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| LARGE CHURROS WITH A CHOCOLATE KICKER. |
The title is misleading. We did have churros and chocolate last night. But we did not have chocolate virgins. (Would they be anything like chocolate bunnies, chocolate Santas, or chocolate Easter eggs?) Nor were we virgins to churros and chocolate; it was not our first time. It was our second.
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| RACING TO CATCH UP WITH THE REAL VIRGIN. |
It was, however, our first time to have churros and chocolate done right. Besides, on our way to our first good churros and chocolate, we stumbled upon another procession of another virgin, this one more grand than any we had seen.
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| THIS PASO MIGHT JUST DO FOR THE PROCESIÓN DE SAN GERALDO. BUT JERRY WILL WANT A CHAIR. |
Back in August, on one of our various trips to IKEA, we had a wonderful taxi driver who, as we rode on the boulevard alongside the river, pointed to a kiosk at the start of one of the bridges into Triana and said in Spanish, “They have the best churros and chocolate in Sevilla.” The place was called “Los Especiales.”
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| SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES. ENGULFED BY INCENSE. |
We have had churros in San Diego and in Mexico. To me, they’re nothing more than a long donut stick. I’m not a huge fan of donuts in the first place (with or without preservatives). But, I am an enormous fan of chocolate.
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| AFTER THE SMOKE CLEARED. |
On my sister’s birthday in September, Jerry and I were out for a walk and decided to honor Dale, who would never have passed up any opportunity for junk food, by trying churros and chocolate. We stopped at a neighborhood café. We really had no idea what to expect of the chocolate. What was delivered to the table came in mugs and looked like what we know as hot chocolate (or cocoa) The churros were large and broken into long pieces having been originally made in a large spiral (Spanish style). They were phenomenally greasy. The chocolate was too thick to drink but not quite thick enough for dunking, which Jerry said was what one was supposed to do with churros and chocolate. None of this stopped us from consuming the entire platter and the two mugs of syrupy hot chocolate. It left us with indigestion, heartburn, and the sense that we hadn’t yet truly experienced Spanish churros and chocolate.
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| VERY SERIOUS. AND SUCH A CURIOUS HAT. |
Fast forward to yesterday evening. I suggested we go for a walk in the afternoon, and Jerry suggested we walk over to Los Especiales as suggested by the taxi driver. On the way, we heard rhythmic drumming that sounded like there was a procession nearby. We were just a block away from the Church of the Magdalena, so we headed into the crowd, following the smell of incense. The drumming grew louder and the smoke heavier until we reached a truly stunning paso. It was either another saint’s day or the people of Sevilla had organized a parade to escort us to the churro stand. I choose to believe the latter.
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| THE BAND. AND WAS THAT ALFRED HITCHCOCK AT RIGHT? |
We caught up with the paso, watched it turn up a small street, and we then continued on our own the last two blocks to the river. Now, I don’t know if this really is the best churros and chocolate in Sevilla, and I am certainly not going to make it my life’s work to find out. Suffice it to say that the churros and chocolate were so good that there is no need to look elsewhere.
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| OUR GOAL. I CAN’T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I SAW JERRY MOVE SO FAST. |
On the way, I learned something. Jerry can still move a lot faster than I can. I have been dragging him around Sevilla for four months. Often, I actually stop and wait for him to catch up. But, last night, when he caught sight of the churros kiosk and thought it might be closing early, I had to run to keep up with him.
It's hard to keep a man from his Churros.
I found that out with Carlos, who showed me where to buy the best in Miami, and is now struggling to find good ones in South Carolina!
Bob:
From now on, I'm just going to dangle a churro from the end of a stick.
Have you or Carlos had churros and chocolate? It tasted like more!
My God, there is always a parade going on around you. Did you earn some beads?
Your Friend, m.
p.s. When I first came onto the bar scene in the mid 80s, my nickname was "The Chocolate Virgin". That name didn't last too long.
m.
Mark:
Well, as you know, there are a lot of saints. And there are a lot of churches. I know there's a calendar online. I'll have to print it out so we can keep track.
I wonder if we should be insulted that no one has offered us an opportunity to earn some beads.
The Chocolate Virgin! Why am I not surprised? (Did you name yourself?)
I see you took my suggestion and had some churros…it is an acquired taste just like oysters or sushi but a lot more fattening.
saludos,
raulito
http://fromtop2bttm.blogspot.com/
Hello Mitch:
We have never heard of 'churros', but, when they are with chocolate, this does sound as if it is a marriage made in heaven. Clearly Jerry's sprint was not in vain.
You do seem to have a lot of processions where you are, with no end of statues of the Virgin and marching bands. Never a dull moment, although the incense fog looks as if it could best be avoided!!
It seems your life is made up of food, drink and fun. What a great way to live.
Raulito:
Yes, you're comment inspired us to get over to Los Espaciales. Thanks! I like sushi, but am kind of specific about my tastes there; I will never acquire a taste for raw oysters (I've tried); but churros and chocolate… not a problem.
J&L:
Churros are good if you like that sort of thing… And, if you pair them with chocolate, I like that sort of thing.
That incense cloud last night was too much and made me cough. Fortunately, it lifted quickly and all that was left was the fragrance, which I like.
the cuby poet:
I need to take a step back and appreciate this. It is kind of nice if I stop to think about it.
I heart Jerry. I would be running as well. Another item to add to my bucket list. Churros and Chocolate with Mitch and Jerry
Nubian:
I heart Jerry too, in case you couldn't tell.
Churros and chocolate in Sevilla with you and Bear would be a joy!
Firstly, I didn't know you had lost a sister Mitch. All my best to you and your family.
Now to the present and those churros!!! OMG, we would have devoured those in record time…..Ron would have regretted it due to digestive issues but we would have suffered through it!
I felt like it was 1962 and I was in the May Procession at St.Joseph's Church in north end Halifax! I loved being in those with my altar boy's garb holding a candle. I tell ya, catholics are good at this kind of thing….nobody better!
Great post chalk full of stuff good to eat!
Spain offers such incredible sensory overload!
These are great photographs! Looks like quite the event. I would have run for the churro too.
The first time I had churros and chocolate was at Montcada 12 in Barcelona [Fashion Museum] just accross from the Picasso Museum.
We're blessed with Hollandaluz, a Spanish speciality shop where they sell tapas but also thick hot chocolate and churro, and when the sun is shining on the little square just around the corner…
Jim:
Thanks for the kind words regarding my sister. She has been gone now one entire lifetime (hers). But lots of good memories.
With the regular processions here since we arrived, I can't imagine what Semana Santa (Holy Week) is going to be like!
Will:
Exactly right. It's amazing.
Randy:
It seems a lot of people would be running for those churros. I was tempted to go back again last night. So good. The processions here are magical. Thanks so much for visiting!
Peter:
Amsterdam is such an amazing city. I love the name of the restaurant, Hollandaluz! It sounds like you can sit in the sun and imagine yourself in Spain.
These are great photograph, thanks for the share
2Peeps:
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for visiting!
the hat is the typical one which characterizes the "guardia civil", only they wear this special hat that they use nowadays only for special acts, it is called: Tricornio, the Guardia Civil was created in 1844 and it is known as La Benemérita, this means: Militar group worthy of admiration because of the defense of the population
Marga:
Thanks so much. We were planning to ask you — our authority on all things Spanish!
Procesiones…the second hand smoke is awful…lol
saludos,
raulito
Raulito:
And I don't think I was very PC when I coughed and sputtered, made faces, and waved the smoke away from my face!