Life in Spain: A Chicken of a Different Color

It’s different over here in Spain. And the difference isn’t so much a list of things you can tick off alphabetically as it is a cozy metaphorical comforter that envelops you, reminding you that life doesn’t have to be as painful and frenetic as it is back home.

In short, it’s difficult to pinpoint any one thing that makes life better here. New friendships, sure. Incredible scenery. Rich history. And the joy of knowing you’re spending time in a nation that doesn’t get its kicks from giving the finger to its strongest allies.

But Ted and I did zero in on another unique thing we’ve spotted in local grocery stores and butcher shops: yellow chicken. A friend told us it’s yellow because it’s cornfed, as opposed to whatever else gets fed to the pallid white chickens one sees in the States … and here as well.

So of course we had to try it, oddity that it is (to us, anyway) in every butcher case we’ve encountered here.

Click on the arrow above for the full story. And the arrow below for the delicious results.

The yellow chicken was juicier than regular chicken, with a buttery flavor and beautiful color far more appetizing than the sickly lavender shade of some dark-meat cuts we’ve seen. And the skin? Super crispy and flavorful.

Because we’re socializing and dining out so often on our six-week stay in Alicante, we bought only thigh and leg cuts for our quiet Friday night dinner at home, but once the weather gets warmer, we hope to have our newfound friends over for dinner on the terrace of our humble Airbnb.

If that happens, we’ll cook a whole yellow chicken to celebrate. And let’s hope we’re celebrating the receipt of our NIE number, too.

More on that later.

Meanwhile, bon appétit from Alicante!

P.S. If you live in Alicante or are dreaming of traveling here one day, check out the blog of a new friend of mine, Jennifer Stott. Jennifer does an amazing job spotlighting the more physically adventurous side of the Costa Blanca.