One of the trickier things about moving to Spain hasn’t been the language, the bureaucracy, or even the humidity. It’s been the clock. Or more specifically: the meal clock. “What time do we eat?” is a surprisingly complicated question here. In theory, the Spanish answer is beautifully structured with a schedule built over generations toContinue reading ““What Time Do We Eat?” Adjusting to Spain’s Meal Schedule (Sort Of)”
Category Archives: Food
Replacing Portugal’s Liquid Gold: Finding Wine We Love in Spain
One of the absolute best things about living in Portugal (right after the people) is the wine. It’s fantastic. It’s affordable. And it was one of our regular pleasures for the five years we lived there. Portuguese wine rarely makes a splash abroad, and there are two big reasons for that. First, production levels atContinue reading “Replacing Portugal’s Liquid Gold: Finding Wine We Love in Spain”
Old Friends, New City: Hosting Our First Visitors in Valencia
One of the best parts of starting a new chapter in a new country is getting to share it with the people who know you best. This past week, we had our first visitors: our dear friends David and Sarah, flying in from Lisbon. They were our closest friends during our years in Portugal, andContinue reading “Old Friends, New City: Hosting Our First Visitors in Valencia”
Cheese Expectations: Spain’s Dairy Overachievers
Let’s get one thing out of the way: I lived in Portugal for years, and I love Portuguese cheese. I do. From the soft and runny decadence of Serra da Estrela, to the salty firmness of São Jorge, to those lightly aged sheep cheeses that land somewhere between a custard and a dream, there’s someContinue reading “Cheese Expectations: Spain’s Dairy Overachievers”
The Cure for Everything: A Deep Dive into Spanish Charcuterie
One of the first things we started buying regularly at the Central Market was charcuterie. Not because we were planning elaborate tapas spreads (though we’ve had a few), but because in Spain, charcuterie isn’t a luxury, it’s just food. You slice off a few pieces, put them on a plate, and suddenly your meal isContinue reading “The Cure for Everything: A Deep Dive into Spanish Charcuterie”
Thursdays at the Market: Getting to Know Valencia, One Stall at a Time
It’s one thing to live in a city, but it’s another to have your habits in that city. One of the ways we’ve started to feel at home in Valencia has nothing to do with paperwork, language classes, or learning how to buzz delivery people into the building. It’s this: we go to the marketContinue reading “Thursdays at the Market: Getting to Know Valencia, One Stall at a Time”
In This House, We Respect the Rice: A Love Letter to Valencia’s Favorite Grain
If there’s one food that feels truly of Valencia – grown here, cooked here, and argued about here – it’s rice. Not just any rice. Paella. Or arroz al horno. Or arroz a banda. Or arroz negro. Or … well, you get the idea. Rice in Valencia isn’t a side dish. It’s a whole wayContinue reading “In This House, We Respect the Rice: A Love Letter to Valencia’s Favorite Grain”
Pizza vs. Coca vs. Pinsa: A Mediterranean Flatbread Throwdown
Let’s talk about flatbread. Specifically, let’s talk about how every Mediterranean culture seems to think they invented it, and everyone else just copied it with too much cheese, not enough olives, or some other culinary crime. In fact, after living here a while, I’ve started thinking about flatbreads the way I think about Mediterranean empires:Continue reading “Pizza vs. Coca vs. Pinsa: A Mediterranean Flatbread Throwdown”
Southern Soul: Why Italian Food Feels So at Home in Valencia
In my last post, I shared some of our early food discoveries in Valencia. Where to go for paella, tapas, tacos, and even a sushi place with go-go dancers. (Yes, really. If you missed that, it’s worth a scroll back just for the video.) But there was one category where I intentionally held back: ItalianContinue reading “Southern Soul: Why Italian Food Feels So at Home in Valencia”
Tapas, Tacos, and Toothpicks: Our First Food Finds in Valencia
When you move to a new city, your first impressions often come on a plate. It’s still early days, but we’ve already begun building a shortlist of favorite restaurants here in Valencia. And like any good list, it starts with the local hero. In this case, it’s paella. We’re in the land of paella. ValenciaContinue reading “Tapas, Tacos, and Toothpicks: Our First Food Finds in Valencia”
A Modern Odyssey - Expatriates in Iberia 