Dear Readers,
This week I was enjoying a couple of glasses of Spanish Vines Tempranillo with some of my close friends and we began to talk about Americans with major affinities for Spain. Quickly the writer Ernest Hemingway became the dominant subject of conversation. So I read an article entitled “Hemingway’s Last Birthday in Andalucia” by Owen Thomas on www.andalucia.com and this week I dedicate today’s blog to an amazing American-born writer that had quite a love for Spain: Mr. Hemingway.
Ernest Hemingway, a Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winning novelist, correspondent and essayist, is very closely associated with Spain. Hemingway not only captured the many complexities of Spain in a way that enchanted the world, but he wholeheartedly celebrated all Spanish lifestyle and culture.
Born near Chicago on 21 July, 1899, Hemingway first traveled to Spain in 1923 to experience bullfighting per the advice of Modernist writer Gertrude Stein. There he experienced the fervor of Feria de San Fermin in Pamplona, and witnessed the encierro or “the running of the bulls.” It is said that Hemingway’s writings of the event made San Fermín the internationally renowned festival that it is today. The trip began his fascination with bullfighting, which he captured in his novel, Death in the Afternoon.
Hemingway frequently visited Andalacia, the second largest of seventeen autonomous communities in Spain. He traveled there in 1959 to write about bullfighting for Life Magazine, specifically mano a mano , a series of bullfights which pin two great matadors against each other. Hemingway spent his 60th and last birthday in Spain as well, and tickets were found in his home after he died for the bullfights in Pamplona.
Here is a youtube clip that further explores Hemingway’s relation to Spain and to bullfighting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj6SswHz48I
The reason I wanted to mention Ernest Hemingway is because we both share an affinity for Spain. While my affection most greatly lies with Spanish wine and his with bullfighting, it goes to show that Spain has such a wonderful and rich culture that can extend to all types of people. Writers, wine lovers, entrepreneurs, anyone- Spain offers something for all.
Lastly, I have a recipe for you try. This recipe is a personal favorite- authentic Spanish mussels as made by my host-mother in Spain:
Mussels ingredients:
(For 4 main courses or 6 – 8 starters )
-2 ½ kg mussels -2 large onions
-4 garlic cloves -1 tin of chopped tomatoes (450g)
-1 glass of white wine -1 tbsp each of paprika, oregano , black pepper
-2 bay leaves -olive oil
-crusty bread
Preparation:
First find a large pan with a lid. Heat some olive oil in the pan and add the onions and garlic and let them fry gentle for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile clean the mussels. Remove the beards and clean the outside of the shells – some people like to scrape the shells to get them spotless, but I don’t think you need to go to overboard. Throw out any that are broken or that don’t close when you touch them.
Once the onions have been frying for 20 minutes add all the other ingredients except the mussels and bring to the boil. Turn the heat down and gently boil for about 10 or 15 minutes to let all the flavors come out.
Turn the heat back up, add the mussels and cover. Leave to boil for about 5 minutes until the shells open. Serve in large bowls with plenty of fresh crusty bread to soak up the wonderful sauce.
As mentioned above you could make a white wine and lemon sauce. After frying the onions and garlic add a glass of white wine and the juice of 1 or 2 lemons, bring to the boil and add the mussels. Enjoy!
Entender es Disfrutar,
Josh
