mikelg

Hi Revulgo...true, pintxos are not today what they were in my childhood...I think for the better. Danon, yes, that happens in the more cosmopolitan areas of Barcelona, a real pity...

bilboburgler

I still remember my only experience of "Shandy" sold as "Panache" in a bar on lake Constance, which Mrs Bilbo thought was a beer as it was on draught with the other beers, filthy sweet stuff fit only for children who don't like their teeth.

Fascinating study about how two science teams were set off by Congress to look at what to do about failing USA farmers after WW2, the US lead team said fat was bad for you and the farmer should make corn syrup, the UK lead team said sugar was bad for you and the farmers should raise oil and fat products. At the vote the only thing the dumb congress men could do was understand that "fat leads to fat" which is why US now have such high Diabetes rates.

Don't get me started on research to do with zero-sugar sweeteners, but you'll be sorry....

Bedar

Casera (gaseosa) has always been put in wine to lighten it up. And in sangria. Today called vino de verano ??

mikelg

Tinto de verano...

Cowboy1968

Thanks for the info on Schweppes Limón Dry.. will try to find it next time.

Regarding "shandy" or "radler".. never had a problem to find "clara" in Spain.
I think most breweries have it in their range, e.g. Damm Lemon.

ribeirasacra

Ladies do not leave handbags on the floor.
"no pongas el bolso en el suelo que se te escapa el dinero"
"Do not put the bag on the ground or the money escapes"
Also heard it is said for hygiene purposes. Have you seen just how dirty bar floors get?

Nelson

Just had my first (two) Nordic Blue GinTonics in Toledo today. The first at Maruxina Lounge made with Hendricks, the second up the hill at the Ermita bar for sunset with Bombay Sapphire.

Thanks to you guys my gin bill will go up as Bombay is no longer a standard for me. I'll be getting Hendricks. The Nordic blue was delicious and I like how they serve them in Toledo: bring the whole bottle of gin, start pouring, and say, "Say when!"

Yesterday in another nice and busy restaurant we told the server we were vegetarians. He exclaimed "Oh sh*t!", then proceeded to make sure we had a great meal!

thursdaysd

Had my doubts about all this gin talk, Gordons and Schweppes with maybe one ice cube (don't want to dilute the drink!) was always good enough. But an Australian couple I met in San Sebastian (while dining on raciones) took me to gin bar a local friend had taken them to, and it was an amazing performance. The bar man wanted to know whether we wanted spicy or floral or citrus or... The guy had Ophir, but given the discussion here I had Hendricks. The bar man then put different tiny petals in our glasses - peppers for the guy - citrus peel, what might have been dry ice, since the whole big glass misted up, huge ice cubes, and, of course, the gin and tonic, which tasted really good. All three tasted quite different.