Calle Laurel

Calle Laurel, probably the most famous street in Spain after the Ramblas in Barcelona and the Gran Vía in Madrid, is a must for anyone visiting Logroño, the capital of ‚La Rioja‘. It’s actually a small area of two or three streets and corners. Be prepared for it to be very busy, especially at weekends and in the summer, and don’t be afraid of crowds and jostling.

Why is Calle Laurel so famous?

Because it is a tapas paradise: There are more than 80 small bars and restaurants, and the tapas are usually called ‚pinchos‘, as in the neighbouring Basque country. There is no better place to discover the gastronomy of La Rioja.

I also learnt over the weekend that barbecuing is done differently in Spain than in Germany. In Spain they use a ‚pincha‘, which means iron plate. You make a fire on a closed surface and heat an iron grill in it. Then you put the meat, sausages and anything else you want to grill on it and season it. When the fire is out, place the grill on the hot surface. The grill is designed to hold the food so that you can easily turn it over to cook it perfectly.

-by Melina Stößner