Summer is an ideal time to indulge yourself a little, enjoy what you like the most and take advantage of your free time to do some sport. If you want to try something new this year, we suggest you give stand up paddle surfing a go, or SUP as it is known. This sport has become fashionable of late due to its originality, but above all, because having a fun time is guaranteed.

Walking on water is generally considered a miracle, and the closest you can get to this divine act is paddle surfing. This sport, in which you stand on a board and use a paddle to propel yourself through the water, has caught on around the world in recent years, and no wonder! Here are the SUP essentials, which explain why it is so popular.

 

Paddle surfing can be relaxing or energetic

This sport is essentially a question of balance. Keep your feet apart, remain in an upright position and adjust your body to the rocking so as not to fall — this sport is one that very subtly tones your whole body. Paddling must be done with your entire body, and one of the benefits is that you give a workout to your muscles from head to toe.

Another plus for those who plan to take up this sport is that you can choose how intensely you want to do it. If you like, you can simply slide by and enjoy the fresh air and the sun, while you contemplate both the coast and marine scenery (the fact that you are standing up enables you to see the bottom of the sea, if the water is clear and not too deep). Alternatively, if you want to get a sweat on, you can travel for miles, or have races with your friends. You’re sure to end up exhausted!

 

The closest thing to being a surfer

There is a variety called “SUP surfing” which is closer to traditional surfing. This variety is usually done in the sea, because the goal is to paddle out to sea and surf back. SUP surfing uses boards that are wider than traditional surfboards, which makes it easier to stay on your feet, and as a result, it is less of a challenge for those who are new to the sport.

 

On the water but without getting wet

SUP is a water sport because water is an essential element to do the activity. However, if you keep your balance, you can enjoy a morning’s paddle surfing without getting wet (as long as you don’t fall!), and, if at any time you fancy a dip, just jump in.

 

Beyond the sea

Currently, many beaches offer board rental services and SUP classes; however, another fun option is to try it in other places such as rivers and reservoirs. Some examples are the lake of the Northern Sierra of Madrid, the Iznájar reservoir in Cordoba, or the rivers of Aragon, such as the Ebro. In Valencia, you can go to the Loriguilla reservoir (inland Alicante). In Catalonia, you can do SUP in the Mont-rebei gorge or on the Sau reservoir, for example, and in Castilla y León, on the Burguillo reservoir.

Surely close to your home, you are bound to find a place where you can do SUP, either in the sea or inland. Make plans with your friends, pack your swimsuit, a towel and sunscreen in a rucksack and don’t forget your Ligeras crisps and some cool water to wash them down. Go ahead, and have a good time doing this truly “in” sport.

Meeting up to go for a drink is one of the best ways to have fun with friends. The squares of our towns and cities are the perfect meeting place, especially if they have pleasant terrazas where you can have a drink outside, and a good ambiance at all times of day. If you want to meet up, below we recommend 5 of the best squares to have a drink in some of the main cities of Spain.

 

Barcelona: Plaça Reial

Plaça Reial is a colonial-style square in the heart of the city of Barcelona, within spitting distance of Las Ramblas. With colonnades on all four sides, this large square is chock-full of cafés, restaurants and well-known music venues. All year round, it is a meeting place for locals and people from all over the world.

 

Madrid: Plaza de San Andrés

Located in the heart of the capital’s lively La Latina district, Plaza de San Andrés is situated next to the church of the same name. Although it is not very large, it is a perfect place to go for a drink and escape the hustle and bustle of the city. In addition to being a nice spot, it is easy for everyone to get to because it is so centrally-located.

 

Valencia: Plaza del Tossal

In the centre of the old town of Valencia, this square is a great place to meet up, especially in the late afternoon, when the sun is not so overbearing. As the hours go by, you will see how the square fills up and the atmosphere becomes that much livelier.

 

Bilbao: Plaza Nueva

Plaza Nueva, built in the neoclassical style, is a meeting place in the centre of Bilbao’s old town. The square is surrounded by arches, all of which are occupied by restaurants and bars with their terrazas. This lively place is perfect for getting together at any time of day for tapas, drinks or just have a good time.

 

Zaragoza: Plaza Seo

Right at the end of the hugely popular and centrally-located Plaza del Pilar, you will find Plaza Seo, which is next to the labyrinthine old town and the liveliest streets of Zaragoza. It is the perfect place to meet up for a drink before venturing into the hubbub of Zaragoza for lunch or dinner.

An aperitif is the inauguration of lunchtime around a table. Therefore, if you want to start this prelude to the meal successfully, every last detail has to be taken care of. Here we reveal the keys to preparing a perfect aperitif.

 

Chilled alcoholic or soft drinks
The most important aspect of the drink is for it to be at the proper temperature. If you opt out of the traditional beer or vermouth, we recommend you try a spritz, a fashionable Italian drink made from dry white wine, sparkling mineral water or tonic water and a few drops of pink liqueur. If you prefer a non-alcoholic alternative to the typical soft drinks, try a natural fruit juice, for instance, of watermelon with lemon and mint leaves.

 

Olives
Olives are one of the symbols of the Mediterranean diet that are an essential part of any aperitif. We recommend you try a selection, such as arbequina, split, spicy, garlic or even giant olives. If there are children among the guests, we recommend that you always have some pitted olives on hand.

 

Crudités and Dips
In recent years, crudités (raw vegetables cut into strips) have been making a comeback. As well as being surprisingly tasty and very healthy, their crunchiness makes them the ideal companion for dips such as hummus, cod brandade and cream cheese.

 

Tinned Shellfish
Shellfish and seafood add that special touch to aperitifs. Cockles, pickled mussels or tinned squid are traditional aperitif fare that whet your appetite without filling you up. However, if you want to surprise your guests, we suggest serving a few grilled razor shells with fennel and thyme.

 

Homemade Frit Ravich Crisps
The star attraction of aperitifs is undoubtedly the crisps. An aperitif is not an aperitif without them, and we recommend our homemade Frit Ravich crisps, with their traditional flavour, fried in olive oil and salted. They are and will always be the indispensable ingredient of such pleasant occasions.

We love summer because for many, it is synonymous with holidays and good times. We often have the free time to enjoy all the things which during the rest of the year we would love to do, like sit back and watch a good film. Especially in the afternoon, while having a siesta in a cool place, which can be the perfect way to find a bit of shelter from the heat.

 

If you are looking for some entertainment to enjoy during the long hot days, let us make five fun, different and refreshing recommendations:

 

A story set in paradise – The Blue Lagoon

Even if we can’t actually travel to an authentic island paradise, we can always do so by watching the very popular film, “The Blue Lagoon” (1980). Watch this beautiful story about human behaviour, discovery, respect for nature and love.

 

A saga – Pirates of the Caribbean
Here, we can’t choose just one, so we recommend a whole seafaring saga. If you are going to have a film marathon in summer, it has to be the fearsome “Pirates of the Caribbean”. The adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow on the high seas will fill our summer afternoons with hours of fun and action.

 

A cartoon feature – Frozen

In the heat of summer, sometimes there is nothing better than a film as refreshing as ice. “Frozen”, the latest great Disney classic, is much more than a film for children. Young and old alike will enjoy this wonderful story about the love between sisters, courage, acceptance and reconciliation in an absolutely frozen environment – perfect for helping you endure the heat!

 

A science fiction film – The Day After Tomorrow

What would happen if the consequences of climate change happened all of a sudden? According to the writers of the film “The Day After Tomorrow”, the world would succumb to storms and deep snow would cover each and every city, such as New York. How will the remaining survivors overcome this natural disaster? This film’s frozen temperatures will make you a little less inclined to wish it were colder, and also, it encourages you to reflect on the environment.

 

A classic – Roman Holiday

Princess Anna (a supremely elegant Audrey Hepburn), goes to Rome as part of her official duties. Once there, she decides to live as a normal citizen, at least for a day, because she is fed up with all the protocol. Finding herself on the streets, she is taken in by journalist Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck), who gains her trust straight away with the secret intention of taking photos of her and becoming famous. But the more time they spend together, the more he falls in love… It is an unforgettable film that invites you to imagine you are a tourist on a Vespa in the Rome of 1953.

Halfway between breakfast and lunch, we have the magic hour of the aperitif, when we often get the urge to have what the Spanish sometimes refer to as a vermut. The expression vermut or vermú is associated with drinks and that pleasant time of day when you have a light snack, for instance, crisps, finger food or hors d’oeuvres, and talk around the table.

The word vermut originates from the German word wermut (vermouth), which means absinthe or wormwood – the main plant that is used to flavour the wine from which vermouth is made. In fact, vermouth is simply a flavoured white wine. When the vermouth that we drink is red, that is due to the caramel added to it, not because it is made from red wine.

 

Origin

It is said that vermouth originated in ancient Greece, and was invented by Hippocrates, the renowned Hellenic doctor. Hippocrates soaked absinthe in wine. Absinthe is a plant with many healing properties, from which a spirit that bears its name is also made.

In the Middle Ages, vermouth was given the name of ‘Hippocratic wine’ or ‘herb wine’. Vermouth production made a first great leap in 1838 with the industrial production initiated by the brothers Luigi and Giuseppe Core. Its sale and consumption increased, associated with a certain time of day, and little by little, it took on the meaning it has today, being practically synonymous with aperitif.

 

The Present Day

Nowadays, we talk about the vermut time of day, which is a time between approximately 11am and 1pm, a short time that serves as a prelude to lunch. Tables are laid with white or red vermouth, cockles, olives, crisps, dried fruit and nuts, and other snacks and finger food.

At Frit Ravich, we suggest you enjoy this very Mediterranean custom with our very special crisps: Premium Aperitivo Frit Ravich. They are exceptionally crunchy and are seasoned with the ‘aperitif’ flavour. With every Frit Ravich Premium Aperitivo crisp, you will find the essence of this special time of day.

On hot summer days, it’s nice to be outdoors and have light, tasty, refreshing meals. Therefore, we recommend a traditional cold soup, reinvented using seasonal fruit: a cherry salmorejo, with the special touch of the new Toppy. Because there is life beyond gazpacho! This recipe is as simple and quick as it is delicious.

 

Ingredients for 4 people:

· 500g of tomatoes

· 250g of cherries (the riper they are, the more colourful and flavourful the salmorejo will be)

· 200g of day-old bread

· 120ml of extra virgin olive oil

· 1/2 clove of garlic

· 1 hard-boiled egg

· Toppy Frit Ravich with blueberries, almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and raisins

 

How to Make Cherry Salmorejo with Toppy:

 

1. Prepare the Cherries

Since you have a generous handful of cherries, it would be best to start there. Carefully pit the cherries and remove their stalks (put aside 5 pitted cherries per person for decoration).

 

2. Purée the Vegetables

Wash, peel and roughly chop the tomatoes and cucumber. Put into a food processor and purée.

 

3. Soften the Bread

Put the stale bread in water to soften it.

 

4. Blend the Ingredients

When the tomato and cucumber mixture is smooth, add the cherries and continue blending.

Add the soaked bread, olive oil and salt to the processor and continue to blend.

 

5. Strain and Chill

When it is all mixed up, press it through a sieve to remove odd pieces of skin and pips (if there are any). Finally, put the soup in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour. The cooler, the better!

 

6. Serve and Enjoy (#buenmomento – good time)

Serve the salmorejo in a bowl. Decorate with the cherries that you saved, grate a little hard-boiled egg on top and add a splash of extra virgin olive oil.

And to give it that final touch, add a little Toppy to the salmorejo and enjoy! A delicious salmorejo which you can have with any meal as a refreshing starter.

In a very special collaboration, the mixing genius, Javier de las Muelas, has teamed up with Frit Ravich to create some “cocktails” with a very special origin. There are three varieties of new Dry Martini Cocktails by Javier de las Muelas that take us on a journey round the world: California, Mexico and Madagascar.

 

Javier de las Muelas and Dry Martini: A Cocktail Legend

For years, Javier de las Muelas has enjoyed world renown for his cocktails. Elegance, tradition, class and innovation are the common ingredients of each of his creations. His aim is for everyone who tries one of his original recipes to have a real, taste-worthy experience. Founder of the Gimlet cocktail bar, he is owner of the famous Dry Martini, considered to be one of the best bars in the world, with its clandestine Speakeasy restaurant. Now, the Dry Martini brand is found all over the world, with bars in places like Madrid, San Sebastian, Palma de Mallorca, London and Rio de Janeiro.

 

Discover the New Flavours of Dry Martini Cocktails by Javier de las Muelas:

California Cocktail: This is a combination of typical nuts of the region, such as the well-known Californian walnuts or pistachios, to which dried fruit is added, such as strawberries and blueberries, to impart colour and sweetness.

Mexico Cocktail: Your first taste of the spicy flavours (not too spicy!) in this combination will transport you to the land of the Maya. Among its most original ingredients are broad beans, baked black soya beans and aloe vera.

Madagascar Cocktail: This has a bold combination of tropical flavours, with crunchy banana, coconut and pineapple, which, along with ginger and raw almonds, recalls the wild essence of the Red Island. The sweet counterpoint is provided by chocolate-coated peanuts, in recognition of the excellent cocoa grown in the area.

 

With these new additions, Frit Ravich and Dry Martini offer consumers a sensory journey, transporting them to the origin of each cocktail. We invite you to take a journey of the senses and enjoy each new combination!