This is how you know summer has begun. The deck chairs come out, the orange umbrellas go up. Italians all over Paris meet up the Buttes-Chaumont park for a pitcher of Spritz more →

The tortilla de patatas is full of flavour, oil and salt. The counter is full of traditional pintxos, fried fish, octopus salad… but everyone comes for the justifiably famous cheesecake. more →

Go crazy on a pintxos (pronounced pin-choss) hop in San Sebastian. Most bars have their counter full of the one-bite tapas, for around 1.50-3 euros each. And most will let you help yourself… more →

Before going on an extensive pintxos spree in San Sebastian, go to Atari, order a gin and tonic and a large plate (racione) of jamón ibérico. Start the evening properly. more →

In the winter chill, when Paris feels bitterly grey, I crave a warm café to spend the afternoon. While there are plenty of traditional bars that do coffee and tea, there aren’t many that have really comfortable sofas where you can linger indefinitely…. more →

Have breakfast at the Quiosque de Refresco, and soak up some sunshine in the square. Then hop on the number 28 tram to the Castelo San Jorge for the best views over the city. Walk back to O Triguerinho for lunch, but don’t eat too much! On the way back from Belem (for the famous… more →

We ordered a plate of spiny snails, murex or canilhas, that come with a needle-like tool to pull them out of thier shells. Then a whole crab with two hammers… more →

Many of Lisbon’s praças (squares) have a little kiosk in the centre, surrounded by chairs and tables and the Refresco de Camões is one of the nicest.

As well as the usual coffees, they do old-fashioned cordials, made of tangerine or lemon-thyme… more →

The garlic prawns were sizzling as they came to the table, and the whole grilled octopus was buttery-soft. A few potatoes was enough… more →

They serve roast suckling pig on brown rolls, tender and full of flavour. Ask for some sauce… more →