Photo: gomezoscar

One of the world’s most anticipated and watched soccer match, ‘El Clasico,’ is just one day away! For those who follow soccer, you’ll agree with me that what makes this game even more special is that there’s only 5 games left to play in La Liga and Real Madrid have a 4 point lead, meaning this game will probably decide who will win the league title this season.

While I’m anxiously waiting to watch the match along with millions of others, I can’t help but think about the history behind these two teams and cities in general. In addition to hosting two of the biggest names in soccer, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, these two teams represent one of the biggest rivalries in history, and not only in soccer but also in food and politics, that still exists today.

While both cities reside in Spain, the customs and cultures vary to the max in each location. Barcelona is known for its Catalan heritage that has existed in the northeast state of Spain for centuries. That region still speaks the Catalan language and is extremely proud of its food, art, music and Catalan customs. While Barcelona differentiates itself by celebrating its distinct traditions, the capital of Spain, Madrid, is known for more an amalgamation of the cultures of all of Spain’s distinct states like Catalunya, Basque Country, and Galicia. Their pride comes from the national collective of influences.

Besides soccer, food is also one of Spain’s biggest passions. Read More

By Leah Riley

Spring is a great time to go outdoors and celebrate the good weather nature has bestowed on us. In America, that can mean celebrating outside with good food like barbecue and refreshing drinks or packing food for a picnic. Around the world, there are variations on this theme as several festivals and celebrations take place outdoors and involve food in some way, shape or form:  Read More

Weekend Wine And Cheese Recommendation

Spice up your weekend with a wedge of blue cheese and a rich glass of Tempranillo wine! Read More

Very Old World wines are an alternative to French, Spanish and Italian wines. Read More

By MarcusSamuelsson.com Editors

Ferran Adria’s legendary restaurant El Bulli is closing this year.  For those who never got a chance to visit, there are two new options in the works.   Read More

Many countries have a beverage associated with them.  Here are five great spirits or cocktails and the countries that make them. Read More

This week’s photos of Food & People is the second piece by Lisa Mclaughlin, an amazing food writer. Below is what Lisa has to say about the photos and her experience of Rioja, Spain.

Rioja is the most celebrate wine region in Spain, famed for earthy reds made from the Tempranillo grape. Legend has it that a nephew of the biblical Noah brought the first vines to the region after the Flood and indeed there has been a vibrant wine industry in this area for most of recorded history. Traveling through the region, we visited wineries both young and old. We sipped vintages from historic and medieval cellars as well as those that were stunning examples of contemporary modern architecture like the breathtakingly curvaceous Bodegas Ysios winery designed by Santiago Calatrava. At the Marques de Riscal the old and new combine with both a cellar filled with bottles from the 1860s and an undulating avant-garde hotel designed by Frank Gehry.

Read More