Bienvenidos a Barcelona!
Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is an autonomous region in Spain with a unique history and culture all its own. It's influence on fashion, food, commerce, arts, and more goes without saying. While it is impossible for me to convey the warmth of the Barcelona people or the impact of Gaudi, here are (quite) a few snapshots from my first trip there!
Right next to the water, Barcelona has some amazing seafood that should not be missed. The fried squid in batter were so tender that I almost couldn't tell I was chewing on something. The juices of squid, langoustine, shrimp, and mussel cooked into the rice of the paella, making every bite taste of the sea.
I also stumbled upon a newfangled, one-of-a-kind ice cream concept right on the docks: Eyescream and Friends. Opened this past September, Eyescream and Friends is a small, well designed shop selling shaved gelato. Gelato is not hard to come by in Barcelona, but this concept takes cylinders of gelato frozen at -25º C and shaves it into ribbons of silky, intensely flavored gelato with a special Japanese contraption. The texture is smooth yet icy, adding a bit of lightness to the gelato. Add two googly eyes and you have the most delectable little creature in all of Barcelona.
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| Various toppings both creamy and fruity |
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| Yogurt shaved gelato with strawberry and condensed milk topping |
To experience a culture is to eat every daily meal "in their shoes".
Breakfast in Barcelona is a very casual affair, starting with cafe con leche (coffee with milk) and a pastry. After drinking gallons of tea here in London, the coffee seemed strong even with milk! Pastry-wise, I spent most of my mornings on a quest to find xiuxos ("choochos") which are flaky butter pastries filled with custard then covered in sugar. Interestingly enough, churros con chocolate is not that common here.
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| Xiuxo |
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| A hidden creamy, refreshing custard interior |
While La Boqueria is on every tourist's list, that does not diminish the awe evoked by the breathtaking variety inside. Every corner of the food pyramid, even ones you never even knew about, overflows from the stands in this open air market. Ask for a sample, ask for two, La Boqueria is a grand celebration of abundance meant to be enjoyed fully.
Once you overcome your visual food coma, stop by a stand with cured meats for a piece of jamon iberico de bellota. This ham is made from the legs of pata negra (black pigs) who are allowed to graze free and eat only acorns for the last few months of their lives. The result is a distinct, nutty, fatty ham that goes for over $100/lb. in the states!
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| A honey and cheese market in Barri Gotic or the Gothic Quarter |
And of course you can't have a trip to Spain without tapas. While not the tapas capital of Spain, Barcelona offers its own tapas or pintxos with a Catalana twist.
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| Anxoves de l'Escala |
Canned seafood is considered a culinary delight contrary to popular belief. The quality and flavor of canned seafood in Barcelona is undeniable. Here, canning is just another form of "cooking" or food preparation to preserve flavor and add a new dimension to plentiful fresh seafood.
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| Bombe de carn picantetes |
Croquettes are also a popular tapas item.
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| Patatas bravas |
Patatas bravas are chunks of beautifully fried potato served with a garlic aioli.
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| Pa amb tomaquet |
These nondescript pieces of bread are part of a regional dish found in every nook and cranny of Barcelona. Pa amb tomaquet is bread rubbed with tomato and seasoned with fruity olive oil, salt and sometimes garlic. Served alongside other heftier foodstuffs like charcuterie and fish, pa amb tomaquet balances flavors and cleanses the palate quite naturally.
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| Plat d'Embotit |
Some of the most flavorful cured/smoked sausages and charcuterie come out of Spain. Think chorizo!
And of course no visit to Barcelona is complete without some of Gaudi's stunning works.
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