The Spaniards have come–again!

And they brought a lot of delectable and premium goodies. We should delight in them, specially since we will soon be in the midst of the holiday season when food and more food would be the housekeeper’s main concern. "A Taste of Spain", a Spanish Food and Beverage Festival which took place at a Makati hotel two weeks ago, was a rare and gustatory showcase of Spanish export companies which produce wines, non-alcoholic beverages, extra virgin and pure olive oil, brandy, pickles, olives, marmalades, jams, capers, etc. We, however, noticed the absence of the fabled saffron. Anyway, we saw so many unfamiliar brands which, by now, should be flooding the markets, since on that day of the fair, the visitors were trying to make deals with some outlets in the country.

While the olive tree and its fruit plus the treasured oil first appeared a few hundred years ago in Greece and later Egypt, Filipinos have always associated them with Spanish cooking as in Paella, Cocido and Salpicao. We remember our forebears always had aceite de oliva in their cupboards. But as today’s cuisine veers toward a healthier diet, olive oil is now standard both at home and in restaurants and hotels.

Coosur and Borges are familiar brands. At the fair we got introduced to Romulo, Asoliva, Loreto, Casheca, Castillo Andaluz. We were told some people even drink olive oil! We will stick to its culinary wonders, which do not only include being a sauteing agent or an ingredient for salad dressing and dips, but also as basting or marinating element. Believe it or not, if you can afford it, you can deep fry in olive oil. A more conservative way to flavor fish is to rub it with olive oil after seasoning prior to steaming or baking. Add some spices like rosemary or fennel and you’ll have super and very refreshing dish.

The participants also exhibited other products–olives, including pitted and stuffed, the latter best when making pastels and other Spanish inspired dishes because the pepper stuffing adds a pungent but slightly sweetish taste. They also carry the fabulous Spanish turrones and not to forget, a collection of full-bodied red wines and sparkling whites. We caught up with our friend Raul Urra, who distributes the Marques de Caceres line of wines which is classified as among Spain’s finest. It is from his La Tienda that you can get saffron, either powder or threads, as well as some paella seasonings and paprika. Moving on, we took a few sips of the very pleasant young wines from Bodegas Inviosa, such as Lar de Barros’ fruity beverage with a marvelous aroma.

Watch out for these and other Spanish brands in local supermarkets. This Christmas, you can always try and compare them with other brands that you have tested before. They are all good and will give value for your money.

While on the subject of wines, we noted that ShopWise in Alabang carries an extensive selection of wines and spirits, from the fabulous (and high-priced) Dom Perignon champagne to the new vintage from the US, France, Australia and even late entries like South Africa. If you don’t have a deep pocket, you can get those tagged below P200.

We have also been informed that by the time this column sees print, they will have Thanksgiving turkey (Butterball brand) available in two sizes–10-12 lbs and 10-14 lbs. Do not fail to try the juicy and tenderly delicious Jamon de Cagayan (premium smoked country style) which they have at their Christmas village (near the supermarket entrance). We discovered this ham through a dear friend who always brought us a leg from her native Cagayan de Oro years ago. We are happy that it is now available in Manila, from P485 a kilo.

Take note that shopping at ShopWise is now more convenient through the internet, specially for Christmas gift packages, which the shopper can even customize to suit the specific need. Log on to www.shopwise.com.ph and you can choose from the array of 14 ready-made packs, starting from the Basic Delight consisting of coffee and Dinorado rice (P185) to the Superior Box tagged at P1,404 which contains Johnny Walker Black label, dark chopped ham and queso de bola, among others.