Shellfish and blue cheese

Why is it that some of the strangest-looking food delicacies are also the most expensive?

Wandering along the fascinating fish and shellfish counter in the supermarket at the El Corte Ingles department store in Cartagena we spotted a tray that was priced at 68.95 euros a kilo. What a fantastic price, but one that makes it unlikely that we will every find out what this shellfish tastes like. The name in Spanish is Percebe Gordo, which translates as Fat Barnacles. See the picture.

Much cheaper were good old winkles, ideal for anyone who fancies a traditional British snack after a session at the pub. In the past, the winkle stall was a common site outside the pubs of London and winkles are still a popular dish in the East End, with the slimy contents being winkled out with a pin. At El Corte Ingles, look out for Biguros Gordo, priced at a very reasonable 9.95 euros a kilo.

Meanwhile at the cheese counter in the delicatessen, Club Del Gourmet, near to the supermarket, there was an interesting selection of blue cheeses. A triangle of suitably mouldy looking Queso Azul La Perla, from Asturias, was selected. Sharon won´t touch this.

However, more mature palettes found the Asturian blue cheese to be rich and creamy with an aroma that is less powerful than other blue and green cheeses. Highly recommended.

“How could you fancy anything that smells so disgusting?” said the uneducated palette.

With Christmas coming up, attention was drawn to the bottle of Macallan 1951 whisky, the ideal festive treat at 3,600 euros.

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©Phillip Bruce 2009.