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[vserna]

What the heck is the relationship between Asturias and the Pyrenees? It makes little sense to me to include it in this book.

[Marina Chang]

According to the much respected French geographer Élysée Reclus, the Cordillera Cantábrica range, which includes the Picos de Europa near Asturias, was created from the same geological formation as the Pyrenees, making them essentially part of one continuous mountain range across the top of Spain. For this reason, Reclus considered the Cordillera Cantábrica as a continuation of the Pyrenees range.

Also, one of the main points of the book is to illustrate the true migratory and cultural history of the people of the Pyrenees region, as reflected through cuisine, in contrast with the artificial designations and borders created through time by regional governments.

In the book, my main food reference to Asturias is under the White Beans and Sausage recipe. The people of Catalonia, Asturias, and Gascony (and others) all have classic dishes in this genus. The prevalence of this dish beyond certain geographical boundaries shows the true movements of cultures through the expansion of their cooking styles and ideas.

Élysée Reclus:
“Il n’ya pas de géographie sans histoire et il n’ya pas d’histoire sans géographie.”

- Marina