A VISIT TO THE ANCIENT WALLED CITY OF TOLEDO, SPAIN When people ask me for advice about where to go in Spain, I always say, “Start in Madrid.” Madrid is centrally located geographically in the center of Spain and is a major airline hub. But more importantly, beyond the attractions and beauty of Madrid is the […]
Just up the street from Botin lies another of Madrid’s famous restaurants, Las Cuevas de Luis Candelas. http://www.lascuevasdeluiscandelas.com/ Las Cuevas means “the caves” in Spanish and this restaurant is actually housed in caves located under the Arco de Cuchilleros. In the early 1800’s these caves were a hideout for a famous bandit known as Luis Candelas. The legend of Luis Candelas lived on when in 1949 the caves were purchased by a famous Spanish Bullfighter named Felix Colomo Diez and turned into the restaurant it is today. I have vivid memories of enjoying delicious meals here too when I was a young girl visiting Madrid with my dad. At that time the bullfighter himself greeted the guests and meeting him left a lasting impression in my memories of Spain. I remember the walls of the restaurant being decorated with bullfighting paraphernalia which was impressive to a wide eyed 11 year old. I returned here many times on subsequent visits to Spain but did not have time for a visit on this trip.
CHOCOLATERIA SAN GINES – CHURROS & CHOCOLATE IN MADRID, SPAIN As a first generation American of Spanish descent, I have visited Spain many, many times over the course of my lifetime. My father was raised in Spain and although he no longer lives there, Spain will always be his home. At the age of 11 […]
Day Two in Madrid, Spain So, as it turns out, we flew 5,829 miles to see our son Taylor in Madrid, only to discover that he would be leaving the next day to embark on his own Iberian Odyssey, without us! A last minute trip had been planned to the north of Spain with one […]
Hola! Please join us on our Iberian Odyssey – First stop Madrid, Spain. This is my son Taylor. You know, the one who goes to school 2,483 miles away at Duke University in North Carolina. That doesn’t look like his dorm room at Duke you say? Well, you’d be right. Because for the summer of […]
Happy Thanksgiving! Here at the Becker Homestead it’s not quite Thanksgiving yet. It has been our tradition for years to celebrate Thanksgiving a day late, on Friday. We do it for various and sundry reasons but mostly so that all of our extended family can make it. This way folks aren’t torn between in-laws, or […]
WELCOME TO “AFTER ORANGE COUNTY” Ninety minutes from the fast lane of Orange County, California, with its never-ending competition to see who’s thinner, younger, richer and blonder, and up a meandering mountain road, lays a little slice of heaven called Lake Arrowhead. For decades, Lake Arrowhead has been the weekend and vacation destination for those […]
Hi There! I’m excited to share with you my recipe for Simply Irresistible Cream Biscuits, but first… it’s almost Thanksgiving, and because I’m thankful for you, I’ve been giving away all my favorite Thanksgiving recipes. After all, it’s Thanksgiving, so it’s a time to be giving, right? Thus far, I have given you my Thanksgiving […]
After Orange County is a publication dedicated to living life in the slow lane. I escaped The OC for life at a higher elevation. Leaving suburbia behind, I now live in the beautiful mountain resort of Lake Arrowhead. Join me at 5,000 feet above and beyond as I cook, garden, renovate, entertain, travel and live life After Orange County.
