Hello!
It's been a while since my last blog update, how are you all doing? It seems that the rainy season has already ended in Japan! Yay!
I neglected to update my blog because I haven't had any response lately, so I was stunned. . . wry smile
By the way, I went to Italy last week. I entered from Rome and then went to Amalfi, Positano and Naples. It was a vacation and I had a great time. The rice was delicious too.
But this time my confidence changed to conviction! (Matsuzaka style)
If you've never been to either of these countries and are wondering which one to go on your next trip abroad, Spain is definitely your choice. Basically, I think Italy is more popular in Japan, but I think you can definitely spend a better time in Spain☺️Well, there are several reasons.
I will suggest an itinerary for Spain!
By the way, I announced my favorite dishes from 5th place to 2nd place until last time.
Yes, I think it's not hard to imagine the first place,
Rice dish!
When it comes to Spanish cuisine, paella is probably the first dish that comes to mind for many people.
Per capita consumption is about one-fifth that of the Japanese, but it is one of the countries in Europe that consumes the most rice, along with Italy and Portugal.
Paella is actually delicious.
In general, when you think of paella, you probably think of seafood such as shrimp and shellfish.
However, there are actually many different types of paella. Valencian-style paella, where it originated, is simple with rabbit meat and green beans, and the squid ink paella called Arroz Negro is a must.
A soup paella called Arroz Caldoso (often with a lobster base) is also a winter treat. I still cannot forget what I ate in Menorca. At Gaudim, my favorite restaurant in Barcelona ( the one I am most indebted to), there are berbechos paella and lamb paella.
According to Chef Semi of Gaudim, the trick is to spread the rice thinly and thinly to make it tastier.
typical seafood paella
lobster soup paella
Gaudim's Secret Menu Berbechos Paella
Also, there are local paellas in various places, and the sardine paella I ate in Tarragona was as shocking as when Neko Hiroshi was naturalized in Cambodia.
By the way, when I lived in Tokyo, I loved sardines so much that I even went all the way to Choshi to eat delicious sardines.
Sardines should never be called inferior fish. They are small, but they have a big impact.
I've never eaten it, but in the southeastern part of the country, it seems that there is an eel paella that Japanese people love. However, I am not very good at eels. Then, do you like the nape? If you ask me, I will answer that I have no such hobby.
I didn't know this until I came here, but it seems that Spaniards never eat paella at night.
The reason seems to be that it's simply too heavy to eat at night. Also, for them, it seems that they don't often eat at restaurants because it's home cooking.
Once I was invited to a local friend, Joaquim's house, and he treated me to paella. I thought I wouldn't have to go out of my way to eat this.
This Joaquim was a hanketsu while making paella in low-rise jeans.
When I write this, people might ask me, "Do you have an ass fetish?"
Hanketsu Joaquim cooking paella in his garden. In this way, many households have a stove dedicated to paella.
Finished by arranging the shrimp at the end so as not to overcook. Perfection at home
Paella is not the only rice dish.
Cuban rice, known as Arroz a la Cubana, is a popular dish here. Famous soccer player Jordi Alba also said in an interview that his favorite food is Cuban rice.
It's a simple dish of tomato sauce, grilled bananas, and a fried egg on top of rice (huh? Simple?). It's pretty delicious.
Arroz a la cubana I used to eat before picking up my kids
World-class left-back Jordi Alba and his lucky son
As an aside, the existence of white rice is of course important for us Japanese living in the area.
After all, I eat Japanese food at home, so white rice is indispensable. In Spain, Tarragona's Akita Komachi called "Minori" is sold, and it is very delicious.
Honestly, I don't think it's that much inferior to the rice you eat in Japan.
About 30 years ago, when I first lived abroad, I was in Germany. I remember it being too bad.
When I think about how the Japanese seed rice grown overseas has evolved so far, I am deeply moved, even though I haven't done anything.
Actually, when I moved to Spain, I wanted to use this delicious rice to open a rice ball shop.
In fact, I was trained at a rice ball shop in Ginza, and I was on the verge of signing a contract at an empty store, but due to the impact of COVID-19 and other factors, I still haven't been able to do it. . . In the meantime, several rice ball shops have opened in Barcelona, and I've come to feel a bit late. . .
As an aside, the price of Minori was 19 euros for 5 kg until recently, but recently the price was raised to 24 euros due to the aftermath of inflation. It hurts so much just to eat every day.
If you live in Japan, you may feel that things from overseas are particularly expensive due to the weak yen. However, we have never raised our prices just because of the weak yen/strong euro (although the euro has stabilized recently)!
I mean, I won't lose to the yen's depreciation, and I'm starting a sale this week! With up to 30% off, it's a great bargain, so please take a look (and buy!).
husband