Cellar Tours Blog

Luxury Food & Wine Tours in France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain

Archive for January, 2011

Memorable Dishes of 2010in France, Spain, Italy, and Ireland

It’s become an annual tradition: we look back at the last year and consider what the best meals of the year were.  Last year we focused on Italy, and this year we are doing it across the board.

As we travel throughout the five countries where we offer our gourmet tours (France, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and France) throughout the year, between the whole team we get to try literally hundreds of restaurants throughout the year. These range from hole- in- the wall – family restaurants to gastro pubs to Michelin starred high end eateries.

We have selected some of our favorite dishes (as you can see we tended to favor simple preparations and top quality ingredients over complicated dishes)  this past year with links to where we were lucky enough to taste them.

May 2011 be a terrific year for all our readers, may you eat and drink very well!

1. Seafood platter, with delicious lobster and oysters, at Aherne’s in Youghal – county Cork, Ireland

Memorable Dishes 2010

2. Frog legs at Maison Lameloise in Burgundy

Memorable Dishes 2010

3. Pizzoccheri at Locanda Altavilla in Valtellina

Memorable Dishes 2010

4. Amazing Irish breakfast with wild smoked salmon and carragheen pudding at The Mill in Dunfanaghy – county Donegal

Memorable Dishes

5. Scallops at Le Coquillage of Chateau Richeaux and informal tasting of oysters (creuses and plates) in Cancale


Memorable Eating 2010

6. Pan fried eel and salad with shallot vinaigrette at 2 Michelin starred restaurant at Domaine des Hauts de Loire in the Loire Valley


Memorable Dishes 2010

7. Spring specialty with wild asparagus at La Subida in Friuli

Memorable Dishes 2010

8. Strawberry millefeuille at Venissa (owned by top Prosecco producer Bisol) in Venice

www.PassioneGourmet.it

www.PassioneGourmet.it

9. Grilled Rodaballo (Turbot ) at Elkano in Getaria, Spanish Basque Country

Memorable Dishes 2010

10.  Sole with Fennel, Bergamot and Med Flavors at Celler de Can Roca in Catalunya, Spain

Memorable Dishes 2010


The Mercado de San Miguel- Gourmet Gem in Madrid

Posted by gen On January - 4 - 2011

The Mercado de San Miguel is the best thing to happen to Madrid in forever, and the popularity of the market’s food and wine stands and convivial atmosphere has soared to a stratospheric level. The weekends are heaving with happy locals and tourists alike munching on the gourmet goodies (stuffed peppers, oysters and champagne, Galician octopus, Catalan canelones, marinated olives, artisan cheeses, Jamón de Bellota, Chorizo, etc) and buckets of vino de Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Sherry, Cava, Priorat….

We got the camera out and took some shots of this lovingly restored historic market, enjoy! And if you find yourself in Madrid, a visit here is a must. Best enjoyed midweek and before dinnertime. If you don’t mind crowds, the weekends are a whole lot of fun, with occasional entertainment. They recently had a Galician themed night with food and wine from Galicia, Galician musicians performing and a fantastic -but packed!- ambience.

Information on the Mercado de San Miguel:

Opening Times:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday 10AM- midnight
Thursday, Friday and Saturday- 10AM – 2AM (after 10PM the whole market becomes a cool wine bar!)

Address: The Plaza San Miguel, Madrid (right next tot he Plaza Mayor)

Other tips while visiting Madrid: Best tapas in town, Viridiana restaurant, a wine tour to La Mancha, the Prado Museum, DiverXo restaurant, the Retiro Park, jazz at the Cafe Central…

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

Mercado de San Miguel, Madrid- Cellar Tours

See you at the Mercado for a vino!


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