Welcome 2009 with Carloz' Broad Beans and Sausage in Wine

In the part of the USA I come from, the Deep South, it is a tradition to welcome in the New Year with a heaping, hot dish of black eyed peas. Aside from being sturdy fare that is attractive in winter, it is supposed to bring good luck in the year ahead. Here in Spain, and in other Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Greece, another legume is traditional in New Years recipes -- lentils. They are supposed to bring luck, prosperity and health.

Is it just a coincidence that such starchy items are New Year's food staples in various places? I doubt it. As Nigella Lawson noted in that NPR program I referred to in my previous post, it makes perfect sense on a winter holiday, when many people drink late into the night, to have a meal that is largely made up of carbohydrates.

Since I could not find any black eyed peas here in Barcelona, and I am not crazy about lentils, I took inspiration from Lawson's recipe for Italian Sausages with Lentils, as well as a common local plate, Catalan Broad Beans (or "Habas a la Catalana") and prepared the following for a friend and I to welcome in 2009:

Carloz' Broad Beans and Sausage in Wine

Spicy chorizo sausage
Broad beans
Chopped onion
White wine
Water
Olive oil
Teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Thyme
Paprika

Put the sausage in a pan with a little water, cover and bring to a boil over a high heat. Then lower the fire and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes. Drain and cut the sausage.

Put the olive oil, broad beans, and sausage in a pan over a medium heat. Add the chopped onion, salt, pepper, thyme and stir. Then pour in the wine and water. Bring to a boil over a high heat. Then reduce the heat to low and simmer partially covered for about 20 minutes.

Add paprika and serve.

I thought it was delicious, but I was the cook, after all. However, my friend agreed. I think she was being honest -- especially as she went back for seconds, and cleaned her plate.

Feliz 2009 amig@s,

Carloz

Buenas Migas = Good Crumbs

Yesterday I went to my neighborhood beach with a friend. I made my own sandwich to eat there but my friend picked up a pasta salad and a focaccia from one of my favorite seaside eating establishments, Buenas Migas Focacceria.

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According to the folks at Buenas Migas, the pizza-like focaccia is Genoan in origin and derives its name from the Latin word 'focus', meaning hearth or fire place. It differs from everyday bread in that the dough is stretched for several hours and because it is topped with olive oil and salt. Historically in the city of Genoa, focaccia was cooked in communal ovens.

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They say that for centuries focaccia has been enjoyed by Genoan fishermen, along with a glass of white wine, before setting off onto the sea. Its simple Mediterranean recipe has made focaccia a popular dish and nowadays it is eaten all over the world with a wide range of toppings -- and I doubt there is any place that offers more delicious, economical and generous servings than Barcelona's Buenas Migas.

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Yesterday my friend got an approximately 20cm x 15cm rectangle of Focaccia Margharita (tomato, cheese, olives and oregano) along with about 200 grams of Pasta con il tonno (bow tie pasta tossed with tuna, baked vegetables, mozzarella and, of course, olive oil) as a side dish. I haven't tried the Focaccia Margharita myself, but I have had the Pasta con il tonno and found it a superb fusion of flavors -- and quite filling, too.

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How much did this cost her? Only 3.70 for the focaccia and 3.90 for the pasta. She also bought a tiny bottle of water for 1.20. However, since she was getting "take away" she just as easily could have gone a few steps around the corner to the convenience store to get a bottle two or three times as big for half the price.

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As I said, I didn't buy food from there personally yesterday, but I have in the past and have never been disappointed. My personal favorite of the carious focaccias Buneas Migas offers is the Campagnola, a mix of tomato, cheese and spicy sausage. The runner-up for my affections is the Salsiccia e cipolle, a simple combination of butifarra (Catalan sausage) and onion.

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What else do they have on offer? An assortment of focaccias, made with regular or whole flour, with a wide variety of toppings: olives, goat cheese, bacon, gorgonzala, pepperoni, red pepper, onion, eggplant, and/or tomato as well as the special "Focaccia of the season" which varies accordingly. Focaccias are priced from 3.50 to 4.70.

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Aside from the Pasta con il tonno that my friend thoroughly enjoyed, there are Pasta al pesto and Pasta con la mozzarella. All pasta dishes cost 3.90.

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Want to eat light? In the salad department, offerings include green salad, Greek salad, tuna salad, mozzarella salad, salmon salad and a raisin, cheese and nut salad. Salad prices range from 2.90 to 5.95 and come in small or large.

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Want to eat heavy? Try a Torte de Verdura (Vegetable Pie) for 4.20. All the torte's include ricotta and Parmesan cheese along with either spinach; seasonal vegetables; potato and leeks; or salmon and broccoli.

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Then there are the focaccettes and paninis. Focaccettes (a flat bread made with wheat flour mixed with corn meal) cost between 3.95 and 4.90 and come covered with combinations of topping such as brie and leeks; brie, onion and zucchini; zucchini, onion and Serrano ham; mozarrella, onion and zucchini; Serrano ham and Cresenza cheese; and salmon and cream cheese. Panini sandwiches are priced from 2.40 to 2.50 and include selections such as Manchego cheese and Serrano ham on olive bread, mozzarella and ham on walnut bread, mozzarella and tomato on focaccia and mixed vegetables on whole wheat focaccia bread.

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Drinks? Water (in really small bottles for 1.20 or 1.50), soft drinks (1.95), wine by the glass (2.10), wine in bottles (from 6.40 to 8.30), beer (2.10 to 2.20), a variety of bottled fruit drinks (1.95 - 2.20) natural orange juice (2.40) and a variety of coffees, teas and chocolates (from 1.20 to 2.30).

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Of course they've got deserts, too: cakes, pies, crumbles etc. from 2.90 to 3.30.

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Although I almost always take the food I buy there to the beach to eat, sitting inside can be pleasant, too. The location in Barceloneta has a rustic design and is on a corner facing the sea, so the view is nice. As a matter of fact, the walls literally roll up during opening hours, so it is almost like sitting outside. Diners may also sit at one of the tables on the terrace, but at a 10% surcharge for doing so. Why not just get take away and sit directly on the beach?

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Buenas Migas

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Pl. del Mar (also known as C/ de la Drassana), 1
Tel:93 221 63 16
Metro Yellow Line, Barceloneta Station then walk to the sea or take buses 17, 39, or 64 to the sea. Click here for a map.

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Other locations:

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Passeig de Gràcia, 120
Tel: 93 238 55 49
Metro Green Line or Blue Line, Diagonal station

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Pl. Bonsuccés, 6
Tel: 93 318 37 08
Metro Green Line or Red line, Pl. Catalunya station

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Baixada de Santa Clara, 2
Tel: 93 319 13 80
Metro Yellow Line, Jaume I station

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Maremagnum
Pl. de l'Odissea
Tel: 93 225 81 15
Metro L3 Drassanes

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Illa Diagonal Shopping Center
Av. Diagonal 557
Tel: 93 444 29 89
Metro Green Line, Maria Cristina station

QUE BO! Great food -- there or on the go!!

Another of my favorite places to eat is Que Bo, a little eatery specializing in bocadillo (baguette) sandwiches and mid-eastern style platters. Located on the edge of the Barri Gotic. (Barrio Gotico in Spanish, Gothic Quarter in English.), it's a cozy, comfortable corner venue with lots of natural light and friendly, helpful staff.

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Sometimes I enjoy eating inside, but it can get crowded, especially since it is a WiFi Hot Zone and often has sports playing on the flat screen TV. Therefore, at other times I take my food outside to sit on a bench in the Barri Gotic or to the yacht basin nearby to watch the boats and people.

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You can choose from a variety of items that are displayed behind glass. For example, yesterday I got a huge chicken bocadillo stuffed with lettuce, onion, tomatoes and mayo. I could have had much more on the sandwich, as customers go up to the deli-like display case to point out to the cook what to put on the sandwich. Other garnish items available include green peppers, olives, carrots, pasta, basmati rice, mint leaves, cucumber, etc. Other spreads and sauces include yogurt, chili, satay and a special green sauce which I believe is made of cilantro and chilies.

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As a side dish I ordered patatas bravas, crispy potato cubes served with a spicy tomato sauce. I then picked up a soft drink and headed out to enjoy the food while sitting on a bench looking out at the yacht basin.

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How much did all of this cost? Bocadillo - 3.50; patatas bravas - 2.50.

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The sandwich was so filling and the patatas bravas serving so large that I could not eat all of the potatoes! So, if you are hungry but really cost conscious, a sandwich alone should be quite filling. If you are getting your food to go and want to save even more money, after buying your sandwich go to the little convenience store a few doors down and buy a soft drink for about 50 cents.

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Here is a sample of menu items and prices:

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For 1.50 - Soft drinks, fruit drinks, aromatic teas

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For 2.50 - Veggie Bocadillo, Gouda Bocadillo, Manchego Bocadillo, Tuna Bocadillo, Tortilla Bocadillo (not a Mexican tortilla but a Spanish one, which we English speakers call a Spanish Omelettte), Patatas Bravas

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For 3.50 - Chicken Bocadillo, Salmon Bocadillo, Grilled Meat Bocadillo, Salad al Gusto

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For 6 euros - Salad and Beef Platter; Salad and Chicken Platter; Salad and Beef/Chicken Platter

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For dessert they offer crepes made right before your eyes for 3 euros.

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So, delight in a freshly made meal there or take it with you to enjoy al fresco in Barcelona's oldest neighborhood, near the yacht basin or even on the beach, which is only about a 15-20 minute walk. And it's all possible for anywhere from 4 euros (a take away sandwich with a drink from next door) to 10.50 (a salad and meat platter with a drink and desert).

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Que Bo!

On the corner of C/ de la Fusteria and C/ de la Merce

Just beside the main post office at Pl. Antonio Lopez

Delicious budget dining in Barcelona: La Mar Salada (The Savory Sea)

A good friend treated me to a delicious lunch yesterday. This particular friend and I have a habit of seeking out good places to eat economically, and the place we visited is certainly one of the best we have found.

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While we were enjoying our meal I was reminded of an article from the New York Times that someone recently emailed me. It was written by a young man who had visited Barcelona and complained that it was not a good place to visit for a person on a limited budget. My response to the person who emailed me the article was, "That guy just didn't know where to go!"

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As someone who lives here I can say that Barcelona offers opportunities for all sorts of budgets, from luxury to mid-range to back-packer. For example, yesterday's spot is a place I believe most visitors in the backpacker range could afford and diners on any budget would enjoy.

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La Mar Salada (The Savory Sea) is a lovely little restaurant in my neighborhood, Barceloneta. It is situated on Passeig Joan de Borbo (which I have nicknamed "Paella Row" because it is dotted with restaurants offering varieties of this delicious rice dish) and has a bright, comfortable dining room as well as a clean canopy covered terrace.

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We sat on the terrace and ordered from the "menu of the day" ("menu del día"), which is the selection of specially priced set menus that most Spanish restaurants have each day. In Spanish these offerings are often simply referred to as "el menu." (What we English speakers refer to as "the menu" is "la carta" in Spanish.) Spanish "menus" typically include bread, a starter dish, a main dish, a desert, a drink (bottled water, wine, beer or a soft drink) and a choice of desert or coffee.

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Yesterday's "menu" offerings were varied. Catalan Salad (which included the local 'butifara' sausage), Steamed Mussels, Swiss Chard Au Gratin and Lasagna were some of the choices for the first dish. Options for the second included Paella Mixta, Baked Gilthead Bream, Fillet Steak and Roast Sirloin.

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I opted for the Swiss Chard Au Gratin to start with while my friend selected the Mussels. Not too long after placing the order, two large steaming dishes were delivered to our table. My companion's plate was piled high with beautiful black shells offering up the almost golden meat inside. My dish was about as big as a loaf of bread and as warm and tasty as a freshly made dish should be. It had a light brown crust covering layers of greens baked in a tangy cheese sauce.

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Neither of us could pass up the Paella Mixta, so soon after we finished our "starters" we were served two hot platters full of saffron colored rice doused with shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops, sausage, chicken, sweet pepper, onion, garlic... It had just the right mix of a smoky saffron taste balanced by the spicy blend of seafood and meat flavors. Talk about good!!

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It was hard to believe, but, we still had dessert to come! We bypassed the fresh melon and the Neapolitan ice cream for items made in the kitchen. My friend chose a cake that had a cheese base and a strawberry sauce topping. (I took a bite and it was very tasty.) I had the homemade yogurt, which was exquisite: a goblet shaped dish filled with a cloud of rich, creamy, white yogurt that was perfectly sweet. A scrumptious end to a delicious meal.

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The price for this superbly satisfying meal? Only 9 euros a piece! And that's the price of the "menu del día" at La Mar Salada each weekday at lunch time. So, there you have it -- good value and excellent quality in a great location.

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La Mar Salada
Passeig Joan de Borbo, 58-59
93 221 21 27
Lunch: 1pm - 4:30pm; Dinner: 8pm - 11pm; Closed Tuesdays

Spain's Thursday News: Fire in Catalonia ; Telefonica told to pay up ; World told to eat walnuts

Catalan residents and visitors evacuated: The biggest story locally was the forest fire in Montroig del Camp near Tarragona, which is south of Barcelona. Residents and tourists had to be evacuated and around 300 hectares were destroyed, including woodlands, farms, a camp-ground and a restaurant. There were only a few light injuries, mostly smoke inhalation, and people were eventually able to return to their homes thanks to the efforts of local firefighters. This makes six forest fires reported in Catalonia so far this week.

Telfonica slapped with a fine: The European Commission fined Telefonica, Spain's former telephone monopoly (that still acts like it is!), a whopping €152 million ($206 / £102m). This is the largest fine ever for a telephone company and the second largest penalty of any kind imposed by EU regulators. (The record holder? Microsoft's €497 million fine.)

Telefonica has long been accused of abusing its market position in Spain by charging other companies excessively high rates to use its lines. EU regulators claimed this has impeded competition and, therefore, hurt consumers.

EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said, "Telefonica's conduct harmed Spanish consumers, Spanish businesses and the Spanish economy as a whole, and by extension Europe's economy." She claimed that the large size of the fine was necessary as a deterrent and a warning to other companies.

Telefonica has pledged to go to the European Court of Justice to appeal the fine.

I say, "Way to go, Neelie!"

More proof that the Spanish diet is healthy! Probably everyone would agree that a low fat diet is good for you, but could a daily dose of virgin olive oil and walnuts be even better? According to the Prevencion con Dieta Mediterranea (aka, PREDIMED) study, it sure looks that way. The Spanish study of the Mediterranean diet revealed that regular consumption of walnuts and/or virgin olive oil could prevent coronary heart disease (CHD). The first results of the study were published last month in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The study concluded that there is enough, "evidence to recommend TMD [The Mediterranean Diet] as a useful tool against risk factors for CHD" because "individuals at high cardiovascular risk who improved their diet toward a TMD pattern showed significant reductions in cellular lipid levels and LDL oxidation."

I say, "Way to go, TMD!"

Thursday’s News……………Spain’s World Heritage Sites Increasing & Bubbles in BCN

Originally posted by Carloz on June, 2007 at http://myspainblog.wordpress.com/

Unesco declares Teide a World Heritage Site! Today UNESCO declared Spain’s Teide National Park a World Heritage Site. A national park since 1954, Teide covers 19,000 hectares of the Canary Island of Tenerife. It inlcudes the higgest peak in Spain and is known for its biological variety and its spectacular geology, such as volcanic cones and lava flows. At 3,715 meters (12,188.3 feet), Teide is the third largest volcano on Earth. Its last eruption was in 1909.

Spain now has 40 World Heritage Sites, including 35 Cultural Sites (such as the Alhambra, the Altamira Cave and Barcelona’s Palau de la Musica and Hospital de Sant Pau) three Natural Sites (the Doñana national park in Andalucía and the Garajonay park on another of the Canary Islands, La Gomera) and two Mixed Sites (the island of Ibiza and the Pyrenees Mountains).

Also added to the World Heritage Site’s list today were locations in China, Gabon, Iraq, Namibia, Slovakia, South Africa, Switzerland, and Ukraine.

Here is a link to the announcement on the official site: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/359

Next on the list? There has been speuclation in the media that Barcelona’s famous stretch of rambling boulevards, collectively known as Las Ramblas, is being considered as a possible nominee to the list of World Heritage Sites.

In addition, El Periodico de Catalunya reported today that the Spanish Government is considering making a proposal that the Mediterranean Diet receive a World Heritage designation from UNESCO. (Natural? Cultural? Mixed? Boiled? Baked? Grilled?)

Well, whatever designation it does, or does not, receive, the food here is excellent. Here is a link to an article on the Mediterranean Diet: http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/Reportajes/Dieta+Mediterranea.htm?SubSys=FooGen&language=en

Pep Bou’s Bubbles are back! Peb Bou, the Catalan performance artist who has made an art form out of blowing bubbles, is back in Barcelona with his latest show, Claire de Lune. He and accompanist Jordi Masó produce a symbiosis of piano and bubbles to the tunes of Debussy, Blancafort, Séverac, Donostia, Fauré, Mompou and Turina. Here’s a link to his site: http://www.pepbou.com/eng/eng.htm

Responses

By: Colin on June 29th, 2007 at 9:48 am
The closest I have got to Teide so far is to fly past it on the way to Gran Canaria. I’ll be flying past in December (as usual) for my now annual two/three week break - meet ya there???!

By: Carloz on June 29th, 2007 at 11:27 am

Hmmm, sounds nice! But December is a little too far off for me to plan yet.