These little green treats, originating from a small town in the northwestern region of Galicia, Spain, are known as the Russian Roulette of peppers. Why is this?

Well, legend has it that you never know whether one of these small, bite-sized peppers is going to be spicy or not. In fact, there is even a saying in the local Galician tongue that goes:

Os pementos de Padrón,

Uns pican, e outros non.

This roughly translates to: “Padron Peppers: some are spicy, and some are not!”

The explanation of this phenomenon is that the spiciness quotient of each individual pepper depends on several factors that work together if a given pepper is going to be mild or burn your mouth.

Peppers that receive less water and more sun are more likely to end up being spicier than the majority of them. While only 10-25% of these peppers end up being hot enough to be considered spicy, it’s always a nice surprise to bite into one and realize that you’ve gotten lucky with a capsaicin-loaded treat!

These peppers are popular in Galicia and throughout Spain, where they are often fried in olive oil and then topped with kosher salt. Would you be brave enough to give them a try?

The post You Never Know These Peppers are Spicy or Not! appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

While it isn’t as famous as other white wines such as Riesling and Chardonnay, a type of wine called Albariño is one of the top white wine grapes in the world.

This white wine grape is known for its fresh, citrusy flavor. It pairs perfectly with fish and seafood.

Albariño grapes grow in the temperate Atlantic climate of northern Portugal and Galicia. Despite being located in two Mediterranean countries, this area is mild throughout the year and receives some of the highest rainfall totals in all of Europe.

The result is a white wine that is dry and not overly sweet, which is one of the principal complaints when evaluating most Spanish and Portuguese white wines. The temperature climate of the region and the characteristics of the Albariño grape allow for a citrusy, dry wine that is extremely refreshing.

Spanish Albariño wines are generally more dry than their Portuguese counterparts. The Rías Baixas wine region in Galicia produces some of the top white wines in the world using this grape.

In Portugal, Albariño grapes are also used to produce vinho verde, a bubbly, low-alcohol wine that is truly unique.

Be sure to try this unique wine varietal if you get the chance!

The post The Albariño Grape Produces Some of the World’s Top White Wines appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

It’s a celebration that marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Easter in the Christian religion.

Different countries have large Carnival celebrations, in which special foods are often consumed. Here’s a look at some of the best from different places.

Pao de Queijo

Pao de Queijo is a traditional Carnival food in Brazilian cities such as Rio de Janeiro. It’s made of an outer shell of cassava flour, which is fried with cheese inside of it

Filloas

Filloas are an integral food to celebrate Carnival in the Galicia region of Spain. Similar to crepes, they are thin pancakes which are often topped with powdered sugar or chocolate.

Crawfish Boil

In Louisiana, residents have their own celebration of Carnival, which is called Mardi Gras. A common feast is served of boiled crawfish, a small lobster-like animal native to the region.

Macaroni Pie

In the Emilia region of Italy, residents traditionally consume this baked macaroni and cheese dish to ring in the Carnival season.

The post Tasty Carnival Treats from Around the World appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

These little green treats, originating from a small town in the northwestern region of Galicia, Spain, are known as the Russian Roulette of peppers. Why is this?

Well, legend has it that you never know whether one of these small, bite-sized peppers is going to be spicy or not. In fact, there is even a saying in the local Galician tongue that goes:

Os pementos de Padrón,

Uns pican, e outros non.

This roughly translates to: “Padron Peppers: some are spicy, and some are not!”

The explanation of this phenomenon is that the spiciness quotient of each individual pepper depends on several factors that work together if a given pepper is going to be mild or burn your mouth.

Peppers that receive less water and more sun are more likely to end up being spicier than the majority of them. While only 10-25% of these peppers end up being hot enough to be considered spicy, it’s always a nice surprise to bite into one and realize that you’ve gotten lucky with a capsaicin-loaded treat!

These peppers are popular in Galicia and throughout Spain, where they are often fried in olive oil and then topped with kosher salt. Would you be brave enough to give them a try?

The post You Never Know These Peppers are Spicy or Not! appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

While it isn’t as famous as other white wines such as Riesling and Chardonnay, a type of wine called Albariño is one of the top white wine grapes in the world.

This white wine grape is known for its fresh, citrusy flavor. It pairs perfectly with fish and seafood.

Albariño grapes grow in the temperate Atlantic climate of northern Portugal and Galicia. Despite being located in two Mediterranean countries, this area is mild throughout the year and receives some of the highest rainfall totals in all of Europe.

The result is a white wine that is dry and not overly sweet, which is one of the principal complaints when evaluating most Spanish and Portuguese white wines. The temperature climate of the region and the characteristics of the Albariño grape allow for a citrusy, dry wine that is extremely refreshing.

Spanish Albariño wines are generally more dry than their Portuguese counterparts. The Rías Baixas wine region in Galicia produces some of the top white wines in the world using this grape.

In Portugal, Albariño grapes are also used to produce vinho verde, a bubbly, low-alcohol wine that is truly unique.

Be sure to try this unique wine varietal if you get the chance!

The post The Albariño Grape Produces Some of the World’s Top White Wines appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.

It’s a celebration that marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Easter in the Christian religion.

Different countries have large Carnival celebrations, in which special foods are often consumed. Here’s a look at some of the best from different places.

Pao de Queijo

Pao de Queijo is a traditional Carnival food in Brazilian cities such as Rio de Janeiro. It’s made of an outer shell of cassava flour, which is fried with cheese inside of it

Filloas

Filloas are an integral food to celebrate Carnival in the Galicia region of Spain. Similar to crepes, they are thin pancakes which are often topped with powdered sugar or chocolate.

Crawfish Boil

In Louisiana, residents have their own celebration of Carnival, which is called Mardi Gras. A common feast is served of boiled crawfish, a small lobster-like animal native to the region.

Macaroni Pie

In the Emilia region of Italy, residents traditionally consume this baked macaroni and cheese dish to ring in the Carnival season.

The post Tasty Carnival Treats from Around the World appeared first on falafelandcaviar.com.