Picota cherry loaf with white chocolate frosting- a yummy recipe made from delicious Spanish cherries

With many shops facing a shortage of strawberries, maybe it’s time to give one of Spain’s favourites a try – Picota cherries?



Grown exclusively in western Spain’s beautiful Jerte Valley, Picota cherries are uniquely fresh and sweet and only available from mid-June to the end of July. The stalkless cherries are smaller than other cherries, but what they lack in size, they certainly make up for in flavour. Delicious straight from the bowl and with a little vanilla ice cream, Picota cherries also work wonderfully in this stunning recipe. Combining the sweet, vanilla taste of white chocolate, with the juicy, rich flavour of Picota cherries, this luscious dessert is light, moist and ever-so more-ish. Incredibly easy to make, this gourmet dessert is sure to go down a storm with everyone!

Picota Cherry Loaf with White Chocolate Frosting



Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Serves 12 slices

Ingredients:

Cake;
225g butter, softened
225g golden caster sugar
4 eggs, beaten
2 tsp vanilla extract
225g self-raising flour, sifted, plus extra for dusting
375g Picota cherries, halved and stoned
175g white chocolate, chopped into small chunks

Frosting;
100g white chocolate, broken into small pieces
140g half-fat mascarpone
White chocolate curls and fresh Picota cherries, to decorate

Method:

Heat oven to 180Cº/fan 160C/gas 4. Line a 1kg loaf tin with baking parchment, making sure the paper comes up higher than the sides. Beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy, then add the eggs, a little at a time, along with the vanilla extract. Fold in the flour until you have a smooth mixture.

Dust the cherries in a little flour, then carefully stir half of the fruit and chocolate into the mixture. Spoon into the prepared tin, then scatter the remaining cherries and chocolate on top, pressing them in lightly. Bake for 1 hr 10 mins or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Leave to cool in the tin for a few mins, then turn out on to a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

Remove the marscapone from the fridge to come to room temperature. Melt the white chocolate in a bowl over a pan of hot water. Quickly stir in 1 tbsp of the marscapone, then beat in the rest (be careful not to overbeat the mixture or it will go grainy). Spread over the top of the loaf and finish with white chocolate curls and fresh Picota cherries.

Madrid Tapas Fair

For all you food lovers, some of the top tapas chefs will be at the Feria de la Tapa (Tapas Fair) at Palacio de Deportes making delicious tapas. Each tapa costs 1,20€ and comes with a caña (small draught beer) or soft drink... bargain! Entry to the event is free and it runs between 9th-12th June from 12pm until midnight. The Palacio de Deportes is located in the Salamanca district near metros Goya (L2, L4) and O'Donnell (L6).

Restaurant recommendation: Asador Las Cerchas

Las Cerchas is a grillhouse specialising in Basque cuisine, run by a lovely couple and is highly recommended for enjoying a quiet and relaxing lunch with good company. The quality of the food is suberb and the service is excellent. It's only open from 1pm-5pm for lunch- at night it is only open for group reservations. The restaurant is located at Calle Recaredo 2, nearest metro Repúblic Argentina (L6) or Avenida de América (L4, L6, L7, L9). To reserve, you can call 914 113 991 or email reservas@asadorlascerchas.com

Restaurant interior

25th Salon de Gourmets Food Fair

This gastonomic fair takes place every year and is a must for all food lovers! This year it will be running from 11th-14th April at the Feria de Madrid (IFEMA) and more than 75,000 people are expected to pass through its doors over the four days. More than a thousands food producers from all over Spain will be there exhibiting their products- from the picotas del Jerte cherries, olive oil producers, to fine Spanish hams and chocolates. There will also be the Club de Gourmet de Vinos, a specialised exhibition dedicated to wines. To visit, you will need to get accreditation here (technically is for professionals only), which costs 15€ online or 30€ on the door. We went along last year and here's a video we made:

Visit the Jerte Valley to see the cherry blossoms in bloom

The Jerte Valley lies around three hours from Madrid near Caceres in Extremadura. At the moment the cherry trees, for which the region is famous for,  are in bloom. We recommend making an overnight trip to see the valley, as it's such a beautiful sight. The cherries produced in Jerte are well known for their exceptional quality and have their own protected status The trees will be in bloom until the middle of April. Once the trees have finished blooming, the cherries will be ready- they're well known for their taste. If you can't make it to Jerte in time to see the blossom, it's worth a visit any time of the year as it's a very picturesque corner of Spain.

Fried pigs ear and sheep intestines....dishes you have to try in Madrid!

Spain is a gastronomic paradise, and whilst many people think of tapas when Spanish cuisine is mentioned, each region of the country has its traditional dishes and specialities. Here are some dishes typical to the Madrid region which you might like to try during your visit.

Cocido madrileño (Madrid style stew). This is a very wholesome stew made from chickpeas, vegetables, potatoes and meat (usually pork and beef), traditionally cooked during the winter months. This dish is believe to date from the Middle Ages; quite possibly from the Jews who inhabited Spain during the period. Over the years the dish has changed, but it's still very popular in restaurants today and many have their special way of preparing it. Tradition dictates that all the ingredients are served serparately.

Callos a la madrileña (Madrid style tripe). Maybe not everyone could stomach this! This is another dish dating back centuries and it's believed to have orginally come from the Asturias region on the northern coast of the country. The dish consists of tripe, chorizo, blood sausage, the hoof and snout of a cow and paprika. You'll find this dish prepared in any traditional madrileño restaurant.

Bocadillo de calamares (friend calamari sandwich). Although Madrid is as far away from the sea as you can possibly get in Spain, the madrileños love their bocadillos de calamares. You'll find most bars and cafés have them on the menu, however El Brillante (Glorieta del Emperador Carlos V 8, near Atocha Station and the Reina Sofia) is well known by locals for having the best ones in Madrid.

Orejas a la plancha (pig's ear). Another one perhaps not to everyone's liking! This dish consists of fried pigs ears, which turn crispy, served with garlic or a spicy sauce. 

Gallinejas. Not so commonly found these days, but once a widely eaten dish. Gallinejas are the fried insides of a sheep.

Churros con chocolate. These are long friend doughnuts served with a cup of very thick hot chocolate and are very popular with everyone! The idea is to dunk the churros into chocolate for a very fatty breakfast or snack. Many cafés in the city have these, in fact some of the most popular ones in the centre open all night at weekends so revellers can get their fix on their way home. Madrid's best loved churro places (although more expensive, we must add) include Chocolatería San Ginés (Pasadizo de San Ginés, nr Sol) and Café Valor (Postigo de San Martin 7, nr Callao). Elsewhere you should be able to find them for around 2,50€.

Rosquillas tontas y listas. Very similar to small doughnuts, finished off with sugar glaze, almonds or dried meringue. They are typically eaten during the month of May when the city celebrates the San Isidro festival.

Vegetarian restaurants in Madrid

Vegetarianism is not as common in Spain as it is in other countries, but there are still a number of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Madrid. These are a few suggestions:


LA BOTIKA
C/ Amor de Dios Nº 3
Phone number: 914290780
Metro: Antón Martín. Light blue line 1.

EL GRANERO DE LAVAPIES
C/ Argumosa Nº10
Phone number: 91 4677611
Metro: Lavapies. Yellow line 3.

LA MAZORCA
Paseo Infanta Santa Isabel Nº 22
Phone number: 915017013
Metro: Atocha. Light blue line 1.

ECOCENTRO
C/ Esquilache Nº 4
Phone number: 915535502
Metro: Rios Rosas. Light blue line 1.

CERES
C/ Topete Nº 32
Phone number: 915537728
Metro: Alvarado. Light blue line 1.

ARTEMISA
C/ Tres Cruces Nº 4
Phone number: 915218721
Metro: Gran Vía. Light blue and green lines 1 and 5.

VEGAVIANA
C/ Pelayo Nº 35
Phone number: 913080381
Metro: Chueca. Light green line 5.

RESTAURANTE VEGETARIANO
C/ Marques de Santa Ana Nº 34
Phone number: 915320927
Metro: Tribunal. Light and dark blue lines 1 and 10.

VEGETARIAN ART
C/ Fernan Gonzalez Nº 77
Phone number: 914097722
Metro: Ibiza. Purple line 9.

AL NATURAL
C/ Zorrilla nº 11
Phone number: 913694709
Metro: Sevilla. Red line 2.

ARTEMISA
C/ Ventura de la Vega Nº 4
Phone number: 914295092
Metro: Sevilla. Red line 2.

ESTRAGON VEGETARIANO
Plaza de la Paja Nº 10
Phone number: 913658982
Metro: La Latina. Light green line 5.

EL VERGEL
Paseo de la Florida Nº 53
Phone number: 915471952
Metro: Principe Pio. Dark blue and grey lines 10 and 6.

A Taste of Asia

What better way to start the Chinese year of the rabbit than going for some exsquisite Asian food. Roger Chen of The Asia Gallery Restaurant at the Hotel Westin Palace is offering Sabrorea Asia (Taste Asia), an exclusive and exciting menu of Asian and fusion cuisine for 28,50€ at lunchtime. Dishes include tempura, Chinese rolls stuffed with lobster, seafood noodles and chicken in plum sauce. All three courses are incluced in the price, as well as bread and a drink. The menu is available from 1.30pm-4.30pm on weekdays.

The elegant Asia Gallery Restaurant of the Hotel Westin Palace

Address: The Asia Gallery Restaurant, Hotel Westin Palace, Plaza de las Cortes (Metro Sevilla or Banco de España L2)

Where to buy typical Spanish food products in Madrid

Spain is a food lovers paradise and here you will find excellent hams; serrano, ibérico and bellota, with bellota having the highest quality. You will also find other types of meat products here such as lomo (fine cured pork), chorizo (spicy sausage), salamis, and morcilla (black pudding). The country also produces much of the world's olive oil; look out for brands such as Coosur, Hojiblanca and Carbonell. Castilla La Mancha, the region to the south of Madrid, produces very fine cheese known as manchego made from goats milk. It has a firm texture and comes in various levels of maturity. You will certainly find it in any café or restaurant in the city if you wish to try it.

Typical Spanish food products

There are many delicatessen shops around the city where you will find these products as well as many other specialities. The newly renovated San Miguel Food Market, an old wrought iron building just off Calle Mayor, should not be missed by anyone wants to discover the delicacies of Spain. Here you will find food from all over Spain and it's all excellent quality. You can hop between the stalls and buy a delicious tapa for around 1-2€, so it's also a good place for a cheap lunch. If you facy something a little less touristy and more local, try the Mercado de Maravillas, which is located in a typical Madrid suburb. This is where many madrileños come to shop and you will find great produce at lower prices. Its at Bravo Murillo 122,  a couple of kilometres from the centre, although easily accesible from Cuatro Caminos or Alvarado metros. If you want to try some of the traditional shops in Madrid (although a little touristy and overpriced), the delicatessen Lhardy (Carrera de San Jerónimo, near Sol), is Madrid institution and has been going since 1839. You could also try Fiambres La Madrileña (Arenal 18, near Sol and Opera) or Casa González Quesos y Fiambres (Leon 12 in Huertas). If you don't plan on buying anything, we recommend checking out the shopfront. The Museo del Jamón cafés sell ham products and there are many in the main tourist areas. They are quite dated and rather seedy, but it's quite a curiosity for tourists to see all the legs of ham hanging up. The gourmet section of El Corte Inglés is another place to try, although it does not have quite the same charm.

For cakes and other patisserie items, we recommend Mallorca on Calle Mayor on the corner with Sol. This is a very well known establishment in Madrid and has been going for many decades. Casa Mira (Carrera de San Jeronimo 30, near Sol) supplies cakes to the Royal Household and is famous for its nougats and festive sweets. Caramelos Paco (Toledo 55, La Latina) with its fantastic window display, and La Violeta (Plaza de la Canalejas 6, near Sol) are two very famous sweet shops in Madrid and both retain their traditional charm. La Violeta sells sugared almonds, chocolates and glazed fruits typical of the Madrid region.

Spain produces many high quality wines and is one of the world's biggest producers. The main wine producing regions are La Rioja, Rias Baixas and Ribera del Duero for reds and Penedès for whites. Tempranillo, Albariño and Garnacha are popular grape varieties although there are several hundred in Spain. The Catalonia region produces a wine made in the same way as champagne known as cava. It is much cheaper than champagne and many prefer the taste. Of course Spain is famous for its sherry (jerez), which is a fortified wine and is much sweeter than other wines. It comes from the region around Jerez and is popular with desserts.

In terms of what to look for, Crianza wines are the youngest and reservas are the most aged. As you can imagine, prices vary greatly, with vinos de mesa or table wines being the cheapest and denominación de origen calificada the most expensive. A good compromise in price and quality would be a vino de tierra. Some wines to look for include Torre Muga, Tres Picos, Viña Godeval, and Petalos. The Wine Doctor website has an excellent guide to Spanish wines if you wish to find out more.

To buy wines, Madrid Is User Friendly highly recommends La Vinia (Ortega y Gasset 16, Salamanca district). It is one of Spain's top wine merchants and you can also order their products online.

MadridFusion 2011 25th-27th January

Some of the world's top chefs including Ferran Adrià, Pierre Gagnaire and Heston Blumenthal will be in Madrid for the 9th edition of MadridFusion, a three day event of workshops, demonstrations and talks relating to gastronomy. Each day has a different theme; Tuesday focuses on science and cooking, Wednesday centres on new trends and innovation, whilst managing talent and and commercial success are the topics for Thursday. The live events will be translated simultaneously into English, Spanish and French.

MadridFusion 2011 takes place between 25th and 27th January at the Feria de Madrid (IFEMA). Registration costs 10€ and can be done here. For more details about the different events, speakers and other practical information, visit the MadridFusion website.

Millesime Madrid- exclusive gourmet event

This week the very exclusive Millesime gastronomic fair is taking place is taking place in Madrid. Over a three day period, many of Spain's most recognised chefs and top restaurants will be there and visitors will have the chance to enjoy their exquisite cuisine. There will also be a number of workshops and demonstations taking place.

The event is on at the Recinto Ferial at Casa de Campo and runs until 22nd October.

For more details visit the Millesime website