BARCELONA

First stop Barcelona

Recently when I was in Williams – Sonoma I picked up a cook book about Barcelona by Chuck.  You know Chuck Williams.  It is a wonderful book.  I wish you each had the book.  Anyway I wanted to pass on some of his bits of info I think you might find helpful.  There is no mention of the best shop to buy shoes however.  But he does make mention of the largest market in Spain being in Barcelona.

HISTORY:

·       Barcelona became a democracy in 1975….after Christy was born.

·       Catalonia cuisine is protected under UNNESCO’s world heritage.

·       Catalonia is Mediterranean – rural working class…the heritage of fishermen & peasant farmers.  It has 200 miles of coastline.

MUST buys (at the market La Boqueria) in RAVAL.

·       Quince Paste to make pa amb tomaquet (slice of ham, slab of cheese & quince paste).

·       Arro’s Negre…….black rice

·       Powdered sweet paprika/pimento (MG) in can

• Espadrilles

VOCUBULARY:

·       RAMBLES……the main street

·       Gaudi…………the architect

·       Colmados……general store

·       Casas de Comida…..simple eating houses where a full 3 course meal including wine & coffee can be had for very little money….color us there.

·       Asadores……..grill room

·       Chiringuitos….beach side restaurant…most famous..SET PORTES…waterfront, founded 1836.  Serves Paella Parellada…However, Cheriff is suppose to have Barcelona’s best Paella.

·       LaBoqueria…..veg market off Rambles in RAVAL

LaBOQUERIA market:

·       Marisc Genaro – display of shellfish

·       Pinot xo near entrance…. tapas bar

·       Bar Juanito…..best personality

·       El Zinn de la Boqueria – “little tapas”…heart of market – “good place to take the weight off your feet”.

·       Pick up the Quince Paste & Arros Negre

NEIGHBORHOODS:

·       L’EXAMPLE

·       RAVAL….I think our hotel is located in Raval

·       PORT VELL

·       BARRI GOTIC……I think this is where the Cathedral is

·       BORN

·       CIUTAT VELLA

·       BARCELONETA….the waterfront..where all the chiringuitos (see voculabury) are.  Also Cheriff is located there.

PHRASES

·       Esmorzars de forquilla – fork breakfast (that is what I want)

·       If purchasing something as a gift say “es per regular” and they will wrap it with a bow.

FOOD & Pastisseries

·       Coca….means pastry base

·       Churros….long fried pastries

·       Escriba – sugary coques studded w/pine nuts, get these in Rambles

·       Hot coca de llar dons…flatbreads w/bits of pork….I think we would call this cracklins.  Got to have some.

·       Crema Catalona…..burnt custard

·       Llardons…fried bits of pork (cracklins)

DISHES:

·       Picada….ground nuts & herbs (almonds & garlic) to make a paste to use as a thickener for braised or baked dishes.  Stirred into the recipe final stages

·       Truita amb suc….a spinach omelet with tomato sauce (p126)

·       Priorat….Cassola de tros…..rabbit stew w/snails & mixed vegetables.

·       La cuina marinera….seafood cooking

·       La planxa……seared on a griddle

·       El Suquet de l’aimitalla……crisp calamares

·       Fish is norally grilled….favorite cooking technique

·       Escudella….mixed meat @ vegetable stew

                          Catalonia Dishes:

·       Ficcando………meat stew

·       Rossejat..rice baked in fish broth

·       Vilanove…..roasted garlic

·       Arros Negre……black rice & shellfish

·       Bacailla….cured tuna roe

·       Pa amb tomaquet…tomatoe rubbed bread (p75)

·       XATO…Escarole Salad w/salt cod, anchovies & olives….Regina will want to try this one.

·       La cuina Marinera….Seafood cooked w/rice, shrimp and smoke goat cheese.

·       Bacilla a la Ilaua…oven roasted salt cod @ CaI Sidre’s