Day Three!

Today is day three of my adventures in Spain.  It's taking me a little while to adjust to the time change and hours of operation here.  To put it into perspective, I work from 11 am - 5 pm and then again from 8 pm - 12 am, with the time change of six hours, this means I am at work from 5 am - 11 am and then from 2 pm - 6 pm Canadian time.  Took a trip to the local market yesterday, the Spaniards love fresh fruit so there was plenty of that.  I bought a few things so that I can snack at the apartment, and all the products you are used to are different here.  Milk is UHT pasteurized and can be stored on a shelf until opened, single serve yogurt portions are almost twice the size, and you can even buy sweetened orange juice. (Which I did by accident. Will NOT make this mistake again.)

Work at Adolfo is very different from what I am used to.  I am still adjusting to the program there.  The largest difference is the language barrier.  Everything around me occurs in Spanish, and only one of the cooks  speaks any English.  I've been working with some nice products though, wild partridge and quail, as well as a  variety of foraged mushrooms and flowers.  Mario showed me 'el flor electrico' (acmella oleracea), a flower that contains a mild numbing agent and saliva stimulant that gives you a very sour feeling in your mouth! I also had a chance to meet Alfredo, the sommelier, who used to be a ESL teacher in Spain.  His English is perfect and it's nice to have a conversation with someone who you understand and who understands you!

I took a walk around today (and got lost...), only to discover that today is the parade of El Dia des Tres Reyes, celebrated on January 7th.  We call this Epiphany in English, and it is the Spanish equivalent of Christmas.  Kids all over Spain will await their presents on Monday morning.  I await something else however!  Monday is a Holiday here, and Felix tells me that the staff are all invited to Adolfo's vineyard for dinner.  Exciting!

On the left is a picture of the entrance to Zocodover (the main square in Toledo) from the inside.  It is all fancied up for the parade.  On the right is a shot from the same place facing towards the crowd that is lining the opposing side of the square to watch.

Until next time!

A Rather Pheasant Day.

Arrived in Spain safe and sound! My hosts from Grupo Adolfo met me at the airport and brought me to Toledo to their restaurant. For a few days I will stay above the restaurant in the casa urbana apartments until they have a flat ready for me. I met the kitchen team, and worked with Mario who speaks a bit of English. I shadowed him through lunch service and after the afternoon break he showed me how they prepare their artichokes and how to clean whole partridge. Be wary of bits of grain and birdshot! Here are some photos of the aparthotel.

Holiday Wines

A pair of very tasty wines I had over the holidays!

Crognolo 2009
This great IGT Toscano, at just over $30, offers exceptional value for money, and wonderful drinkability.  Decanted for one hour, it pours a bright ruby red.  The nose is loaded with floral aromas, earth tones and leather.  Picking up a very feminine flavor profile here, sour cherry, cranberry and mixed herbs.  The wine shows bright acidity and soft tannin, and a medium bodied mouthfeel.  Uncomplicated by long term oak aging, drink this now!

Chateau Canon 2006
Thanks to the chef for this great birthday present!  Decanted two hours and then some.  A very old world nose, cedar, mineral and leather.  Dried cherry and earth.  Complex and layered with a full, chewy mouth feel, this definitely needed that time to open up.  Good now, but the strong tannin tells me this needs at least another year or two to hit it's stride.

Leaving for Spain in the morning, first stop, Chicago's O'Hare airport!