Happy New Year!

Setting personal goals can be done at anytime of the year, but nothing beats the feeling of starting your pursuits on the first day of the first month of a New Year. Sure, we all slip and slide and some resolutions disappear after a few weeks, but it’s sweet and good natured that people actively take the time to try better themselves or do something to benefit others.

The time always flies between Christmas and New Year’s eve, with most people not knowing what day of the week it is…that’s the way Christmas should be! Unfortunately this year was different for me. I woke up on the 23rd with inflamed and swollen skin which has deteriorated since then little by little, so snug pajamas trumped party dresses and heels this year.

Even though I’ve felt miserable (I stop complaining very soon)! this time of year really is about family. Even though I wasn’t out taking pictures with friends and food, I took pictures throughout my home which my Mother takes so much pride in. My Mother started out as a midwife, then became a general as well as psychiatric nurse. She worked nights all over Christmas, looked after my Grandmother who is a little unsteady on her feet, visited her brother in law who had an incredibly hard year, cooked a huge champagne breakfast, a huge Christmas dinner, kept the house as neat as a pin, fussed over us all day, stitched up a carving knife injury of a family friend and looked after my skin all in one day. She is a superhero! She’s doing more or less the same today (minus the carving injury) and it’s her Birthday tomorrow, so it’s her turn to be looked after!

My Mother has definitely influenced my New Year’s resolutions this year, and of course I will be renewing the usual ones – keep fit and healthy, read more and try be more patient (this is a huge one for me)!

What are some of your resolutions?

Happy New Year! xxx

 (This image was on Studded Hearts today. Very true!)

♥ ♥ ♥

La Tagliatella Restaurant

The aftermath of a boozy nochevieja wasn’t pretty for many folk I would imagine. Myself and N included. My body didn’t thank me one bit for imbibing what it believed to be paint thinner, when it was really Salamanca’s finest vodka, at €4.50 a litre. I promised ‘my temple’ I would stick to wine and cava in the future, but it wasn’t convinced. What would cure this ghastly (self induced) feeling? I know it’s not easy to make a hungover person: a) wash b) get dressed c) move, but I have something..or rather somewhere, foolproof.
Since living in Salamanca, La Tagliatella, just off the Plaza Mayor is the perfect place for anything. It’s also perfect for catching up with friends and family, a pre night out feast or perhaps a first date. All those things aside, if you are enjoy all kinds of pizza, pasta, risotto, incredible desserts, excellent coffee..or if you are passionate about steak (I am!), this place is definitely for you. Every once in a while, I find a steak that I have to recommend to people, as a good steak has colossal effect on me. I know I’m in love when I feel sad when it’s all gone. Since the summer, this remains my favourite place for steak.

La Tagliatella’s decor is traditionally Italian but with a host of old advertisements and pictures on the wall. The atmosphere is incredibly relaxing and the staff are very welcoming. You can stay as long as you wish, no racing through courses. These friendly staff bring you a bowl of olives while you read the menu. Reading and nibbling is always lovely.

A snippet of the pasta menu –

The food is of the highest quality, with a huge selection – Salads, antipasti, lasagnes and cannelloni, risotto, steaks, fresh pasta, pizzas..even calzones have their own section. WARNING: It takes forever to decide! The wine list ranges from about €7 – €14. We ordered the Principe de Viana Tinto, the house wine, which was delicious. We started with the ‘Pane della tagliatella’ which is a must..focaccia bread with olives, tomato and onion.

We both went for the controfilleto/sirloin, cooked medium rare, or in Spain, ‘al punto’. N had four cheese sauce and I had oporto (port) y foie. It was cooked to perfection. Each time it’s presented, there’s something different on the plate. The third image is from an earlier trip. I can’t say much for the pasta but most people order it. The pesto, four cheese and mushroom calzone is absolutely perfect though, and my brother thoroughly enjoyed the ‘Salume’ which consists of tomato, mozzarella, chorizo, with a fried egg in the centre.

With over 130 locations, mostly in Europe and Asia (with three restaurants opening in the United States), La Tagliatella is not to be missed for price, incredible food and a great atmosphere. For more, visit La Tagliatella Espana or La Tagliatella U.S.

♥ ♥ ♥

La Nochevieja

 

Each year, Christmas comes earlier and earlier. Stores make it their Autumn duty to keep their finger on the pulse, and once Halloween is done and dusted, trees, baubles and nodding forest creatures wrapped in Winter woolies come out of hiding, reminding us all to buy, buy, BUY! At this stage, I’m use to any early celebrations, with friends of mine sometimes enjoying their work Christmas parties in early November. But I have never experienced premature New Year’s eve celebrations until ‘La Nochevieja’ (The old night) which took place in the Plaza Mayor on Thursday night. Over 30,000 people celebrated under the square’s green and red lights, with drink promotions and festive costumes.

During the last twelve seconds of the countdown, families and students ate grapes or gummy bears, one for each second for good luck. There was a great atmosphere, despite so many people squeezed into the town, but it’s a nice idea for those students who won’t be around for New Years eve in Salamanca during the Christmas break. It was a great start to the festivities and once Salamanca’s usual fast-acting rapid clean team scrubbed all traces of the city’s wild night, the square is ready for Christmas.

♥ ♥ ♥