iralaluna's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Escamoles
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Escamoles

The eggs of "the farty ant" have earned a reputation as the caviar of the desert.
Gastro Obscura
Entierro de la Sardina
Gastro Obscura
Story

Entierro de la Sardina

Murcians celebrate the end of Lenten fasting by burning a giant papier-mâché sardine.
Gastro Obscura
Caracoles
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Caracoles

For a brief seasonal window in Spain, snails go from dreaded pests to coveted tapas.
Gastro Obscura
Calçot
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Calçot

The Catalan green onion has its own festival.
Gastro Obscura
Porrón
Gastro Obscura
Story

Porrón

The traditional way to send a stream of wine straight to your mouth.
Gastro Obscura
Doing a Vermouth
Gastro Obscura
Story

Doing a Vermouth

In Catalonia, the fortified wine has its own weekend ritual.
Gastro Obscura
Papas Arrugadas
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Papas Arrugadas

These salty potatoes were originally boiled in seawater.
Gastro Obscura
Pimientos de Padrón
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Pimientos de Padrón

Eating these unpredictable tapas is a game of spicy-pepper roulette.
Gastro Obscura
Fried Sea Anemone
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Fried Sea Anemone

On the Andalusian coast, once-deadly tentacles become crispy delicacies.
Gastro Obscura
Licorice Root
Gastro Obscura
Story
Fruits & Vegetables

Licorice Root

The washed and dried root of the licorice plant was once a popular natural “candy.”
Gastro Obscura
Torta del Casar
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Torta del Casar

In Spain's Extremadura region, local sheep and a touch of thistle make for an ultra-creamy, slightly bitter cheese.
Gastro Obscura
Twelve Grapes
Gastro Obscura
Story

Twelve Grapes

A New Year's Eve tradition of scarfing down 12 grapes for good luck.
Gastro Obscura
Ramune
Gastro Obscura
Story
Drinks

Ramune

The Japanese soda still comes in a marble-stoppered bottle from the 19th century.
Gastro Obscura
Taiyaki
Gastro Obscura
Story
Sweets

Taiyaki

This pancake pays tribute to one of Japan's favorite fish.
Gastro Obscura
Absinthe Spoon
Gastro Obscura
Story

Absinthe Spoon

This flat, silver spoon holds an exalted place in the mystery and ritual of absinthe drinking.
Gastro Obscura
Mojama
Gastro Obscura
Story
Meats & Animal Products

Mojama

Spain's salt-cured tuna is known as “the ham of the sea.”
Gastro Obscura
Barquilleros of Madrid
Gastro Obscura
Story

Barquilleros of Madrid

To earn a waffle from these vendors, you must first play a game of roulette.
Gastro Obscura
Takoyaki
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Takoyaki

Osaka's most famous dish is an octopus-stuffed fried dough ball.
Gastro Obscura
Okonomiyaki
Gastro Obscura
Story
Prepared Foods

Okonomiyaki

A wartime rice scarcity made this versatile pancake a Japanese staple.
Gastro Obscura