Muscat de Rivesaltes

One of these days I had a connection from Perpinyà, le centre du monde (according to Salvador Dalí).



This post is a tribute to my friend André Coll, probably the best muscat producer in the world. Here in the right you can see the sweet and dry muscats respectively.
The vins doux naturels appellations are one of the traditional characteristics of Roussillon, which produces some 85% of all French vins doux naturels. They have been made for centuries, using a process known in French as "mutage" (which is essentially fortification, using a spirit to halt fermentation, as in port and sherry). Roussillon claims that mutage was discovered in 1285 by one Arnau de Vilanova, a doctor and philosopher who spent much of his life in Montpellier. He discovered that by adding a neutral alcohol in the proportion of between 5% and 10% to the fermenting wine, the alcohol would kill the yeasts and so the fermentation would be stopped, leaving a naturally sweet wine, as the fruit sugars have not been consumed by the yeast. Due to this procedure they achieve this outstanding sweet wine, which has nothing to do with our "moscatell" even though it is the same grape.


(for more information look at http://www.lancs.ac.uk/staff/exaajs/wine/stbacchus2005.htm)


Chateau Pradal is at a walking distance from the train station. The exact address is: 58, Rue Pépinière Robin 66000 PERPIGNAN
http://www.caves-particulieres.com/membres/pradal

He has a large selection of sweet wines. You can see three more here below (with their corresponding medals). Cuvée Auréliene and Clément receive these names due to his kids.


prizes:

a été récompensé :
Médaille Or: Muscat de Rivesaltes - CENTRE DUMONDE 1998 (Blanc)

Médaille Bronze: Rivesaltes - AURELIEN 1995 (Rouge / Rosé)

Médaille Or: Muscat de Rivesaltes - 2000 (Blanc)

Médaille Or: Rivesaltes - CUVEE CLEMENT-FUT DE CHENE 1997 (Ambré)

Médaille Bronze: Côtes du Roussillon - 2002 (Rosé)

Médaille Bronze: Rivesaltes - VICTOIRE 2001 (Rouge)

Médaille Bronze: VIN DE PAYS DES COTES CATALANES - ALEXANDRIE 2003 (Blanc)Médaille Argent: Rivesaltes - 1999 (Blanc)

Médaille OrMuscat de Rivesaltes - 1998 (Blanc)

Quim Monzó, La Vanguardia, pag. 41, 29/06/2008

Quim Monzó: "En Barcelona, la cocina tradicional ha quedado masacrada por toda la tontería creativa, que es muy interesante para quien le guste y todo lo que quieras. En Barcelona todo son platos cuadrados, el petit foie de petit... con reducción de vinagre de Módena. Es muy difícil comer bien. He comido en Can Fabes y he comido muy mal. Pero también he comido en el Bulli, y he comido pésimamente. Es que a mí me gusta la comida, no los experimentos gastronómicos, para vivir experiencias ya me tomo un tripi. Tengo gota, colesterol, transaminasas, triglicéridos, gamma GT alta, todo lo que quieras, pero es muy bueno comer."

Tías

Tías: this funny Spanish name means “girls”. However, this post, as usual, is related to meals and drinks. In fact Tías is a village in Lanzarote Island.
Unfortunately I do not have photos of the outstanding dishes but you can see them here:
http://www.liliumtias.com/
I only took a photo of the extremely well selected wine section from the whole mainland Spain. You can buy bottles there at a reasonable price: It is a pleasure to go for lunch at this place. You realize that they really enjoy with meals, wines and explanations about them.
Lilium guys: congratulations for your outstanding restaurant!

A wine from l'Alguer

Il Nuraghe

Specialita tipiche sarde

Via Mazzini 58
Pisa, Italy


I remember the restaurant quite well, although I was there several years ago.

The sample menu is outstanding. Unfortunately, I do not have photos of the dishes. I only took a photo of an outstanding wine that still keeps the catalan name for grape (raïm. In fact it should be written in this way, but now, italians do not take too much care about accents). In fact, l'Alguer is one of the places where catalan is spoken.


It is also worth to taste the Mirto spirit (molto perfumato!)

Italian versus Spanish Coffee

this post is dedicated to my good friend Anna E., the best chairwoman in the world!

I do appreciate Italian products (you just need to look at my previous posts).

I do appreciate the packet of Segafredo coffee (although I prefer Illy) that Anna gave to me. However, in my oppinion, although Italian coffee is stronger (due to the lesser amount of water), I prefer MY coffee.

I do not mean marcilla, bonka, saimaza, and all this stuff, I mean the special shops with a large selection of coffee. In my case, my favourite shop for buying is tostaderos bon mercat, in Baixada de la llibreteria. It is also my second favourite place for drinking coffee.
http://barcelona.salir.com/tostaderos_bon_mercat_baixada_llibreteria
In this same street you will find "el mesón del café", My favourite place to take a coffee. It is a small place with a special atmosphere. In fact, it is believed that they have one of the oldest coffee-machines in Barcelona.
http://barcelona.lanetro.com/guia/sitios/fichasitio.cfm?CodigoSitio=18832&IdTipo=56

Yo can see it here

and a more panoramic view of this "piccolo" place.

Brasserie Flo

May be you are astonished because of the header's photo...
It was taken at Brasserie Flo in Barcelona. This large dish is for four people.

http://www.brasserieflobarcelona.com/

If you have 75 € and you do not know what to do with them, you can order this outstanding menu (please, take into account that it must be booked in advance!)
do not hesitate. It is a bargain!

WELCOMING COCKTAIL
SPECIAL FLO SEAFOOD TRAYFRENCH OYSTERS, 2 GALICIAN OYSTERS, 4 CLAMS, 2 "ESCUPIÑAS", 2 SPYNOUS SYOREX, 2 KINGS PRAWNS, 1 DUBLIN BAY PRAWN, ½ LOBSTER, ½ OX CRAB.

***
BEEF TENDERLOIN WITH DUCK FOIE-GRAS WITH BAKED VEGETABLES

***
ASSORTED PASTRIES, TWO SAUCES

***
Monopol (Rioja)Viña Salceda Crianza (Rioja)Brut Barroco de FreixenetJ&B, Torres x, Baileys LiquorsMineral water Coffee

*****************************

MARISCADA ESPECIAL FLO2 OSTRAS FRANCESAS, 2 OSTRAS GALLEGAS, 2 ALMEJAS, 2 ESCUPIÑAS, 2 CAÑAILLAS, 2 LANGOSTINOS, 2 CIGALAS, ½ BOGAVANTE, ½ BUEY DE MAR.

***

SOLOMILLO DE BUEY AL FOIE GRAS DE PATO CON TIAN DE VERDURAS

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SURTIDO DE REPOSTERIA DE LA CASA

***

Monopol (Rioja)Viña Salceda Crianza (Rioja)Brut Nature MarrugatLicores J&B , Torres x , Baileys Agua MineralCafé

Red Wine from Vall Lach (D.O. Priorat)

I always thought that Ribera del Duero was the best wine in the world.

One day I discovered "Les Terrasses" and I changed my oppinion about Ribera del Duero (which tends to be sweeter than Priorat) and about the "classical" Priorat wines, such as Scala Dei, which is OK but not outstanding.

My good friend Jorge Castro has also something to do with my good oppinion of Priorat (thanks for the Abellars Bottle. It is amazing and hard to find!)

This post is a tribute to the outstanding Embruix, from Vall Llach. Nice name for an outstanding wine!

Now it is very clear for me: if you do not try to balance quality/price ratio, go for Priorat. If you try to balance it, go for Toro wine. In a few years it will be at the same level (or even higher) than Ribera del Duero.

Next step, thanks to my friend Josep A. M., : Idus

cheers!

The craziest restaurant in the world...

Timanfaya, isle of Lanzarote.

The meals are directly cooked in the vulcano...
anyway, too much hands over your meal (and very basic meals).

I only took the photo and visited the outstanding Timanfaya natural park

http://www.gelateriamatteo.it/

The best icecreams in the world!

And the largest selection!

Samples are welcome:

my favourite ones:

time for drinks...

Birra (0.6l):

Aglianico villa Matilde(0.35l)

the very famous home-made limoncello

Luchiano in action...

Probably the best waiter in the world!

A tribute to this outstanding restaurant and its team!

I really love dal Pescatore.
Via Cristoforo Colombo,56 - Vietri Sul Mare (Marina) - (SA)
089-211595 - 333-5497057

Those who know me really know my passion for it!
Long life to Dal Pescatore!
Marcos