Exploring Andalucia

Andalucia is arguably the most beautiful province of this stunning country. It is not my first time in Andalucia, I came here first some years ago to walk in the High Alpuharra - an amazing experience. This time my focus has been some different - namely food! Well, and other stuff.

It is harvest time in Spain now as well as here though, the crops are so different. In the mountains, which are covered in millions of olive trees and fields full of almond trees, we met many tractors hauling trailers full of these fruits ready for processing. In one village there were heaps of almond husks waiting to be carried away for burning. On the plains the wheat and sunflower harvests have been brought home and vast rolling fields are being plowed for the next crops.

Our first 'home' was the Finca las Encinas, near Iznahar, about an hour's drive north of Malaga.

Finca Las Encinas – Iznájar – Andaluciá – Spain (a rural retreat with fine cuisine and cooking courses in Andaluciá).

If any place deserves the by-line of ‘mi casa es tu casa’ (my house is your house), this is it! From the moment we arrived until we left, we were treated as though we were family or best friends.

We arrived late – well! darkness had fallen and the roads were narrow and winding. Thank heavens for the Spanish system of locating places by regular kilometer signs. ‘The green road sign -  A333 42km’. In spite of seeming to be in the middle of nowhere the Finca was easy to find from any direction.

We thought we might be late but, no, our hosts had been expecting us at that time. We were shown to our delightful bedroom (with balcony) just off the main patio. Drinks were served and after an opportunity to relax and chat with our hosts, dinner was prepared. And, what a feast! Duck Pate; Poussin with forty garlic; figs poached in green cardamon syrup with mint and cream. Clive, who runs the hotel with his wife Maki, is a professional chef but, takes a very relaxed approach to teaching in his cooking courses. That said, there is no way that any food which comes out of his kitchen is anything less than perfect. Breakfast each morning was impressive - toasted country bread with garlic, olive oil piccante and crushed tomato; platters of locally produced proscuito and ham. tray of ewe's and goats cheese. Fresh fruit piled high.

We had booked to stay for 3 nights which would include 2 cooking sessions. On the first evening we were to cook (‘sometime after six – no rush’), we were the only guests. Aprons on, wash hands, large glass – what would we like in it? The menu - Asparagus with almond sauce; Quail with Oranges; Baked chocolate and hazelnut cake.

 Of course, the food was excellent, Clive made sure of it. Most of the ingredients were local and fresh. On our second cooking session we cooked for 6 guests including ourselves Chilled almond soup; Tenderloin of port with spiced figs with braised saffron rice; Flan.

The whole experience was fun and friendly with superb food and wine. The rooms are charming and clean. The family pets – two dogs (Smokey and Lassie) and the beautiful Siamese cat ‘Sapphire’,(a friendly girl without the usual irritating characteristics of Siamese cats) are very much a part of the entertainment – Clive says they are on the payroll!

It is clear that the family has been taken to the hearts of the local community as the quality of the experience is one of friendliness from Clive and Maki and their neighbours.

If you do decide to visit them, do book well in advance. They are a popular destination, not least for the cooking sessions. But, if you don't want to go to cook, do enjoy the food.

Loved it! 

Also within an easy commute to Cordoba, Granada, Priego and several Parques Nacional which are well worth a visit (check out the small towns of Luque and Zuheros just north east of Priego)

http://www.finca-las-encinas.com