Spectacular croissant and americano from Récit de Voyage in Saint-Malo from our trip there in February
Welcome to Sunday Sobremesa, a bimonthly thread to discuss food and culture while sipping on a café americano (or crema de orujo1, if that’s more your style!).
In honor of our trip to Paris this weekend, let’s talk about vacation foods! Traveling usually allows us to try something we either wouldn’t usually eat or can’t easily get in el día a día.2 That can mean different things to different people: maybe it’s trying an entirely different cuisine, or maybe it’s as simple as eating seafood at the beach when you’re landlocked the rest of the year.
What’s your favorite food you’ve eaten while on vacation/traveling? It can either be something that you seek out time after time in a place you go regularly (like the sorbete de higo3 I’m obsessed with in Vilamoura, Portugal) or something you’ll probably never eat again (like the amazing frog legs we ate in Paris a couple of years ago in a restaurant that has since changed ownership). On the flip side, is there something that you’ve always wanted to try in a particular place but haven’t been able to yet (like pizza in Napoli, or barbecue in Texas)?
I’m excited to hear your favorites! See you in the comments!
Crema de orujo: Orujo is a type of brandy from northeastern Spain that’s made from pomace. Crema de orujo is a milk-based liqueur that contains orujo, coffee, chocolate, and caramel or vanilla. It’s similar to Bailey’s and is usually served over ice or in a shot glass as a post-meal digestif.
My husband and I stumbled upon a sweet little family run restaurant in Capri about five years ago, where I had the best grilled octopus of my life! I will never be able to find it again – I don't know the name of the restaurant or even where it was – but I'll never forget how that octopus tasted.
I love this response! Stumbling across family-run restaurants is one of my favorite parts of traveling. I’m glad you were able to experience the grilled octopus, even if it was only the one time!
Have you ever had pulpo a feira? It’s the Galician preparation of octopus (so boiled instead of grilled). I like it but I definitely prefer grilled! How do they usually prepare octopus in Valencia? Or is it even common to eat it there?
I had pulpo a feira once and really liked it! That's actually how I've mostly seen octopus here (you see it called pulpo a la gallega on most menus). They're always selling fresh octopus at the markets, so I'm sure there are more preparations I don't know about – time to do some research :)
I loved everything I ate when in was in Spain ♥️ I can’t remember everyplace I ate but it was all delicious! Thanks to Kyla and David for taking taking me to all these amazing places 🥰
Thanks! Spain does have a lot of great food! I’m glad you liked it!!
What about things you haven’t eaten before? If you could choose a local food to try (for example deep dish pizza in Chicago which I know you have tried so it doesn’t count!), what would it be?
I've always wanted to go to Maine and eat lobster all week long.
That sounds fantastic! Lobster rolls, too, or just pure lobster?
Every way possible! Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Haha excellent answer!
My husband and I stumbled upon a sweet little family run restaurant in Capri about five years ago, where I had the best grilled octopus of my life! I will never be able to find it again – I don't know the name of the restaurant or even where it was – but I'll never forget how that octopus tasted.
I love this response! Stumbling across family-run restaurants is one of my favorite parts of traveling. I’m glad you were able to experience the grilled octopus, even if it was only the one time!
Have you ever had pulpo a feira? It’s the Galician preparation of octopus (so boiled instead of grilled). I like it but I definitely prefer grilled! How do they usually prepare octopus in Valencia? Or is it even common to eat it there?
I had pulpo a feira once and really liked it! That's actually how I've mostly seen octopus here (you see it called pulpo a la gallega on most menus). They're always selling fresh octopus at the markets, so I'm sure there are more preparations I don't know about – time to do some research :)
Haha food research is the best research! Please report back if you find any good recipes!
I think at the beach eating oysters on the pier ! Plus all the rest of fresh seafood!
That sounds amazing! Fresh seafood is the best.
I loved everything I ate when in was in Spain ♥️ I can’t remember everyplace I ate but it was all delicious! Thanks to Kyla and David for taking taking me to all these amazing places 🥰
Thanks! Spain does have a lot of great food! I’m glad you liked it!!
What about things you haven’t eaten before? If you could choose a local food to try (for example deep dish pizza in Chicago which I know you have tried so it doesn’t count!), what would it be?