Costa Brava Hotels, Hotels Costa Dorada, Hotels Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol Hotels

Après avoir passé vos vacances dans un hôtel Costa Del sol ou une location Costa Del sol, vous aimeriez retrouver les saveurs d'Andalousie chez vous ? Voici donc pour vous une bonne recette de gaspacho andalou qui saura vous satisfaire mais aussi épater vos amis lors de votre diner de retour !

Pour 6 personnes :

Préparation :

Réservez 250 g de tomates, 1/2 concombre et 1/2 poivron pour la garniture.
Plongez le reste des tomates dans l'eau bouillante pour les peler puis épépinez-les et coupez-les en morceaux.
Coupez grossièrement le poivron et le concombre restants.
Coupez l'oignon en rondelles et hachez l'ail.
Réunissez le tout dans un plat creux, salez, poivrez, arrosez d'huile d'olive et laissez macérer 2 h.
Otez la croûte du pain, mettez-la à tremper dans le bouillon de volaille avec le vinaigre.
Dans le bol du mixeur, rassemblez les légumes à l'huile d'olive, la mie de pain et son bouillon, mixez finement; rectifiez l'assaisonnement et ajoutez le poivre de Cayenne.
Coupez en petits dés les tomates, le 1/2 concombre et les poivrons réservés.
Présentez ces légumes en coupelles avec le potage glacé en soupière.
Servez cette soupe avec de petits croûtons à l'ail.

Bon appétit !

Are you looking for an amazing and unique experience for this summer 2010? Head off to Bunol, Valencia, to the Tomatina, tomato festival, where playing with food is allowed and recommended. Real tradition, gathering thousands of people each year coming from all over the world ready to participate to this tomato battle. The rules are simple: do not be afraid of getting red, dirty and throw tomoatoes at each other. All you need now is a Hotel in Valencia or a Holiday Rental in Valencia, a bit of craziness and a real will to enjoy and have fun!

Last year's edition gathered 45000 people using 125 tons of tomatoes. It is important to precise that the tomatoes used are rotten and not saleable.

 This astonishing tradition started in 1945, when young people back then, used to meet up in the centre of Bunol village. People started throwing tomatoes at each other after one man pushed another one and provoked a giant riot.

This year, the Tomatina is going to take place on the 25th of August, feel free to join in and to respect the basic security rules: prohibited use of bottles, dangerous items, tomatoes must be crushed before being thrown and the battle must be stopped when you hear the bell for the second time.

Look forward to seeing you on the 25th!

The "Terre de l'Ebre" ("Ebre land") is a very natural and relaxing region in the South of Catalonia. Its Name comes from the river Ebre that pervades the region and leads into the Mediterranean Sea.

When we think of holidays in Catalonia, we think of music and culture from Barcelona, Costa Brava apartments and Costa Brava hotels next to the beach and sunny weather. Most tourists also prefer a good "cuisine".

The first difference between our cuisine and the Catalan cuisine is the time management. Usually Catalan people eat very long and also very late in the evening. Whereas the breakfast is very important for us, Catalan people prefer to drink a coffee and have some croissants. Most of them have lunch at 2 pm or later. Dinner will be served around 9pm.

Catalonia is located next to the French border. And you will recognize that there are some similarities. Wine for instance grows usually at Penedes, an area which is specialized in cultivating wine. The most famous product from this region is the "Freixenet" and the "Cava".

Concerning food there is so much variety of the Catalan cuisine that I could write a whole book of it. However, there is one product, which is typical for the Catalan culture. This is the "Crème Catalana" - a similar product to the world famous Crème Brulée. You will find this typical food only in the old restaurants of Barcelona, especially in the Barri Gotic and the Raval area.

Whether you like it hearty or light, Catalan cuisine can offer you a variety of food.   

In Spain the day starts and ends later. It is not unusual to see someone who strolls along the road, visits friends or eats in one of the numerous tapas bars at about 8 or 9 o'clock. A Spaniard usually goes out for food between 10 and 11 o'clock.

You should visit Spain and experience the gastronomy behavior firsthand! Spend your beach vacation in Spain, e.g. in a beautiful beach hotel in Costa Brava and visit one of the numerous bars, in order to try one the typical tapas dishes. Espacially Catalonia is known for its unique way of serving Tapas dishes.

Spain is famous for its many, small tapas bars and restaurants. Tapas are small appetizer, which are generally offered with wine, or bear. Many restaurants and bars offer a wide range of tapas dishes; many are specialized in one or two dishes, which are preferably selected by the locals. You can enjoy the delicious "jamón serrano" in one restaurant and in the next one you can taste the fantastic "pulpo gallego". The possibilities are almost unlimited. Wonderful and comfortable Costa Brava accommodations can be found everywhere along the coast. An abundance of restaurants and bars are also situated around the coastline.

Here are only some of the delicious dishes:
- Peanuts
- Roasted and salted almonds
- Marinated anchovies
- Olives
- Pan con tomate
- Tortilla
- Serrano- ham
- Roscos (Bagel packed with different toppings)
- Gambas al ajillo (roasted shrimps with chili and garlic)
- Ciruelas (with bacon and roasted plums)
- Patatas bravas (deep- fried potatoes with hot sauce)

Catalonia is known for its excellent Mediterranean and culinary food. In Catalonia you can find various restaurants in that you can experience the exceptional Catalan food. Their chefs are known for giving their meals a handful of essential ingredients like olive oil, garlic and tomato which gives Catalan cooking the special Mediterranean flair. The creativity of the Catalan cuisine is known in the whole country. Specialties are for example to cook meat with fruits, to mix nuts and raisins into vegetables or to combine rabbit with snails. It is a great experience to visit Barcelona and try the amzing cusine during your stay you can live on on of the various Barcelona hotels.

The Catalan food is an important ingredient of the Mediterranean tradition. You will notice neighboring influences from France and Valencia when enjoying the extraordinary Catalan cuisine. The closeness to the sea also influences the cuisine by adding a lot of seafood. In general you can find 3 kind of Catalan cuisine. There is the cuisine from the Mountains, with its meat, cheese, sausages, and vegetables. Then you have the cuisine of the coast which includes fish with rice, pasta or potatoes. Finally there is the cuisine from the cities with its diversity of traditional and international meals.

A visit in Catalonia is not just advised because of the great cuisine, the nature and culture of Catalonia is also very interesting. The region satisfies every kind of traveler. You can travel to the big city Barcelona, you can do a party holiday in Lloret de Mar or Blanes or you can just spend a relaxing holiday on the nice Catalan coast with its long beaches. During your stay you can stay in one of the various Costa Brava hotels or Costa Dorada hotels.

El Bulli is one of the best restaurants on the world. It's absolutely difficult to get a table because the restaurant has opened for just 6 month a year. Executive chef of the restaurant in Catalonia is Ferran Adrià, one of the most influential cooks of the present.


The restaurant El Bulli is situated besides a lonely bay along the Costa Brava in the beautiful village Rosas. You should visit this great area but please note that the restaurant is fully booked quickly! There are numerous great Costa Brava hotels in Roses, near the restaurant El Bulli.

Transport:
By plane: You can reach the restaurant El Bulli from the airport Barcelona or from the airport Girona. From Barcelona the distance is around 177 km, from Girona airport you will need approximately 75 km.

Accommodation:
Aparthotel Isla de Rosas: This attractive Costa Brava Hotel offers fantastic apartments. The apartment complex is located approximately 1 km from the nearest beach and 1 km from the city center.
Hotel Maritim: The 3- stars Costa Brava Hotel "Maritim" is located directly beside the sandy beach of Saint Margarita. Numerous shops, bars and nightclubs are to found within 2 km of the hotel.

Address:
El Bulli
Cala Montjoi, Ap. 30
17480 Roses, Spain
Phone: +34 972 150 457
Fax: +34 972 150 717
E-Mail: bulli@elbulli.com

Catalonia is famous for its fantastic bars and restaurants. You have the choice between a full menu or tapas. If you like to eat fish or sea fruits come to Catalonia! Along the coasts "Costa Dorada" and "Costa Brava" you will find great fish restaurants. Numerous comfortable Costa Dorada hotels and hotels at Costa Brava are in close proximity to great restaurants, bars or cafés.

Breakfast/ snacks/ sandwiches
For breakfast you are best off in a bar or café. The traditional Spanish breakfast is "chocolate con churros", a thick drinking chocolate with long tubular doughnuts. Numerous bars and cafés also serve toast with oil or butter and jam. A further delicate breakfast court is "Tortilla", an omelet prepared with eggs, onions and potatoes. The Catalan variant of "Bocadillo" is prepared with a French baguette. This is rubbed in with tomatoes and peppered with olive oil and salt, the Catalan name it "Pa amb Tomàquet".


Tapas
You can eat tapas in one of the numerous tapas bars, usually you stand, but there are also bars with seating- accommodation. The snacks are served in all possible variants. Typical tapas are: olives, peanuts, tortilla, etc. Many bars have a range of tapas on their menu board, but most tend to be known for just one or two dishes.


Meals
You can order a complete menu in a restaurant, a "comedor" (=dining hall), a cafeteria or a "marisqueria" (=fish restaurant). "Comedores" are places to seek out if your main criteria are price and quantity. For the dish of the day you pay around 6 - 8 €. Eating in a restaurant or a "marisqueria" is often not much different in price from "Comedores". Generally 3 courses plus wine and bread for around 7 - 12 €. In the blog "Barcelona apartments" you can find an interesting entry about Fish & Seafood in Barcelona!




If the service merits it, you can leave a small tip. The amount is up to you, but five percent of the bill is quite sufficient. Service is normally included in a restaurant! Ask if you are not sure!




Spaniards generally eat very late. Between 1 pm and 4 pm and between 8 pm and midnight most restaurants serve food. Many restaurants close on Sunday or Monday evening.

The "Blaumar" Costa Brava hotel in Blanes is a fantastic choice for your Costa Brava holiday. Guests can choose their breakfast, lunch or dinner from the buffet. There are themed buffets twice a week: Catalonian specialties or a gala dinner.

In Spain the day starts and ends later. It is not unusual to see someone who strolls along the road, visits friends or eats in one of the numerous tapas bars at about 8 or 9 o'clock. A Spaniard usually goes out for food between 10 and 11 o'clock.


You should visit Spain and experience the gastronomy behavior firsthand! Spend your beach vacation in Spain, e.g. in a beautiful beach hotel in Costa Brava and visit one of the numerous bars, in order to try one the typical tapas dishes.

Spain is famous for its many, small tapas bars and restaurants. Tapas are small appetizer, which are generally offered with wine, or bear. Many restaurants and bars offer a wide range of tapas dishes; many are specialized in one or two dishes, which are preferably selected by the locals. You can enjoy the delicious "jamón serrano" in one restaurant and in the next one you can taste the fantastic "pulpo gallego". The possibilities are almost unlimited. Wonderful and comfortable accommodations are everywhere, e.g. the comfortable "Amaika" Costa Brava beach hotel in Calella. An abundance of restaurants and bars are situated within the vicinity of the hotel.

Here are only some of the delicious dishes:
- Peanuts
- Roasted and salted almonds
- Marinated anchovies
- Olives
- Pan con tomate
- Tortilla
- Serrano- ham
- Roscos (Bagel packed with different toppings)
- Gambas al ajillo (roasted shrimps with chili and garlic)
- Ciruelas (with bacon and roasted plums)
- Patatas bravas (deep- fried potatoes with hot sauce)

You would like to get more information about the Spain culture? Then visit the following, very interesting blog:
=> accommodation Barcelona: Catalan culture.