That Foreign Taste Back Home: Limoncello

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Something strange has happened, the food tastes different to how it was abroad…the Mojo sauce from Spain doesn’t taste as good without the chef drizzling it over papas arrugada, the sun shining or a large (cheap) red. The mate tea was much more exciting and bitter in Argentina and I’m quiet sure the chocolate from California melted in my mouth.

There have been a variety of foods that I’ve brought home and introduced to my family, all of which have failed epically to excite their pallet. This time I turned to drink, a Brits best friend. On a visit to Switzerland I was introduced to Limon Cello, the only substance I’ve brought home, enjoyed and finished within a week. Although to my surprise this delightful drink is an Italian and comes in two consistencies: thick and creamy or light and clear. Drank in a short tumbler glass over ice before, during or after dinner (usually as an after dinner aperitif) this will give you a sure kick to any evening.

The creamy Limón cello is my more preferred choice; the clearer bottle somehow seems more potent and needs a mixer to calm down the sheer volume of alcohol.  

Thank-you Switzerland for bringing this yummy delicacy to the Talbutt household!

 Grab a bottle when you can guys!

Tapas + plonk? Try Oliva Restaurante…

It is of paramount importance that I introduce to this beautiful restaurant along the beach front of Las Palmas, her name is Oliva. It is the first and last place you should find yourself dining in GC and here are a few scrum-didly-dumtious snaps to explain why…

Octopus

Canarian peppers covered in sea salt

Spicy sausage floating in sizzling oil

Little fishies in batter, lemon to drizzle

Accompanied by a healthy bottle of red, salut to the feast you are about to enjoy!

This week we’re talking about… Mojo Sauce!

Austin Powers pronounces mojo sauce as ‘mow-jow’, however the correct Spanish pronunciation is ‘moh-hoh’; and unlike Austin we’re talking about a hot, spicy sauce infamous on this little Canary island.

Mow-how sauce

I came across this delicious sauce at what is now my favourite place to eat out in Las Palmas, the Oliva Restaurant. We ordered papas arrugadas, also a delicacy on the island. They’re wrinkly salty potatoes that have been boiled for hours, finally covered in tangy red sauce and then they sit in-front of you steaming with yummy-ness.

papas-arrugadas

Since tasting mojo it has accompanied many a dish from pasta, pork chops, sandwiches or delicate appetisers – you can dunk this sauce on pretty much anything and it’ll marry up perfectly.

I don’t think you can get this in the UK, so there will be a big effort to pop into Hiperdino the local supermarket, yes that’s actually its name, and make enough room to carry a few jars home.

Dizzy San Juan

- Laura marking the event with a jelly fish sting and a big grin!

Waking up with every fibre of your body feeling dizzy is a sure sign that you’ve just experienced the festivities of San Juan (not pronounced San Jose…) in Las Palmas. An annual event where it is believed if you run into the sea at midnight you cleanse all your sins from the year before. You can also expect bonfires, fireworks and lots of alcohol on the beach of Las Canteras. I would recommend a trip to Gran Canaria just for this festival.

Often we’ve gone for evening walks along the beach and seen a few nutters swim in the dark, complete fools I thought, but last night was one of my favourite memories of being on the island. Holding hands with 3 other gems on the Leonardo Programme and legging it towards the waves as the midnight fireworks set off left, right and centre – such a buzz; until someone gets stung by a jellyfish. We hope this isn’t a sign for the next year!

every fibre of your body feeling dizzy is a sure sign that you’ve just experienced the festivities of  San Juan

A night of epic proportions followed by clubbing at bar Mojo by the auditorium, how has it taken almost 3 months to find this cluster of decent bars? And then a gradual walk home, making one final stop along the beach for the sun to rise and Las Palmas to wake up.

High on San Juan! (and bubbles)