Europe Fall 2024 - Fourth Gastronomic Post

This past weekend finished off our fourth full week of travel for this post. And we made the transition from our researching and running around along the Adriatic coast of Italy to a return to a sort of 'home away from home' in El Campello, Spain. 

Along with that physical change of locale comes a fundamental change in how we are traveling. As mentioned many times previously in the posts for this trip, our goal is slowing down...being more content to stay in a single place. The whole Italy adventure, you will remember, was simply looking for another place we might consider a 'home away from home'. But here in Campello, it is about living that concept. 

This has a major influence on our eating. Just as we don't eat out all that much (actually hardly at all) when we are 'at home' in Albuquerque, one of the attractions of the 'home away from home' is the ability to cook more and get into a more normal eating routine than when one is traveling to 'see stuff'. Of course, it helps that I like to cook and I get a real kick out working with the foodstuffs of a country other than my own.

So here is what eating looked like during our first week in Campello.

 Our first day in Campello was a Sunday and all the supermarkets were closed. So we ate out. There are a lot of British expats in this area, and there is a restaurant that caters to them. We were not ready to dive into full on Spanish eating just yet. Plus we were still tired and beat up from the time in Italy. It was very close to our apartment so made an easy option.

A little wine and beer in the Med sun to loosen things up

Followed by Fish & Chips and Fried Chicken Wings

This place has no shortage of condiments

The one in yellow that's hard to read is mustard...real English mustard. I'm not sure what the Brown sauce is...even after having tasted it.

Malt Vinegar - de rigeur

The only reason this picture is here is to document how completely daughter #3 has ruined us with her former Dutch ways.

Can't even think of having fries without Mayo

Our Airbnb host gifted us a lovely bottle of Rueda

This is an example of one of our typical breakfasts

I've cooked three larger meals.

A pork pot roast with potatoes and carrots - very U.S. but I put in some Spanish olives as additional flavoring.

And I cooked up a rice dish with chicken, sausage, and mushrooms

There is another place nearby that serves up Pinxos which are like tapas but are from the Northwestern, Basque part of Spain. It is the only place on our beach that serves them. 

Again, wine and beer are a requirement

Then they come around with items...all on skewers put into bread. You pick what you want to eat and pay at the end my the number of skewers you have.

A grilled pork with a sweet, sour sauce

A cheeseburger slider

Roasted sausage (one of my favorites)

Cheese and hot peppers fried in a batter on avocado

And the ubiquitous Patatas Bravas