Latest news with #Basque-style
Euractiv
14 hours ago
- Business
- Euractiv
Spain takes a first step towards controversial Catalan financing scheme
Spain takes a first step towards controversial Catalan financing scheme MADRID - Spain and Catalonia's regional government jointly unveiled a proposed fiscal scheme for Barcelona on Monday, amid concerns that the 'unique' financing plan could undermine the principle of solidarity among the country's autonomous regions. The proposal would gradually grant the Catalan Tax Agency full authority to collect, manage and spend its own taxes. Unlike the current model, which is based on regional expenditure needs, the new framework would focus on revenue and shared responsibility. 'We are moving from a model focused on expenses to one that looks at revenues and is based on co-responsibility,' said Councillor to the Catalan Presidency, Albert Dalmau, after Monday's meeting in Barcelona. Pushed by the left-wing separatist ERC, the proposal would require an absolute majority of 176 votes in Congress to reform Spain's Organic Law on regional financing. after the summer . While ERC president Oriol Junqueras claimed that a vote will be held this week, Ángel Víctor Torres, Spain's Minister of Territorial Policy, has suggested that talks will resume Junts , which - unlike ERC - refuses collaboration with the central government and pushes for a Basque-style arrangement granting full financial autonomy. The plan is opposed by both the conservative opposition and the right-wing separatist, which - unlike ERC - refuses collaboration with the central government and pushes for a Basque-style arrangement granting full financial autonomy. The reform has reignited the national debate surrounding the principle of ''solidarity' - the system of interregional economic transfers that underpin Spain's current tax structure. Only the Basque Country and Navarre regions are exempt from this system due to historical rights. (cs) Proposed Excerpt : As Spain's second-largest contributor to the state budget, Catalan separatists argue that the existing system penalises Barcelona and limits its fiscal sovereignty. (Inés Fernández-Pontes/
Hans India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hans India
The desert chapter: Burma Burma's seven stories of sweetness
Burma Burma's new dessert menu, The Sweet Life, is an invitation to pause and enjoy life's simple pleasures—one spoonful at a time. Crafted in collaboration with pastry chef Vinesh Johny and led by Head Chef Ansab Khan, this thoughtful collection of seven plated desserts highlights a vibrant intersection of Burmese culinary influences and contemporary dessert-making techniques. Far from just indulgent endnotes to a meal, these creations are layered with meaning. Each dessert draws inspiration from the everyday rhythms of Burmese life—its bustling fruit markets, the tradition of shared tea, and ingredients passed down through generations and trade routes. Among the highlights is the Milk Tea Cheesecake, a Basque-style cheesecake subtly infused with laphet ye (Burmese milk tea), served with a warm apple compote and cinnamon ice cream. The Banana & Cashew Tres Leches plays on comfort, combining sponge soaked in caramel milk with banana confit, chocolate chantilly, crunchy cashew streusel, and banana caramel ice cream. For a more theatrical treat, the Silkroute Sundae features saffron-pistachio gelato with apricot-saffron confit inside a golden chocolate shell. There's also the Celebration Cake, a decadent seven-layer chocolate and cherry dessert presented with a warm chocolate pour, done tableside. Berry Burst blends jaggery coconut custard with mango and berry caviar, while The Flower Bouquet offers a pavlova with tropical fruit salsa and coconut-ginger ice cream. Rounding out the menu is the Coconut and Pineapple Crème Brûlée, topped with compote, gelato, honeycomb, and cake crumble—echoing a tropical daydream. From Mumbai and Delhi to Kolkata and Burma Burma, Hitech City, these desserts are now available at all Burma Burma outlets across India. The Sweet Life is not just a menu—it's a moment of joy, memory, and mindful indulgence.
What's On
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
7 of the best restaurants in Dubai this weekend: May 16 to 18
What's hot on the menu… Summer is doing its thing, and so is the city. Indoors is where it's at, and these spots are keeping things cool with new menus, drops, and weekend energy that's worth the reservation. Here's where to eat at some of the best restaurants in Dubai this weekend. TATEL What: Entre Amigos Brunch Vibe: Stylish, buzzy, and full-on Spanish Menu: Starters include crispy Andalusian-style squid, garlic shrimp, chicken croquetas, ceviche with mango and sweet potato, and a cold cuts + cheese board. Mains include creamy seafood rice or beef tenderloin with chimichurri. Desserts go big: Basque-style cheesecake and a rich chocolate cake with sea salt. Valencia package (non-alcoholic) priced at Dhs355, Madrid package (with Cava) priced at Dhs455, Dubai package (with Champagne) priced at Dhs725. When: Every Saturday, 2 pm to 6pm Where: TATEL, Downtown Dubai, Hotel Boulevard, Autograph Collection @ Observatory Bar & Grill What: A Friday night brunch in full cosmic mode. STARGAZE is Observatory's new after-dark concept featuring a three-course sharing menu, free-flowing drinks for three hours, DJs, dancers, and zero chill. Vibe: Think intergalactic lounge meets futuristic fashion, with panoramic views, slick lighting, and space to move. It's giving luxury sci-fi with beats. Menu: Kick off with a mix of Sake Maki Rolls, California Rolls, Beef Dumplings, Tempura Ebi, and Mushroom & Truffle Croquettes. Mains are all about the sharing platters: Wagyu Sliders, Chicken Chimichurri, and Salmon Skewers. Finish with Churros and call it a night. Soft Package priced at Dhs295, House Package Dhs345, Premium Package Dhs395, VIP Booth (up to 6 guests) Dhs2,500 When: Every Friday, 8pm to 11pm Where: Observatory Bar & Grill, Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel, Dubai Marina @observatorydubai Bab El Bahr What: A Downtown icon reborn. Bab El Bahr returns with a fresh new look and a bold coastal Mediterranean menu that blends Levantine roots with refined seaside flair. Vibe: Mediterranean elegance with arches, soft stone textures, olive trees, and shades of sea blue—perfect for everything from sunlit lunches to lively dinners with Shisha. Menu: Freshly shucked oysters, Tuna tartare with a Mediterranean twist, Salmon kibbeh nayeh, Sea bass ceviche, Curated sushi selection, hot & cold mezze, grilled whole fish, and creative seafood mains Where: Bab El Bahr, Boulevard 29 Bld., Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai @ SHI What: Rich Chinese cuisine with stunning Bluewaters views. Menu: For Dubai Restaurant Week, expect sushi, dim sum, smoky meats, and spicy seafood on curated lunch and dinner menus. Lunch priced at Dhs125, dinner Dhs250. Highlights include Sake Truffle Maki, Jasmine Tea Smoked Ribs, and Tofu Eggplant with Black Bean Sauce. When: May 9 to 25 Where: SHI, Bluewaters Island @ Duck & Waffle What: Sky-high dining with British-American classics. Duck & Waffle DIFC joins DRW with signature hits flavours from day to night. Menu: Lunch favourites include Duck & Waffle, Lobster Roll, and Spicy Rigatoni. Dinner steps it up with Foie Gras Crème Brûlée, Truffle Beef Carpaccio, Roasted Baby Chicken, and 'The Full Elvis' for dessert. Lunch priced at Dhs125, dinner Dhs250. When: May 9 to 25 Where: Duck & Waffle, DIFC @duckandwaffledubai Loona What: Fine dining with a modern Italian soul. Loona's DRW dinner-only menu layers bold textures and rich flavours in a sleek Downtown setting. Menu: Dinner: Expect prawn, salmon tartare, and artichoke to start; veal cheek risotto, crab polpetta, and porcini pappardelle for mains; and a duo of ganache and tiramisu to close, priced at Dhs250 When: May 9 to 25 Where: Loona, Downtown Dubai @ Couqley Downtown What: A relaxed Sunday ritual with French soul. Couqley Downtown serves up a two-course menu of its most-loved classics—think Steak Frites, Steak Tartare, Spinach Ravioli, and Free-Range Chicken—in a setting that's as warm and inviting as the food itself. Vibe: Elegant, easygoing, and full of joie de vivre. Sundays from 1–4 PM are for slowing down and sharing good food with good company. Menu: Two courses with soft drinks priced at Dhs218, two courses with free-flow grapes Dhs268, two courses with free-flow grapes & hops Dhs347, Add dessert for Dhs33. When: Every Sunday from 1pm to 4pm Where: Couqley Downtown @couqleyuae Images: Supplied
12-05-2025
- Business
Shiga Chef Turns Stinky Sushi into Cheesecake
News from Japan Society May 12, 2025 19:09 (JST) Hikone, Shiga Pref., May 12 (Jiji Press)--A restaurant chef in Shiga Prefecture has developed cheesecake using an ingredient of "funazushi," one of Japan's stinky original sushi called narezushi, in an effort to attract more people's attention to the western prefecture's local food. Funazushi uses "nigorobuna" crucian carp or other fish caught in Lake Biwa in the prefecture, the country's largest freshwater lake, and rice. As the fish and rice are fermented with salt, it has a strong smell. Girasole, the restaurant in the city of Hikone, has been serving the funazushi-derived, Basque-style cheesecake since April 2021. The cake was created by owner and chef Shoichi Kojima, 40, who moved to Hikone in 2015 due to marriage. The native of the central prefecture of Yamanashi had not been familiar with funazushi before coming to the city but got hooked on the food after trying to make one at a friend's suggestion. To develop a recipe, he adopted a local lake fish broker's advice that powdered "ii," or funazushi's fermented rice, be used. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Elegant mansions, cave art, and sandy beaches: seven reasons why you should visit Santander
While British holidaymakers have long flocked to Barcelona, Madrid, or Seville for their Spanish city break, wise local tourists have another favourite: Santander, the capital of Cantabria. In this elegant coastal city on the Bay of Biscay, they spend mornings enjoying the bustle of the market, lazy afternoons on the beach and evenings on the terraces of pincho bars indulging in Basque-style tapas washed down with glasses of albariño. What's more, British tourists can reach Santander on a direct ferry – it docks in the city centre – from Portsmouth or Plymouth, which gives the potential added bonus of dolphin sightings in the Bay of Biscay. Although Santander is often considered the gateway to the rest of northern Spain, here are seven reasons why you should linger for longer. Santander's most famous stretch of sand, El Sardinero (named after the large quantities of sardines that used to be found in the bay), is actually two beaches, separated by the Jardines de Piquío – a tranquil palm tree-lined pleasure garden created in the 1920s. Both beaches are broad, sun-drenched expanses of fine sand. Santander was a popular summer spot for nobility in the 19th century, when Spanish high society turned the area into a summer retreat and the first beach was benchmarked as their bathing ground, while the second was preserved for commoners. Today, both beaches can be enjoyed by everyone and an evening stroll along the promenade as the sun goes down is a pre-dinner delight not to be missed. Built as the summer house of King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie (the daughter of Queen Victoria's youngest child Beatrice), the Palacio de la Magdalena is a fusion of French and English architecture perched on a headland with sweeping sea views – Queen Victoria Eugenie felt it reminded her of childhood summers at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. The palace is no longer used by the royal family and part of the building is now a small museum showcasing the opulent interiors. Even without the museum visit, it's worth a walk up here to wander through the eucalyptus and pine trees that fill the surrounding parkland and enjoy some of the best panoramas in the city. Just behind Santander's grand town hall, the bustling Mercado de la Esperanza has been supplying the city with fresh fish and vegetables since 1904. The ground floor brims with the morning's catch; stalls heave with gleaming anchovies, plump prawns and langoustines and slabs of tuna. Upstairs stalls stock local cheeses, meats, and Cantabrian delicacies, such as sobaos pasiegos, a butter cake, and orujo de Liébana, a strong grape-pomace brandy with a grappa-like kick that's known as the local 'firewater'. People-watching is best done early in the morning (the market opens at 8am), when local chefs and home cooks examine the catch of the day and exchange gossip. Alternatively, pop in later in the morning to purchase a picnic lunch to eat on the beach – the market closes at 2pm. On Thursdays and Fridays you can also visit in the early evening between 5pm and 7.30pm. The market is closed on Sundays. While the Palacio de la Magdalena is the building most people associate with Santander, the striking Centro Botín, designed by prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, is surely vying for that spot. Adjacent to the ferry port, its location means it's one of the first things you see when you arrive. Jutting out of the waterfront like two giant wedges of nata de Cantabria cheese, the building appears to float above the bay, with glass and ceramic tiles reflecting the shifting light. Inside, exhibitions range from Spanish masters to international contemporary artists, while outside, the surrounding Pereda Gardens offer shaded benches and green spaces where locals gather to read, chat, or simply enjoy the sea breeze. Beyond the exhibitions, the centre hosts regular film screenings, live performances, and creative workshops, making it a cultural hub for the city. The Cave of Altamira, a half-hour drive outside the city, contains some of the world's most extraordinary prehistoric art and is easy to visit while staying in Santander. You don't need to hire a car as you can get the Alsa bus from Santander to Santillana del Mar – a medieval village with cobbled streets – from where it's a half-hour walk. Although the original cave is now closed to protect its fragile paintings – which date from the Upper Palaeolithic period – the accurate replica at the nearby museum Altamira National Museum and Research Centre allows visitors to marvel at the vivid depictions of bison, deer, and horses, created more than 14,000 years ago. The museum is an excellent introduction to the prehistoric communities that once thrived in Cantabria, with interactive exhibits explaining the techniques used to create the paintings. The surrounding landscape gives a sense of the wilderness these early artists would have known. Santander's old town is smaller than those of Spain's larger cities, partly due to a fire in 1941 that destroyed almost 400 buildings. However, it still packs a punch when it comes to food. Tapas bars serve up pinchos – small, tasty bites skewered on to slices of bread – alongside local favourites such as rabas (lightly battered squid) and boquerones fritos, battered and fried anchovies. For a sweet treat, try sobao pasiego, a traditional Cantabrian pastry that resembles a sponge cake. The narrow streets around Plaza Porticada and Calle del Medio are the best places to start a pincho crawl, hopping from bar to bar sampling house specialities and washing them down with a glass of vermouth or cider. The Cabo Mayor Lighthouse is located in the most northeasterly point of Santander, where the Cantabrian Sea crashes against rugged cliffs. Built in 1839, it has guided sailors with its powerful beam for nearly two centuries and is the most important lighthouse in Cantabria. When the beam became fully automated in 2001, parts of the lighthouse and surrounding buildings were turned into an arts centre, in which historic maritime charts and faded photographs recount the lighthouse's long service. It's worth the walk up the winding path to watch the waves carve the coastline, and pick up one of the cliff paths to continue enjoying the panoramic views along the Mataleñas Path. To start planning your Santander city break, visit
