dedicate yourself to enjoy a wonderful place with history, good music and in the most bohemian place in Paris.
BEST BALSAMIC SINCE 1605- Modena, Italy
From vinegar we have a historical reference that dates back to the III millennium BC, in civilizations of the Near East as in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece and Rome. That said I think it would be long to talk about the history of its origin, but what we do know is that the revolution or gastronomic evolution of the aristocracy of the Renaissance era managed to ensure its success and prosperity, setting in Modena and Reggio Emilia its areas privileged production which, over the years, has become the most important denomination of origin area in the world. We traveled to Modena in search of this producer to know all that was possible of this precious product. Upon arrival a friendly guide began the tour with a presentation on the history of balsamic vinegar, its production and production process. It is amazing how a special elixir can come from a grape, it is as or more interesting than the process of making wines since a gourmet balsamic vinegar can go through a process of more than 30 years before being bottled. We went through the plant and above all the aging and storage barrels where we understood that they start in large oak barrels and as the years go by they go into smaller barrels due to the evaporation process that is happening. The aroma and flavor of each barrel is incredible and enveloping. At the end of the tour we went to a tasting table where we can savor the various bottles from 1 year to 20 years which is a product of high quality and high cost too. It is worth this visit as you can also go to one of the nearby factories of the famous Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.
SAFFRON GOURMET FARM- Nerigean, France
If you really love food and know more about the ingredients and their origins, this visit is just and necessary.
To this day there are doubts about the real and exact origin of saffron, but it is believed that it could be Iran, Greece, ancient Mesopotamia or even China. Today we have it in all parts of the world but the best quality comes from Spain and France.
We decided on one of the highest quality but small production (artisanal) in the area of Nerigean in France about 20 minutes from Saint-Emilion.
First we must know that it is one of the most expensive ingredients in the world since we need 150,000 to 200,000 flowers to obtain 1 kilogram of these valuable filaments.
Driving for several minutes on tiny roads passing almost tiny villages thinking you're lost is part of the experience. When you get there, the first thing you feel is the peace that the countryside gives you. It took me several minutes to find a person since I went without warning. After a short wait, a kind woman appeared who told me that she was the owner, producer, caretaker and seller at the same time. Kindly explained the entire process of planting, harvesting and processing products with the product. We traveled in a few minutes all his handmade but wonderful plantation.
All the product from this farm is distributed and sold to several Michelin Stars restaurants in France and the very small amount that is not sold to them, it's sold in the small store of the farm.
Until this day, this saffron was the best one I have ever taste and have the opportunity to cook with.
TABLAO IN OLD TOWN- Barcelona, Spain
Getting to Barcelona and not visiting a tablao Flamenco is almost a sin since it is a fundamental part of Spanish culture. El Tablao de Carmen is located in the Andalusian neighborhood of Pueblo Español at the foot of Montjuic. El Pueblo Español is a mini-city built in 1929 for the Universal Exposition of the city, where the richness and variety of Spanish architecture and history could be better shown. Tablao de Carmen has been a benchmark of good flamenco for many years, offering since 1988 a show in the purest flamenco tradition. I recommend arriving early to be able to walk through the streets of the Spanish Village and know the different spaces it has as shops, restaurants and bars. Walking through its streets you go back to a past time full of magic.
The day I went to the Tablado coincided with an event that took place in Esplanada del Pueblo and I was able to enjoy a Dominican party with bachata and everything. It is recommended to make reservations to go to the Tablado since the space is not so big and if you do it several days in advance much better. You can choose from just watching the show with a glass of wine or even a night as a star consisting of a welcome drink in the patio, a table next to the stage with dinner and reserve wines. So whatever your budget, do not stop enjoying this experience.
INDEPENDENCE PASS SNOWMOBILE- Aspen, USA
There are many places in the world to practice the sky and the various winter sports, but in the United States its main exponent and jewel is called Aspen.
The two main ways to get to Aspen is by plane (stopping in Denver mainly and arriving at an extremely complicated and small airport) or by car driving from Denver almost 4 hours.
I chose the car because it gave me the opportunity to spend on the way for more than 17 stations or sky centers that exist on the road and appreciate them in some way, but mainly to enjoy the wonderful landscape that is this route.
I had a technical stop to lunch in Vail which was a success and I immediately went on my way.
Already in Aspen we had several scheduled activities with the group of friends we went and so we spent the first days of the stay enjoying this little town, its food, its bars and the sky.
The day of the Snow Mobile tour arrived and we headed to the place in the morning to enjoy the full day as our experience included a long walk through the different landscapes of the area and a lunch of 100% burgers made with organic meat that they themselves they raise in their ranches.
First they provide you with helmets and boots for the ride since the last thing you want is to be unprotected by any eventuality or cold. After a short process of explanation about how to handle the bikes our journey began.
The experience is extremely entertaining, since driving snowmobiles is very rewarding and there is a time when they even allow us to do speed races on a track designed for that.
Then we walked through the property and through established and safe routes until it was lunch time that was when we went to a cabin in the mountains where after climbing some stairs we arrived at it. There were tables where we could taste hot tea, sodas, water, hot chocolate and what we expected were our burgers.
It was a wonderful experience with the best view of the mountains, the best guides, the best burgers I have tasted in a long time, and above all the best company you can have that are your good friends.