Northern Spain 'a seafood heaven'

Foodies catching ferries from Portsmouth to Bilbao will have a wonderful time exploring the cuisine of northern Spain.

This is the promise of Spanish food expert Maria Jose Sevilla, who said the region has some of the best meat and seafood in the whole country.

She continued: "A simple piece of monkfish, lightly floured and cooked with a little bit of egg, fried in olive oil in a way so the olive oil doesn't recede, is delicious.

"If it's hot enough the olive oil doesn't really go inside and the fish is protected. Serve that with a delicious salad in summer and that's difficult to match."

Ms Sevilla, who comes from the northern region of Navarra, said Asturias is the best region of all for food, although she insisted Navarra's vegetables are the world's finest.  

Thoughts of such a meal could get the tastebuds tingling and tempt many to enjoy as many different dishes as they can on a visit to the northern parts of the country.

And some may start preparing before they go, by cooking up some Spanish meals at home first to see what they like best.

She suggested starting out with chopped up chicken sauteed in unpeeled garlic and olive oil, she said wine can be added to this, but as an alternative a can of beer with some vinegar and sugar added will also taste "delicious".

The culinary offerings of Spain may be added to the reasons for Britons to visit the country this summer, one of which is the bad weather the UK has been enduring.

More people will be choosing to go abroad this summer, according to a recentsurvey by satnav firm TomTom, which found only 21 per cent will be holidaying in Britain this year, down from 26 per cent last year.

Other factors the research found lay behind people wanting to travel overseas includes the over-exposure to sport the Olympic Games in London will bring.

Posted by Andrew Smith

Portsmouth - Santander

1 x Foot Passenger(s) Return

Travelling on:

10/09/2013 - 16/09/2013

£148

Get Price for 123456789 passenger(s)Go

Portsmouth - Santander

Car + 2 Return

Travelling on:

11/10/2013 - 28/10/2013

£503

Get Price for 123456789 passenger(s)Go

Portsmouth - Santander

Car + 4 Return

Travelling on:

24/09/2013 - 30/09/2013

£748

Get Price for 123456789 passenger(s)Go

* Prices are "from prices" and are indicative only

More ferry cheap prices