Tag - Foodie corner

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European sweet charm: Yummy desserts from Rome to Paris
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Holidays in France: Incredible Flower Restaurant
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Wines and Regions: An Introduction to the Cotes du Rhône
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Foodie Corner: What to eat in Corfu
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Purple Tips: Best Summer Cocktails
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Purple 10: Food in Greece
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In Pictures: World’s Weirdest Restaurants
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In pictures: Amazing Places to Eat
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Foodie Corner: Eat Crete food like a local
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Luxury Living: The world’s best cheese

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Our Purple Foodie buff explores the world-class sweet treats in a flavorful journey from ancient Rome to classy Paris!


ROME
Savory cornerstones of Italian Bliss

There are many reasons why you’ve been captivated by this city: It’s snacking alleys, enchanting piazzas, glorious ancient history, unbeatable style, but, come one, between us, we know why you could fell in love with Rome! These luscious goodies are torturing and torturing sweetly your mind…Is there any excuse not to be captivated with a flavorful tiramisu, a crispy creamy cannoli, a cornetti along with a tasty cappuccino, a fluffy millefoglie cake or a delicious frozen treat as the Italian gelato? Of course not!

Our ”Purple Wanderers”  have put together a list of  dazzling treats…The ”Eternal City” is calling you and it’s time for you to answer!

 

Pana Cotta: Holy Grail of Italian Creamy Puddings

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Place: Ristorante alla Rampa

This amazing lightly sweetened cream can truly blown your mind away! In Rome, every Ristorante serves the ”Italian Holy Grail”,  the creamy lady ”panna cotta”! Drizzled by everything from blueberries to fresh strawberries, raspberries or caramel sauce, it will be your perfect friend for a memorable experience after your dinner…

 

Tiramissu: Keep Calm and Espresso yourself

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Place: Bar Pompi

Visit the famous ”Bar Pompi” and you’ll see why its the best in Rome! Some espresso layers with soaked ”lady fingers”- little sponge cakes looking like a cookie – and creamy mascarpone, you will be swooning with joy by its unique taste! Spoil yourself trying one of these amazing non-classic flavors of tiramissu such as strawberry, pistachio, banana and Nutella!

 

Cannoli: The crispy Sicilian

Italian Sicilian Cannoli

Crispy yummilicious!

 

Place: Ciuri Ciuri

Piped with ricotta cheese, this combination of light sweetness and crispy feeling , its unbeatable! This one sounds to you a bit ”decadent”? If, yes, grab a bite from a smaller version, a lovely cannolini!

 

Cornetti: Wake-up calling from the ”Vienna-style” pastry

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Place: Barberini
As walking in Barberini’s cafe, you’ll be charmed in a flash by this savory work of art. Buttery and so ”wacky”, the cornetti it’s the perfect buddy for your morning cappuccino!

Purple Tip: Frankly, you should try the cornetti con crema!

 

Millefoglie: The creamy Italian 

 

Mille-feuille a la Italia

Italian can do it too!

 

Place: Cavaletti
You’ve already taste this touthsome cream-layered dessert in reams of versions around the world, but, surely, Italy, has been gifted at making pastry miracles so delightful! The millefoglie here will bowl you over!

 

Gelato: The frosty Italian miracle

Frosty Italian Treats - Gelato

Italian Gelato rocks!

 

Place: Gelateria I Caruso
We have shared with you the sweet tooth treasures in Rome, honestly, if we don’t tell you about Gelateria I Caruso, this mini guide would be imperfect! You can’t leave from Rome without seeing live the master gelato maker…Grab some scoops and don’t forget to spice it up with the famed zabaglione (marsala-famous sweet wine made in Sicily).

Purple Tip: Definitely give a try to pistachio & fiordipanna flavor

 

PARIS 

Délicieux treasures

Paris will always be a gastronomic destination full of surprises! There are so many sweet delicacies that you’ll not guess which one mesmerized you! Its truly hard to resist on those unbeatable pastries, delightful chocolate truffles, lovable macaroons, heavenly mini lemon pies or the splendid mouth-jolt eclairs! We have to remind you what Oscar Wilde wrote once about the world of desserts: “The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it” and we are utterly agreeable to it! So, sit back and get a load of our mouthwatering list, let’s explore the Parisian delights to die for!

 

Viennoiseries: Epicure Honoree on our breakfast

French Croissant for breakfast

Mini Chocolate Croissant

 

Place: Le Moulin de la Vierge, Blanquet Claude

 

 

Who wouldn’t be fond of these amazing cute pastries, known as ‘‘viennoiseries” such as the chocolate croissant or the favored ”crème de la crème”, ideal to hang out with our morning espresso! Heading to Le Moulin de la Vierge or to Blanquet Claude, both, claim to be the finest paths to our Parisian goodies!

Purple Tip: Pierre Hermé or as the Parisian call it ”The Picasso of pastry” is the top-notch place to start tasting the sweet side of life!

 

Cannelés: Little flavorful thieves

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Place: Baillardran & Eric Kayser

 

 

A sweet tooth in Bordeaux region is surely a must and we assure you that these little custardie cakes will be quite ”deleterious”, so tempting! Canneles are small with spongy custard centre and a caramelised crust, agreeing with everything from your breakfast to dinner, coffee to champagne!

 

Mille-feuille: Oldie Grand Napoleon

 

 

Place: La Pâtisserie des Rêves (“The Bakery of Dreams”)

 

 

The well-known creamy treasure has captivated our taste buds from the 17th century! Mille-feuille, also known as the ”Napoleon”, translates to a ”sea” of crispy layers, which have been folded many times. A gooey Puff pastry and a lovely creamy filling  glazed with fondant/icing will dazzle your palate, leaving you absolutely speechless! It’s ideal to go with a summer brunch or a romantic elegant dinner!

 

Lemon tart/pie: A sunny gentle Princess

 

 

Place: L’heure Gourande Cafe & Au Thé Gourmand Tea-House

 

 

Don’t you dare to leave the ”City of Lights” without tasting a savoring slice of a lemon pie! With silky meringue or sweetened lemon curd is a Paleo twist in the classic version of the Parisian dessert.

 

Macaroon: Colorful Liliputian Goodies

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Place: Pierre Herme

 

 

We’ve been hooked by these babyish round delicacies, a rainbow-gaudy dessert, which is emblematic for the French pastry art.
Pierre Herme is famed for its delicious picture-perfect macaroons known for their unusual flavors! What not to love: rose, macha marron -reminding us mont blanc flavor-, chocolat, mogador -which is passionfruit milk choc-, cafe & montebello -which combines raspberry with pistachio ganache-, just irresistible!

 

Eclair:  Mr McDreamy’s Charm

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Place: Traditional bakeries such as La Pâtisserie de l’Eglise, Le Moulin de la Vierge, La Pâtisserie des Rêves & L’Éclair de Génie

We came across with the latest pastry ”Queen” in Paris and that’s the ”wordéclair” (meaning lightning). Why they’ve translated it like that? Because this yummy French delicacy can be eaten in a ”flash of light”! The most revolutionary place to taste the French bonbon is at L’Éclair de Génie! Adam, the owner, features sweet masterpieces of art, a visual standout like never before! They transformed this classic dessert into a modern canvas with a high-end quality! Clingy high-gloss finishes with pop-art colors adorned with well-known digital images from famous paintings like ”Mona Lisa”, ”The Creation of Adam” or ”The Vitruvian Man”. The flavors ara enlivened with offbeat ingredients like fresh strawberries, salted caramel, popcorn
and much more!

 

+Must Visit in Paris:

Angelina, where Coco Chanel ate once, try this scandal amazing Mont Blanc

Ladurée, taste all these incredible desserts appeared on ‘’Marie Antoinette’’

Glacier Berthillon for a caramel-ginger gelato

 

Holidays in France: Incredible Flower Restaurant

There is an incredible flower restaurant in France which is made completely of organic blossoms and greenery. It’s called Mas Provencal and we think it’s safe to say these pictures don’t even do it justice. Found near the beautiful city of Nice on the outskirts of Eze Village on the South of France, it’s more fairyland than regular restaurant and has more flowers than tables! Every inch is covered with hanging baskets, floating ivy, blooms of every type imaginable from roses to orchids and more, an unmissable destination if you find yourself on holidays in France near Nice.

Like something from Alice in Wonderland, customers are invited to pick some grapes or cherry tomatoes that hang from the ceiling as they enjoy a luxury meal. Wilting flowers are replaced every day to keep it sweet smelling. The menu includes roast pig on a spit, and veal cooked on coals. It’s hard to tell if this is a greenhouse you can eat in, or a restaurant that happens to be florally inclined! Either way, we love it.

Dinner at Mas Provencal costs from US$250-300.

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Wines and Regions: An Introduction to the Cotes du Rhône

red wine

 

Image via @ Ralphunden

You’re probably familiar with Bordeaux, or at least aware that it makes very famous wines. And you may already know all about Shiraz, it being a staple of every supermarket wine shelf. But how much do you know about the French region of Côtes du Rhône? Well, we can start by telling you there’s plenty to know. The area is very diverse in terms of both climate and grape variety, so it goes without saying that it produces many different bottles that vary in price and style. But this doesn’t do much to help the everyday consumer when they’ve got a particular vinous request in mind, so what is going to help you differentiate between those old-fashioned looking labels? Well, let’s start from the beginning… with an introduction to the Cotes du Rhone.

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Foodie Corner: What to eat in Corfu

corfu-fortress

Image via @Andrew Real

Not just a pretty face, the Greek Island of Corfu offers mouthwatering hotels Mediterranean cuisine, with a Venetian twist. After a long day soaking up the sunshine, what better way to spend an evening, than enjoying a home cooked meal of fresh fish, delicious vegetables and maybe a little tipple of local wine. Come find out more in our Corfu food guide.

pastitsada

Image via @ Lino Santagata

What to eat in Corfu

This is the most popular of local Corfu dishes. Made of shanks of veal stuffed with chopped garlic, parsley, salt and pepper, and is also seasoned with a spicy red sauce.

Purple Tip: The locals say that the sauce is successful only if it can stand on a man’s moustache.

sofrito

Image via @ Peter Streng

Sofrito

Thin slices of fried beef with a white sauce made of chopped garlic, parsley, white pepper, white wine, salt and vinegar. You can eat it either with rice and baked or mashed potatoes.

Purple Tip: Keep the necessary distances or you might knock someone over with garlic breath!

mpourdeto

Image via @ bit.ly/1aHFD1N

Bourdeto

This one goes to fish eaters. Cod fish is stewed with a red chilli sauce made of paprika and a whole red hot pepper, quenched with fresh lemon juice.

Purple Tip: Keep a glass of milk nearby to cool down a bit.

almonds

Image via @ Islaborg

Mandoles

And for those of you who have a sweet tooth….delicious roasted and caramelized almonds which you can find in every pastry shop around the island.

Purple Tip: Watch it with your teeth, because sometimes they are a bit too crunchy!

kumquat

Image via @ tiapicco

Kumquat liqueur

Kumquat is a citrus fruit which can be enjoyed in a variety of forms. The nicest and a Purple Travel team favourite, is as part of a mix of fine liqueur made with the fruit and peel of the kimquat.

Purple Tip: Have it as a digestif after a sumptuous meal or as a relaxing drink at your hotel’s terrace.

Book the best value cheap holidays in Corfu now with the Purple Travel expert team and save.

Purple Tips: Best Summer Cocktails

If there’s a beach bar or cocktail that you’ve been raving about, share it with us in the comments section below! Enjoy our tips for the best summer cocktails and where you can enjoy them.

1. Tiki Beach Cocktail & Music Bar, Benidorm Busy AND fantastic and slap, bang on the boulevard of the Levante Beach in Benidorm. Have a cool and sophisticated Sangria on its sunny terrace and soak up as much Spanish sunshine as you can.

Sangria

Image via @ Bastien

2. Azul Lounge, Tulum, Mexico Tequila, lime and a beautiful view. Where else to enjoy this lovely summer drink than in Riviera Maya’s own Azul Lounge in Tulum.

Margarita

 

Margarita via @ mnapoleon

3. Daiquiri Palace, Magaluf Enjoy a delicious Daiquiri in a variety of flavours in the Daiquiri Palace in legendary Magaluf to get ahead for a brilliant night out in some of its famous clubs.

daiquiri

Image via @ The Hungry Australian

4. Blue MarlinIbiza This could just be the best Mojito of your life, (apart from actually visiting Cuba) on this amazing beach bar on Cala Jonda. It comes with a pretty decent sunset too.

Mojito

Image via @ Wikicommons

5. Little Ochie, Manchester, Jamaica Perfect if you fancy indulging in some great seafood, this ramshackle little bar offers a true taste of local life, with plenty of great fish on the side. Enjoy some epic food with a Big Bamboo or a Dirty Banana.

Dirty Banana

Image via @ David Berkowitz 

6. Cavalieri Hotel, Corfu Climb up to the top floor of this town-house styled hotel and get a look in at the exceptional roof garden, where delicious cocktails are served. Try a sophisticated Barbecue Bourbon Bloody Mary with a view of the Old Fortress.

Bloody Mary

Image via @ kthread

7. Lighthouse Beach Bar, Paphos Situated along Lighthouse Beach in Paphos, the Lighthouse Beach Bar is the best place to chill out with a mouthwatering Zombie cocktail.

Cocktail in the sun

Image via @ Stewart

8. Hula Hula Beach Bar, Hvar, Croatia Enjoy a pina colada in the footsteps of Beyonce and Jay-Z, apparently they’ve been seen stopping at the Hula Hula Bar and indulging in a drink or two. If it’s good enough for them…

Pina ColadaPina Colada via @ Advencap

Purple 10: Food in Greece

From the freshest fruit and vegetables to mountains of cheese, perfectly grilled meats and desserts dripping with honey, Greece knows its food. Here’s what you should eat on your next holiday to the Mainland or the famous Greek Islands. Enjoy our Purple Travel guide to the best food in Greece.

FetaFeta via @ Grongar

Greek Salad

Greek Salad via @ Roger.salzGyrosGyros via @ Burger Baroness

OctopusGrilled Octopus via @ Klearchos KapoutsisPastitsio

 Pastitsio via @ Wikicommons 

Stuffed Vine Leaves

Stuffed Vine Leaves via @ Avlxyz

Tzatziki

Tzatziki via @ traaf

Frappe

Frappe via @ Avlxyz

LoukoumadesLoukoumades via @ Wikicommons

Bougatsa

Bougatsa via @ wikicommons

In Pictures: World’s Weirdest Restaurants

In Pictures: World’s Weirdest Restaurants

This one turns pop-up upside down, way down. The Muru Pop Down in Finland is in a limestone mine 260 underground. Image via @ Yahoo News.UnderGround

The Modern Toilet Restaurant in Taipei offers a dining experience with a difference. Customers sit on loo shaped seats, food is served in toilet shaped containers and drinks in mini urinals. Certainly different, but probably not for everyone.

Modern Toilet

A few destinations are taking up the dinner in the dark idea, including in the USA and Switzerland, but Dans le Noir in London does it really well. Eating and drinking in pitch darkness is said to heighten tastebuds and give you an unforgettable experience. Image via @ Dans Le Noir.

Dinner in the dark

The Heart Attack Grill in legendary Las Vegas is an assault on your arteries, thanks to its double, triple or quadruple bypass burgers and chips, deep fried in lard. Yum, right?

Heart attack Grill

Japan seems to outdo itself with every new café it opens. Here’s the Reptile Café, the pictures are faily self-explanatory! Image via the Reptile Cafe on Twitter.

Reptile Cafe

Bucharest’s Count Dracula restaurant allows you to sit with the old bloodsucker and enjoy a night of frightening feasting. Image via @ Yahoo News.

Dracula BucharestA background check is required for entry into the Fortezza Medicea in Italy. It’s not just because the flavours and ingredients are dangerously good, but the staff are serving 25 years to life. A restaurant in a prison might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they’ll surely make you an offer you can’t refuse. Image via @ Volterratur.it.

Volterratur

Dinner in the Sky is exactly what it sounds like. A team of waiters and chefs serves your every whim at a delicious meal 50 metres in the sky. You are strapped in and raised by crane with 22 others to feel the earth move beneath your feet. Literally. Image via @ Dinner In The Sky.

Dinner in the sky

At the world famous Ayers Rock in Australia you can enjoy a Sound of Silence experience, where you dine under the stars, accompanied by a star talker, who’ll guide you through a tour of the clear skies as you indulge in the most delicious local food. Image via @ Ayers Rock.

Ayers Rock

In pictures: Amazing Places to Eat

Looking to really impress someone or maybe you’re in the middle of organising your honeymoon? Why not check out these amazing places to eat for a truly memorable holiday experience. Don’t forget to let us know which is your favourite!

Ngorogoro Crater Lunch

Crater Floor Lunch, Ngorogoro, Tanzania Image via @ andBeyond.com

Sunset View, Hydra, Greece Image via @ Sunset Restaurant

Sunset View Hydra

Skyline Bar, New Zealand image via @ Skyline Bar

Skyline Cafe New Zealand

This Dining Pod, at Soneva Kiri in Thailand Image via @ Soneva Kiri

Dining Pod

Lunch in the Eiffel Tower at the Jules Verne Restaurant

Jules Verne

Ithaa undersea Restaurant at the Conrad Hilton, Maldives

Image via @ Conrad Hilton

Ithaa

Foodie Corner: Eat Crete food like a local

Who doesn’t absolutely love Crete? Once you’ve been we’re sure you’ll fall in love with it, so here’s a little extra inspiration, especially for you expert foodie types (and beginners) on what to eat in Crete.

Cretan food is not just food, it is mouth-watering temptation, it’s twice baked breads and oozing cheeses, honey drenched sweets and rich flavours, slow cooked meats and the freshest fish you can imagine. It’s more than just food, it’s Cretan food!

Cretan food is entrenched in the culture, Greeks themselves talk about Cretan food in haloed terms, and sharing as you eat is a big aspect. Families tend to gather and enjoy many plates over many hours, as they talk, eat, laugh and drink. It’s a really wonderful experience whether you want a whole sit down feast, or simply snacking for a few hours in the sunshine. So, here’s our beginner’s guide to Cretan gastronomy.

Perfect Greek Salad from PurpleTravel.co.ukImage via @ Curious Food Lover

Dinner

Dakos: This is a very typical dish, kind of like a bruschetta. It’s a traditional dried bread, baked several times. On top you add some chopped tomato, high quality Cretan olive oil, lots of cheese and oregano and hey presto! It’s the perfect snack on those hot days.

Dolmades: These are probably one of the most famous dishes in Greece, stuffed vine leaves. They are a little tricky to make, but when you get the good ones, they are really good. It’s usually prepared with a mix of rice, herbs and meat, wrapped inside grape leaves. Totally delicious.

Cheese: There are so many types; you could say Crete is famous for its cheese. How about kefalotiri, a firm goat’s cheese, graviera, a slightly salty cheese made of sheep milk, mizithra, made from sheep’s milk or anthotiro, that changes from mild and soft when fresh and becomes saltier as it hardens. A great idea is to walk through one of the locals and get some samples in. Of course a simple Greek salad, horiatiki will always tickle your tastebuds.

Meat: Crete is food heaven for meat eaters. Lamb, kid and pork cooked in a myriad of different ways until utterly tender and delicious are some of our favourites, while a local special you shouldn’t miss is kohlious boubouristous (snails), fried in tomato sauce for a delicious treat.

Vegetables: Although Crete might not be the first place you think of for vegetarian fare, the variety of absolutely fresh, locally grown produce is a real treat, and many dishes (e.g. dolmades) can be served in meat free versions. The kolokythokeftedes or fried zucchini dipped in a mountain of tzatiki will impress the most hardened carnivore.

Dessert

Loukoumades: these are little handmade donut balls, fried in oil and served with lashings of honey and cinnamon. They are divine and possibly my favourite Crete food!

Bougatsa: you’ll find lots of pastries on offer in Crete and this simple filo filled with cream and sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon makes an indulgent breakfast treat.

Kalitsounia (sweet): The sweet version of kalitsounia or lyhnarakia is made of home made pastry filled with mizithra or anthotyro, cinnamon and sugar.

To drink

Krasi or Cretan wine: Crete is one of the biggest producers of wine in Greece. It goes back 2000 years, and is essential with meals where you order by the kilo. That’ll certainly keep you going over a couple of courses!

Raki (or Tsikoudia): You couldn’t go to Crete and not sample at least a little drop of the local firewater, Raki. This potent but smooth little number will knock your socks off and makes a delightful digestif after a big meal.

To check out just how good fresh bougatsa or buckets of Raki can be, check out Purple Travel’s cheap holidays to Crete.

Luxury Living: The world’s best cheese

From fresh to aged, smoked to salty, stinky to sweet, good cheese can come in many forms. The options vary even further when it comes to the milk options – cow, goat, sheep, even buffalo – with their country of origin playing a massive role in overall flavour. But where can you go to find the best of the best? We’ve tracked down the world’s best cheeses to inspire even the most discerning of cheese-lovers.


Parmigiano Reggiano
, Parma, Italy | Probably the most-loved cheese in human history, everything about the culture and recipe of Parmesan is a testament to nutritional ingenuity. The creation process is one of the world’s most sophisticated and efficient technologies, developing a saliva-inducing flavor that adds depth to almost any dish.

Roquefort, Les Causses; France | Roquefort  is the best of the blues for a number of reasons: Charlemagne loved it, its pasty texture makes it a great mix of spreadable and hackable, and its use of sheep’s milk over cow’s makes for a lingering richness. For the best of the best, try smaller producers such as Coulet, Papillion, and Carles.

brie-melun-fromage-aoc-420033-jpg_282339

Brie de Melun, Ile-de-France, France | Not just for Christmas, Brie is a universally popular cheese and the most famous of the soft ripened category. A word of caution though – the real, raw milk brie is made in Ile-de-France, and more specifically, the village of Melun. Rustic, earthy and nutty at the same time.

Gruyère, Fribourg, Switzerland | This cooked-curd alpine cheese is one of the most famous cheeses in the world, with a pliable texture and strong intensity of flavour. A noticeably nutty, yet buttery tang stems from propionic acid, while the more well-aged tend to posses small, crunchy pieces of crystallising protein.

Stichelton, Nottinghamshire, England | Real Stilton, Britain’s beloved blue, is made with raw milk, which provides a nutty, rich flavour.

Mozzarela di Bufala, Naples, Italy | While mozzarella is everywhere (on almost every pizza, in sandwiches and sparingly placed on pasta dishes), fresh handmade mozzarella is of course something completely different from its rubbery, overused neighbour.  And if this is true, then di Bufala is not even on the same planet. Water Buffalo from farms in Naples are milked to make this incredible cheese.

FetaGreece | While a pickled cheese may seem odd, true Greek Feta, made from sheep’s milk and salt, is a delicious and distinctive cheese that makes a great salad condiment.

English Farmhouse CheddarSomerset, England | A classic. Cheddar, deriving from the west country of England, is an EU protected cheese that’s a far cry from the supermarket variety.  Meaty and salty at the same time, what’s not to love?

RoncalNavarre, SpainIn the thirteen villages of the Roncal valley of Navarre, Roncal cheese has been made using the same recipe for the past 3,000 years.  Made from sheep’s milk, it smells a lot like buttered popcorn, with a taste that lingers long after its been swallowed.

Book your cheese holiday with Purple Travel today by calling 02079939228.

Purple Travel Tip: Swiss cheesemakers have won The World Champion Cheese Contest for the past three years, however for 2012,  it was a low-fat Gouda named Vermeer from Friesland Campina, a company based in Wolvega, Netherlands, that took top honours.

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