Andalucia

I was psyched to hear that Rob Evans, one of my favorite chefs on the East Coast, was recently awarded the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the northeast. The chef and owner of Hugo’s in Portland, Maine, is known for using the finest and freshest local ingredients, like the small snail-like whelks that attach themselves to the lobster traps, featured in his lobster risotto. Now Evans is taking his talent to southern Spain. From October 18-25, 2009, he will be a guest chef on a Bike Riders tour though Andalucia. Bike through olive groves and fields of sunflowers while soaking up some of the finest scenery in the country. Along the way, you’ll stop at farms and town markets to watch Evans shop for the necessary ingredients to create paella and tapas that evening. As a snack, he might also pair some manchego cheese with a glass of tasty Rioja. This is the only way to bike!