La Paloma Cafeteria, Oviedo Asturias

Vermouth, its whats for breakfast in Spain. Keep in mind that Spaniards don't get up as early as Americans. (as a rule) But somehow Spaniards do not sleep near as much as Americans. I guess that there is just to much to do and when you live in Spain you can sleep when you are dead. This is my most favorite place in all Asturias to drink mid morning vermouth. La Paloma. I have been coming to this bar for Five years now and every day its the same two men tending the bar. I wish I knew their names. They are the most efficient and happiest workers I have ever met in my life. I am sure that these men are the reason customers pack this bar several times a day standing shoulder to shoulder . It is here that businessmen and businesswomen come out of their offices for a mid morning vermouth and a tapa of Spanish tortilla, snails, mussels or giant deep fried shrimp. The barrel in the right foreground is where the homemade vermouth is poured for the thirsty customers. Several years ago Miguel and I purchased a bottle to bring back to Kansas. Its loooong gone, but I still have the bottle to look at when I get homesick.......... OK I'm officially homesick!

Manic Monday Meme

I have decided to participate in one meme theme once a week. Lisa at Manic Monday chose the 3 questions.
If you had to be named after one of the 50 states, which would it be?
Definitely not Massachusetts , because I hate Mitt Romney. Not Arkansas because I hate Mike Huckabee even more. Not Kansas because we are basically retarded. Can you not see this is impossible for me to answer!
Where do you go for advice?
If its medical, my friend Ximena as she is a Dr, Or Fernando as he is a Dr. If it psychological my friend Carrie who is a Dr. I keep my friends busy LOL!
What is the sickest you've ever been?
About 10 years ago I had acute tonsillitis, my throat swelled shut and I lay in the hospital hallucinating on a morphine drip. To this day I believe that a ghost with downs syndrome came to visit me in the middle of the night.

Arbondigas

Miguel makes the best meatballs!
Half ground beef
Half ground pork
2 Eggs
chopped garlic
parsley
salt
breadcrumbs
splash of white wine
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
He prepares a huge batch to freeze and we use them for meatball sandwiches, spaghetti and to eat with fried potatoes.

Wine makes life better!

I love wine. I adore wine. I am passionate about wine. Too bad that I don't know anything about wine! I do know what I like and don't like though... and I like Rioja, I like it a lot! This particular bottle is a 2004 Faustino. I have had it in my wine cabinet for a year or so but Id guess that its around 15 US dollars give or take (mas o menos) I would best describe the taste as light blackberry jam with a hint of crisp apple. The color of this vino is unbelievable, almost like a port. Its hard to explain ..... but I would recommend this wine easily. Spanish reds rock! Unfortunately with the Euro going strong and the US dollars value equivalent to Monopoly money (the game) Spanish wines are going to go up in price. Buy a bottle today , treat yourself. Life is short.

PS... 367 days left of office for the most retarded man ever to be called President.

This is home

Once again I am sorry for my absence. I am sure that all three of you that read my blog missed me! Today's post is the best that I could come up with. My adopted home. Asturias Spain. (Green Spain) Its roughly the size of the State of Connecticut, with a population of a bit over one million. Asturias is one of the last remaining Principality's of the world. My friend Candid Karina is from Portugal next door. (Karina , please show me/us where you are from)

This summer my husband and I plan on spending a few days in either Portugal or Southern France, both are pretty close. Where would you go?

Driving in Spain

Tonight my husband brought up the subject of me getting my Spanish drivers license. Ok this is something that I am dreading...the fact that I have been driving since I was 12 years old (like most rural kids) amounts to squat. I am going to have to pay to go to a driving school, I will have to get an eye and health exam from a special doctor, I will have to take an extensive written test with questions ranging from motorcycles, delivery trucks, first aid, and working mechanics of vehicle's. Last but not least the actual driving test! Ahhh the parallel parking of a 12 foot long car into a 6 foot space on a steep hill. The round abouts. The streets that are so narrow we call them sidewalks in Kansas. The cost of this privilege will be at least 1000.00 dollars. (If I don't flunk it the 1st time) If I am lucky enough to pass this procedure I will have to drive for 1 year with a big green L sign in my rear window, that will announce to the world that I am a new learning driver. That's not embarrassing.

I got my baby back, baby back!

I forgot to announce that my husband has finally returned from holidays in Spain. I missed him so much! He had a wonderful time eating his mamas cooking and being fussed over..... He brought back my favorite soap from Asturias "Heno de Pravia"and my favorite sweets "marzipan" made by the nuns . He also brought a little pair of wooden shoes from a lengthy layover in Amsterdam.

This photo is of my husband when he was probably 2 or 3 years old in Europe.

DIA DE REYES

Christmas Eve in Spain is about one thing. Eating. New Years Eve in Spain is about 3 things, Eating, drinking & celebrating! January 5th in Spain is about the gifts.Today is Dia de Reyes or as known in my home in America, 3 Kings Day. Years ago Spanish children would leave their shoes by their beds at night and the 3 Kings would bring gifts while they slept. Maybe the kids still leave shoes as part of the custom. Baltasar, Gaspar & Melchor have had a very busy day and night with the parades and gift deliveries all over the Country. I just spoke to my friend Fernando and he confirmed that they were almost done in Spain and were soon heading west to the United States. I had better be a good hostess and leave out a bottle of red wine and some Spanish tortilla for a snack. Something tells me that The 3 Kings eat a lot better than Santa Claus does!

Wordless Wednesday

Eat this !

I have my regular job at a public school here and I work 2 or 3 days a month at a restaurant here in town. Yesterday being New years day I decided to pick up a shift. Wow HUGE MISTAKE! Hey people, I am happy that you all got gift cards this Christmas. Next year use your head why don't you. Is it really so necessary to run out and use it the very second you open it? Hmmmm if I went to a restaurant and they had an hour wait to be seated Id try another place, eat fast food or go home and try some other time. Your waitress (me) is paid an hourly wage of 2.13 per hour. I also have to tip out the bartenders and all hosts and hostess's. I am going to do anything in my power to make your visit and meal enjoyable , because I want a tip. I want a good tip people. Please don't scream at me that you had to wait an hour to be seated. Please don't scream at me that your food took so long to arrive. I have no control over the kitchen. Cooks can be damn scary people when they get asked for the millionth time "Is my order ready yet, I really need it" Let us remember they have knives! I would like to toss out this novel idea, What say you hold on to that gift card for another week or even a month? After the crowds die down just a bit your service in any restaurant will be so much better. Thanks for listening.