Where Wine Flows Like Water

This is the second edition of 'Where Wine Flows Like Water: A Gastronomic Pilgrimage through Spain', which chronicles the sometimes hilarious adventures of two friends as they walk the pilgrim trail, El Camino, some 1000 kilometres from the French side of the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela in North-western Spain. Often lost, usually confused and frequently overcome by the rigours of the march, heady wine, spicy food and beautiful women, our middle-aged protagonists experience many of the deprivations and most of the pleasures as once did the legions of pilgrims in medieval times seeking redemption and indulgences. With gusto, John and Pete confront the Old World and the uninhibited pursuit of pleasure that characterises Southern Europe. This sometimes leads them to overdo things, but always with the best of intentions. Wine tasting their way towards salvation, they innocently explore intriguing points of gastronomy, theology and the vexed relationship between religion and science. A selection of recipes from the kitchens of friends along the route offers an exotic smorgasbord of regional cuisines of France and Northern Spain. These recipes are family dishes, the plates of everyday life and not the fare of celebrity chefs and Michelin stars. They are a testament to flavoursome and unpretentious cuisines.