EUROPEAN FOOD, ART, FUN AND INSPIRATION

Nothing inspires me and invigorates me more than a good trip. It is always a great source of inspiration for me, which fills me not only with a wonderful experience but also with great ideas and it feels as if it warms my soul. But also, it makes me run home and enter my lab of creation, for most called, the kitchen!

This summer has been a very special one, especially because I had not been able to take a vacation the past 3 summers. I had the wonderful opportunity to see my career grow, change and evolve in many wonderful ways, which put me in creation, production, promotions for most of the year. It, of course, made this 2-week summer break even a sweeter one and also, the fact that I was able to join my best friends and their family for the entire trek, allowed for tons of fun. Being a group of 8 people certainly provided plenty of action and adventure.

My adventure started in Barcelona, which was definitely on my to do list for a long time. I have been to Madrid many times, just this Christmas I visited Bilbao and San Sebastian but was not able to make it to Barcelona. It was definitely my goal to reach this magical city with all its Gaudi, Dali, Picasso and Catalan food.

Barcelona is filled with incredible art, which makes it seem like an amazing outdoor museum. Design and cultural art is so prevalent that it also translates into foodie culture.

Which is what had me so excited about arriving to Barcelona, I was dreaming of eating my way through it and, of course, had to visit the famous Mercat which mom and all my friends said had to be the very first thing I did on my first morning in Barcelona and so here it is…

“Mercat duSantJoseph”
I have been to several great markets in different places but this one wins first prize. It is an experience from entering through those arches, as you try to make your way through all the many fruit stands selling amazing fruit and fresh juices. Then come the fish stands ranging from wonderfully small stands with great variety to truly amazing build-outs and stands of great quality. Then you walk by the cheese, wine, bread, eggs etc stands, many of them, one after the other, hard to tell which one was better than the next! By then, I was wondering which one was going to indulge me with their breakfast, and yes, there are many mini restaurants in there as well.
I settled on La Boqueria D’ Quim, which had been recommended to me by several foodie friends, and indeed, there I had my (navajas/espadas ) razor clams. I loved them so much that ended up having 2-dozen on the grill. They are long, cigar shaped hard shells, with live meat inside. Their texture and flavor a bit like a cross between a calamari and conch. I love both those so needless to say, I am still dreaming about the clams.

From all the different meals I had while in Barcelona, I am listing 2 that stood out. They were amazing and also very different from each other,
one being very Nouvelle Catalan and the other very traditional.

One night we met up with a friend of ours Rosa Sugranes who is from Barcelona at “Moo”, perhaps one of the top nouvelle Spanish cuisine restaurants in Barcelona, menu by Joan Roca, a star chef. The menu and food were so incredibly creative, special and delicious. It was just a tease and succulent adventure, both visually and flavorfully, that it left me dreaming for days.

The menu consisted if 2 appetizer tastings, 2 main course tasting dishes and 2 dessert tastings. They all came with their respective wine parings, listed below:

Menu
Cherries and Tourigha with Foie gras and Port
Noval Special Reserve / Quinta do Noval

Gamba (Langoustine) & Gruner Veltliner, pickles and lime
Im Weingebirge Federspiel 07 / Nickolaif
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Rodaballo (Turbot) & Xarel.lo
Fins, ink and tender garlic
Pardas Xarel / lo Penedes

Lamb & tempranillo with cheeps cheese, eggplant and cumin
Contino Gran Reserva / Rioja

Mini Strawberries & Cabernet, peaches and ginger.
Cabernet d’Anjou 03. Dom des Baumard

Chocolate & Chenin Blanc, almonds and apricots
Ch. De la Roulerie 96-97 / Coteux du Layon

Cuban Cigar Ice cream

One of the oddest and most creative desserts I have ever had was the Cuban cigar ice cream, which was infused/smoked with the leaves of Cuban cigars. As much as it did not sound appealing at all to eat, what to me sounded like an ashtray, I have to say, it was interesting and perhaps had some deliciousness to it.

The other amazing meal was in the heart of Barrio Gotico, in Los Caracoles, which has been around since 1835.
My friends’ parents insisted we go there as they had been there 50 years ago. We went semi in protest, as we wanted to try more newer style Catalan cuisine in the heart of it all. Well, we were all so pleasantly surprised and loved it. We dined in a room that was filled with wine barrels, chandeliers, kind of rustic, half Spanish missionary style with a touch of old world elegance and that transported us to another place and time.

We dined on all the classics and the houses trademark black squid Paella, Gambas, Squid and tons of sangria.(See slideshow)

Well, what this all means is that you can expect many more episodes of Spanish cuisine, hey after all, it is our Latin American mother land!

From Barcelona, we went on to Nice to board a boat and then on to Antibe, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Saint Tropez, Portofino and San Remo.

We were fortunate enough to be in the hands of what I call “a star creator”, Chef Adam Aschner from Texas.
Every meal on board was a delicious experience

Here are some of the dishes and pictures are courtesy of Chef Adam Aschner.

I have to say that I love France and have traveled through it often but I will always be partial to Italy. I felt it instantly, when I sat foot in Portofino, which I have been fortunate enough to have been to at least a few times before. There’s nothing like hearing the Italian language and their attitude,which is most nearest to Latin so obviously, for me, I identify more with the culture and just love every ounce of it. From seeing the Italian flag being raised as we made our way into the small but oh so picturesque port to walking it’s cobblestone streets full of color and character.

D O Batti has been a favorite restaurant of mine which I have visited on every trip there and although I always like experiencing new things here, I make it a must stop for the best langoustines ever!!!... and a good plate of pasta. The other must stop in Portofino is a drink at the Hotel Splendido which oversees the whole Mediterranean and is literally perched on a cliff overseeing it all, it has the most amazing views and landscaping to be enjoyed with a nice bellini in hand.

Taking time out to enjoy other flavors and cultures is so uplifting. I am sad the summer is almost over but can’t wait to share all of my new dishes inspired by this great summer getaway with all of you!!!!