TO MARKET

One of our favorite activities on our trip so far has been going to the different markets and experimenting with the local ingredients.  The markets in France were truly amazing with each vendor's stall overflowing in abundance, whether they were selling produce, meats, seafood, spices, nuts, breads or cheese.  Everything is so colorful and fresh, allowing our culinary imaginations to run wild.  Our favorite market was in Biarritz, where we could shop from stall to stall picking up our staples and then end the shopping trip sampling a half dozen oysters on the half shell and a glass of wine. Bon appetite!  In Portugal we have found a market equivalent, though it is a little more bare bones and not as fancy as the market in Biarritz.  This is just fine by us considering the prices are much more affordable.  In addition, we have recently discovered  an amazing seafood market on the North side of Piniche that offers a huge variety of fresh fish.  Our house in Portugal has an outdoor grill, so we have been firing up the barbie almost every night.  The grill has added a whole new dimension to our cooking.  With a little help from epicurious.com and youtube for technique, we have been venturing into uncharted territory.  Nathan has been mastering the art of grilling whole fish and I am working on my fillet-ing skills.  Tonight we are attempting octopus.  Should be interesting. Here are some of our other meals thus far...

Paella

Chicken and Ribs (for the non-veggies)

Arugala Salad w/ Beets & Goat Cheese

Nicoise Salad

Pasta Aubergine (Eggplant)

Dorado w/ Roasted Potatoes