Rocio Osborne: The Life of a Spanish Vintner

The Sherry Corner at San Miguel Market

Rocio — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:42:17 +0000

Last weekend I went to San Miguel market in Madrid, one of the coolest places in the city. It was crowded but also a lot of fun!! People went from one stall to the other tasting cheese, olives, tapas, wine, beer, champagne, etc.

The market was a very old building recovered last year after it went through a period of remodeling, and now it looks absolutely gorgeous.

One of the stalls that caught my attention was the Sherry Corner, a very cozy stall to enjoy different styles of Sherry directly from small barrels. Each of the barrels had a face painted on it, as if they were different characters. It was a very cool!! The quality of the sherry wasn’t over the top, but it was still good.

Definitely San Miguel Market is in my top 10 of things-things-to-do-in-Madrid list, so don´t miss it if you come!!

–Rocio

Tempra Tantrum on The Big Bang Theory. So Cool!!

Rocio — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:20:25 +0000

Here I am back again after the Christmas holidays! Our Christmas holidays are pretty long and last until the 6th of January when the “three wise men” come with presents.

During the break I watched a lot of TV, and I got a really nice surprise when watching the show The Big Bang Theory. Out of nowhere, I saw Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo/Cabernet and the Tempranillo/Shiraz bottles sitting on a shelf in the back of a scene (the one where Howard asks Bernadette to marry him at The Cheese Cake Factory where she works with Penny).

As I went on with the show I had a double surprised when I caught a glimpse of the Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo/Cabernet on the restaurant where Leonard and Howard are having dinner with Howard´s girlfriend and a friend of hers. It was in season 4 chapter 5, “The Desperation Emanation”.

In Spain we usually have a one year delay of when a show airs in the States, so it takes a while for something to become popular here. I like The Big Bang Theory a lot, I think is really funny. So you can imagine how proud I was when I saw one of my babies on the show.

So my plan for tonight is to open a bottle of Tempra Tantrum, probably the Cab, and watch another episode of The Big Bang Theory and relax after a long day of work!!! Can´t wait to get home!!

–Rocio

December Fools Day

Rocio — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 20:35:04 +0000

Today in Spain is the equivalent of April´s fools day. In Spain and in other countries the 28^th of December is called “Dia de los Inocentes.” People play pranks on each other and it’s always a good laugh. Everybody looks quite suspicious as you get wrong news on TV, newspapers and the radio with live surrealistic episodes, comical situations, etc. A very common and easy one prank is to stick the “Dia de los Inocentes” logo on somebody´s back.

An example of a Great prank: “Copenhagen´s new metro”

Nowadays there are so many prank gadgets designed for children that you have to be weary of even the smallest kids!

Feliz día de los inocentes!!!

–Rocio

Madrid Dressed Up for Christmas!!

Rocio — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:20:04 +0000

I just realized Christmas is around the corner (more specifically 2 days away) and I haven’t wished you a merry Christmas…. so MERRY CHRISTMAS and I hope your holidays have been great!!!

For now I’ll leave you with this video of an incredibly gorgeous Madrid showing its Christmas glory.

You have to agree it looks really beautiful!!!

Merry Christmas and don’t forget to enjoy the holidays with some wine!!

–Rocio

Javier Bardem´s Stress Therapy

Rocio — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:08:10 +0000

Lately I’ve been so busy I haven’t been able to write as much as I would like to, but here I am again, excited to share with you a great piece of “art”.

The New York Times has made a small collection of videos, where actors and actresses play a roll without any dialog. A tribute to silent movies, where actors had a harder time showing and conveying the emotion of their roll, as they couldn´t speak.

I know I might not be objective but one of my favourites is Javier Bardem´s performance, not only because the way he acts, but also because I would love to do something like that!! Looks like a perfect therapy for stress!! Check it out:

What do you think?

- Rocio

Girls can Skate — Longboard Girls Crew

Rocio — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:24:48 +0000

Check out this cool video of the Longboard Girls Crew skating around Madrid on a beautiful Saturday morning. Great way to check out the city!

Longboard Girls Crew from Juan Rayos on Vimeo.

Enjoy it!!

–Rocio

Chocolate Addiction. Why Does it increase in Winter Time???

Rocio — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:48:51 +0000

I’m beginning to think that I’m a chocaholic, and for some reason, my addiction increases during the winter time. If you are one too, don’t be ashamed to say so as there are few things better than a good piece of chocolate.

There is a chocolate brand that I like very much called Pancracio. It´s a Spanish brand, and they make not only very good chocolates and truffles, but also a very nice chocolate flavoured vodka!!

In Spain they throw wonderful campaigns to promote their chocolates; like pairings with jazz music, dinners using the chocolate as part of the ingredients in the recipes, and other really fun initiatives.

I recently found out that from now on, Pancracio´s chocolates will be available in NYC at Bergdorf Goodman in Fifh Avenue.

If you are in New York, stop by and get some of this awesome chocolate!! It’s also a perfect gift for Christmas!!

–Rocio

Dear Food Bloggers:

Rocio — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 09:56:32 +0000

One of my favourite things to do in my spare time is to read through food blogs to find new recipes, especially twists on traditional Spanish cuisine, such as this California Gazpacho recipe.

I’m always so amazed at the number of blogs out there, from the very involved and professional Chef blogs to more simple blogs made by people who have a passion for food, amazing creativity and an internet connection. I love how technology has allowed anyone the opportunity to have a broad voice and to share one’s passions with the world!

For anyone considering starting their own food blog, I found this great series of articles by Andrew Scrivani on how to take good food photography. It’s pretty great, check it out: Food Photography: How to Shoot Soup.

white beans with celery soup. photo by andrew scrivani

If you have a food or wine blog, please leave me a link on the comments, I would love to check them out!!!

–Rocio

Turron Recipe. Christmas is Around the Corner?!

Rocio — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:34:07 +0000

Doesn’t it seem like every year Christmas preparations start earlier? As soon as November 1^starrived, I started to see the first signs of Christmas: decorations, advertisements, special Christmas foods, etc.

As I was thinking about this, I realized that starting Christmas earlier gives me the excuse to enjoy one of my favourite Christmas treats for longer, turrón! Turrón is a traditional Spanish Christmas sweet, in English known as Nougat.

Nowadays there are all sorts of varieties and flavours, but this recipe is the original one, as brought to Spain by the Arabs during the Moor occupation. In my opinion, it is much much nicer than the sticky white or pink nougat sold in shops outside Spain.

In Spain there are some very artisanal turrones that are a real treat, but if can´t get your hands on these, try to make it yourself! And it will be a lot of fun too!!

During Christmas, and now starting in November!, we usually have a plate with different turrones and Christmas sweets around the house to eat for dessert or to have a bite in the afternoon.

It’s a challenging dessert to pair with, but my recommendation would be an LBV Port, like Osborne´s.

Go ahead, try it and don´t forget to let me know if you like it!!

Turrón Recipe:

250 grams sugar
250 grams white honey
250 grams toasted almonds
250 grams toasted hazelnuts
5 egg whites

Chop the nuts finely and then crush them in the mortar until they become a smooth paste
Beat the eggs whites stiffly and then add them to the paste
Put the honey and sugar in a saucepan and bring to the boil
Add the paste to the honey mixture
Mix constantly with a wooden spatula for ten minutes
Remove from the heat, put into wooden moulds lined with rice paper

Enjoy!!

- Rocio

Tempra Tantrum Hallowine

Rocio — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 19:15:27 +0000

Only in the past recent years– maybe 10–15– has the American-style Halloween celebrations become very popular in Spain. Growing up, it wasn’t a custom to dress-up or throw parties. The Halloween celebrations I attended were mostly in the homes of my American friends, but I always thought they were so much fun! Now with the globalization of ideas, both children and adults are dressing up and expect some sort of trick or treat.

In the effort to spread a little bit of Spanish culture to this very American holiday, my Tempra Tantrum team has created a very cool idea, a “Tempra Tantrum Hallowine Tapas Party.”

Here are the pairings, enjoy!!!

Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo/Cabernet & Potato Guts (Patatas Bravas)

Recipe

Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo/Merlot & Brains on a Stick (Spanish Chorizo Meatballs)

Recipe

Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo/Shiraz & Eyeballs (Olives atop Fresh Mozzarella balls)

Recipe

Tempra Tantrum Tempranillo/Grenache & Flayed Skin Face (Jamon Iberico Mask)

Recipe

(to be truly authentic, use Jamon Iberico rather than prosciutto).

Let us know if you have any more Spanish-inspired spooky treats and get ready for a happy Halloween!

- Rocio