A Taste of Barcelona

Posted July 20th, 2008 by MomGrind

barcelona-market-lamb-heads.JPG

This photo of lamb heads, taken at Barcelona’s Mercat De La Boqueria, might be gross, but we actually had great food in Barcelona.

If you ever go there, and are into food at all, you should visit Comerc24. We’ve eaten in plenty of fabulous restaurants before, including 3-Michelin-stars restaurants in Paris, yet found this Barcelona restaurant to be so good that we came back the next day. If you go, trust the chef and order the tasting menu. It is full of surprises – in a good way.

Back to Mercat De La Boqueria. It’s like your local farmers market, only way bigger. You can get everything here, including fresh produce, eggs, fish and meat. There’s also candy, breads and baked goods. The meat section is a bit hard to stomach for most Americans, as the photos amply demonstrate. But it was an amazing experience. I can’t wait to go back.

 

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A Candy Display

 

barcelona-market-skinned-piglets.JPG
Skinned Piglets

 

barcelona-market-fruit-stand-1
A Fruit Stand

 

barcelona-market-skinned-rabbits.JPG
Skinned Rabits

 

barcelona-market-juice-display
Smoothies

Are you a foodie? Are good restaurants a big part of your vacations? Do you make room in your budget for trying out new restaurants with talented chefs? Do you live to eat, or are you the eat-to-live type who views food as no more than fuel?




67 Responses to: “A Taste of Barcelona”

  1. Dana responds:
    Posted: July 20th, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    Wow, those are fantastic and very interesting photos. I’ve never seen anything like that!!

    Dana’s last blog post..June 19 – Hike and about a Bear

  2. megan responds:
    Posted: July 20th, 2008 at 7:30 pm

    that candy shot is definitely a winner — the colors and shapes just pop! looks like a fabulous trip, too!

  3. Gina responds:
    Posted: July 20th, 2008 at 8:48 pm

    Oh my gosh! I felt like I was taking a biology lesson. Wow! Some wierd stuff to us Americans, I am sure. Thanks for sharing, loved it! I felt like I was on a field-trip!

    Gina’s last blog post..Free Spirit

  4. Tanya responds:
    Posted: July 20th, 2008 at 8:56 pm

    LOVE how you went from yuck to yum with after every very cool shot.
    nice

    Tanya’s last blog post..Best Shot Monday – Perspective

  5. RC responds:
    Posted: July 20th, 2008 at 9:00 pm

    I grew up on hanging around and helping with my grandparent’s farm, yet I would have had a hard time with the market. The fruits and such – wonderful and I would have enjoyed. The meat displays – I may have turned vegetarian… ;-)

    RC’s last blog post..Hanging up

  6. Bamboo Forest responds:
    Posted: July 20th, 2008 at 9:13 pm

    I think food is one of the greatest pleasures there is. I love love food. And, eating with friends, family or a significant other is special.

    Nice pictures. I think I’ll become a vegetarian now. :-P

    Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..Realizing You’re a Magician Can Create Magic in Your Life

  7. Kara responds:
    Posted: July 20th, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    Oh…poor little piggies! But that candy looks good!

    Kara’s last blog post..Best Shot Monday: 80’s Makeup

  8. tracy responds:
    Posted: July 20th, 2008 at 9:30 pm

    Outstanding! It’s images like these that inspire me to travel! And you know your food is fresh!!

    tracy’s last blog post..Best Shot Monday: Summer=

  9. carrie responds:
    Posted: July 20th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

    WOW. I sooo wasn’t expecting to see that first shot when I clicked over to your blog. Just wow! (And a little ewwww, too!)

    I love the candy one – the markets are really like a work of art!

  10. ironman responds:
    Posted: July 20th, 2008 at 10:12 pm

    I agree with Bamboo Forest. I think this post has turned me into a vegetarian. :)

  11. Joel Falconer responds:
    Posted: July 20th, 2008 at 10:30 pm

    Once upon a time, I was a vegan. I’m pretty sure it was that kind of photograph that did it to me, too. ;) Glad to hear you had a great trip! Missed you here and on Twitter.

  12. Sandier Pastures responds:
    Posted: July 20th, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    I suppose those piglets would make a great roast. Cool photos! The lamb head is a little scary though!

    Sandier Pastures’s last blog post..Even Will Smith is capable of doing a crap movie

  13. Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Map responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 12:07 am

    The fruits and the candies look yummy….err…can’t say about the rest. I didn’t get to go to the fresh market when I was there in Barcelona. And looking at your pictures, I doubted that I would have survived there. I would have fainted!

    But I have to agree that all the cooked food in the restaurants tasted delicious! My friends and I kept ordering seafood paella each day we were there!

    Evelyn

    Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Map’s last blog post..Practising Awareness Of The Mind

  14. Barbara Swafford responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 12:27 am

    Hi Vered,

    What colorful photos.

    For me, with food, it’s all about presentation. If it doesn’t look good, I don’t care to eat it.

    When traveling it’s always fun to ask the locals what they recommend. They always know the best spots.

  15. Jenny responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 12:50 am

    I can’t stand seeing the eyes. I dunno, it’s just wrong, wish they just left the lids on. haha

  16. Scott McIntyre responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 1:00 am

    Very vivid photographs, Vered (says Scott as he recovers from photo 1 :-) )…

    While I’ve never been to Barcelona myself, I have many friends who have come back raving about the city.

    You might not know this, but Scotland – where I am – has very close ties with Catalonia, the region of Spain of which Barcelona is the capital.

    For example, the late, great Barcelona-born architect Enric Miralles designed the magnificent Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh (which cost UK£ 400 million / US$ 800 million to build!).

    I gather that Barcelona is awash with many architectural masterpieces.

  17. Kelly@SHE-POWER responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 1:03 am

    I love food, as my hips attest. But having been raised a vegetarian I am a bit squeamish about animal products. I eat meat now, but I wouldn’t class myself as adventurous in the animals and body parts I’ll eat. I like my lamb chops and pork cutlets are good. If I remember them as skinned piglets, I’m done, no more meat for me.

    Nice pics.

    Kelly

  18. Cath Lawson responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 4:24 am

    Hi Vered – I loved most of the photos but I was almost sick when I saw the sheep and the piggy ones. We really want to go to Barcelona sometimes so I’ll keep that restaurant in mind.

    We like eating at good restaurants – but not all the time. We also like eating at more basic ones. My favourite Michelin star restaurant here in the UK is Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles. I liked it even more than I liked Gordon Ramsey at Claridges.

    Cath Lawson’s last blog post..The Everlasting Gift That Costs Nothing

  19. Donna responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 4:49 am

    Beautiful, breathtaking.
    Viva Las Ramblas!
    (and thanks for the shout out)
    Donna @
    GlobalGiving

  20. Laurie | Express Yourself to Success responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 5:07 am

    I’m all for the fruit drinks and candy shots – they look delicious. I’m not an active foodie so don’t seek out interesting restaurants myself. However, I like to partake in the finds of others so I’ve learned the importance of traveling with a foodie who does the research work (although to him it’s not work) and I just have to show up.

  21. Al at 7P responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 5:40 am

    That’s awesome that Barcelona has such a big market. I am just starting to discover farmer’s markets here in the US and really enjoy the access to authentic, fresh food. The lamb’s heads might be a little too authentic for me though.

  22. Urbane Lion responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 5:48 am

    OMG! I wanna be there RIGHT NOW! Those piglets look soooo delicious! Can you imagine the tasty sauce you can make with those lamb heads???? Of course, I’m still working on developing the Urban Panther’s taste for lamb. It may take some time but I’m not a quiter! I’m sure there are a lot of fantastic restaurants in Spain. In fact, it is commonly agreed amongst the food crowd that the best restaurant in the world is El Bulli in Spain. And….. you were less than 200 km from it too! Given the fact that the Panther’s brother Alex lives in San Sebastian we will probably be heading to Spain sooner than later. And….. I will definately be carrying memories of this post!

    Geeeesh! I’m hungry all of a sudden!

  23. Hunter Nuttall responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 6:20 am

    OK, those lamb heads are the scariest things I’ve ever seen. And those poor piggies! They look like they were dreaming!

  24. Christina responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 6:45 am

    Oh my goodness, what a rich, vibrant location! I little bit unsettling to this poor American tummy, tho. ;) I’d love to do more traveling.

  25. Kmommy @ The Poopie Patrol responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 6:47 am

    Oh my goodness! What awesome pictures. Of course some are entirely gross and some look so delicious! :) It looks like it was quite an adventure!
    I’m all about food – especially while pregnant :) Unfortunately we don’t live in areas (either here in Iowa or back in Wisconsin) where there’s much variety in restaurants. Unless you want fast food ;) and even then it’s pretty sketchy.

  26. Suzie responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 6:47 am

    My Dad had me kill a chicken when i was a kid so I always associated meat with an animals death. My Dad was a little extreme but he did make a point. I eat very little meat now but I do eat it. Death is a part of most of our diets we just sanitize it here in the States and try to make it pretty, Its not pretty but boy does it taste good. Cool pictures too.

  27. killlashandra responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 6:49 am

    Wow, those market pictures are amazing. Reminds me of the open markets I saw when I visited Vietnam. Especially the meat pictures. Sounds like a wonderful place to visit. :)

  28. CharlesP responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 6:52 am

    I’m very fond of food, but I’m a Pillsbury, so my food fondness falls in the breads and sweet tooth variety (oh, and a good falafel, I LOVE a good falafel). I prefer food to be more than fuel, but when chasing kids and trying to get through the day it often isn’t much more (and being frugal I tend to be the dad’s eating left-overs again machine that tries to keep the food budget in check).

    I’m also a 4th generation vegetarian (on one side) and those dead animal pictures are freaky and nasty *shudder*.

    CharlesP’s last blog post..What are you? I’m Batman.

  29. NTE responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 7:12 am

    I’m definitely a food goes in so I can keep going type, but I love that you’re excited about it: it makes me envious of adventurous people, that’s for sure. Although the one with the heads? And the chicken one? Make me pretty glad I wasn’t there in person.

    Ew.

    NTE’s last blog post..One of the bright spots

  30. Stephanie responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 7:52 am

    Amazing photos! I love the fruits, vegetables and candy! So many varieties in one place! Not so sure I could walk past the skinned bunnies, though. Wonderful post.

    Stephanie’s last blog post..Best Shot Monday

  31. Kim responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 7:58 am

    wow, you got some cool, colorful pics. I really like the candy pic.

  32. hyrcan responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 8:01 am

    Bwahahaha! Sit down, snacking on my bagel and open my morning blogs…BAM Lamb parts! heheh

    If there were a contest for most unexpected thing to find on a blog you’d win with this. ;)

    …and isn’t that brain I spy in the plastic dish? mmmm…Fried Brains…

    CANDY! mmmm…I can feel my teeth rot just looking at all that.

    It makes me sad though to see markets in europe… just a reminder of how disconnected we americans are from REAL food.

    Oh, just a fyi, the Piglets arn’t skinned, they are scalded.

    I love food. I enjoy well prepared tasty dishes from all over the world. But I’m self-concise of the impact my dining habits have on the environment (which is why I’m mostly vegan). So trips to fancy restaurants are really special treats for me.

    Though, while I do enjoy good food, it’s difficult for me to prepare things too fancy. I’m so used to cooking for larger groups ( youngest of 5 kids and the only one that can cook…) it’s hard to switch gears to cooking for one.

    It works out for my friends though… ;) I usually try to have a dinner party once or twice a year, and I when I do I go all out.

  33. Marelisa responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 8:29 am

    Oh, I love farmers’ markets. There’s nothing better than buying fresh fruit and seafood. Can we see pictures of narrow cobble-stone streets filled with antique stores and cafés next? Now you made me think of El Prado (although that’s in Madrid). I haven’t been to a good museum in so long I think I’m going to cry. I need to go on a trip soon.

  34. Sarah responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 10:26 am

    Ack! Photos like those are why I’m vegan! Ha! Actually, growing up in Malaysia, I am very used to being around meat being displayed like that…it always grossed me out though – esp the smell. Are those FIGS in the fruit photo? They’re one of my favorite fruit!!! Fabulous pics. :-)

    Sarah’s last blog post..Using Your Diet as a Tool to Enrich Your Life.

  35. Jonathan Mead responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 10:50 am

    Wow, those lamb heads. Just wow.

  36. Urbane Lion responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 12:38 pm

    I guess I’m a bit of a food freak. I would make the 400 km trip for a lot less than El Bulli! In Quebec we have a special lamb that feeds on sea weed and as a result, is naturally salted. Huuum delicioso!

    Urbane Lion’s last blog post..How to really land yourself a good man!

  37. Tom Volkar / Delightful Work responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 12:40 pm

    Anyone else notice that those pigs were smiling? Yummy stuff, thanks. When I skin my rabbits I cut off the heads. I wonder what the roasted eyeballs and brains taste like?

  38. Urban Panther responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    I love markets! So many sights and sounds and smells. I also love taking pictures of them. They come out so artsy!

    Interesting what different people consider appetizing, eh? My brother made the mistake of taking my son to the Kensington Market in Toronto when my son was too young. There were skinned rabbits and it completely traumatized him, and he ended up going vegetarian for years. But then he grew, a lot, got really really hungry, and went back to meat. He even complained, when he moved into an apartment, about the small oven. “How I am supposed to cook a decent roast in there?”, he wailed.

    Urban Panther’s last blog post..So it begins

  39. Ido responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 2:20 pm

    Urbane Lion, El Bulli is where Carlos Abellan (the chef @ Comerc24) perfected his skills as a sous-chef. if you’d travel 400Km for El Bulli, you should certainly visit C24 if you’re anywhere near.

  40. Urbane Lion responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    Ido, Vered: Don’t you worry! Comrc24 is definately on my list!

  41. Sara at On Simplicity responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 6:54 pm

    You make me want to travel, Vered. I forget how far we are removed from our food sources due to the packaging all the items are in. It will be quite awhile before I look at pork the same way, again!

    Sara at On Simplicity’s last blog post..How to Do Less: Simplifying Your To-Do List

  42. DavinaH responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    Ok, Vered…. this was almost enough to turn me into a vegetarian! Almost, but not quite. That’s what I like about your blog. You tell it like it is!

    DavinaH’s last blog post..Like a Bird

  43. Robin responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 9:03 pm

    Fantastic Vered – I laughed when I saw the sheep heads come up on the front page – it was not what I was expecting from the title!

    Melbourne is a great place for foodies – scenes like above can be found in our markets and shopping areas – it is very multicultural here. We tend to eat out at small, cheap places with fantastic food – there’s heaps of them around here (Turkish 2nite – yum yum)

    Robin’s last blog post..A Magic Trick For Relationships

  44. Ann at One Bag Nation responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    I think I might be willing to glance at a few lamb’s heads if it meant I got to spend a few days in Barcelona!

    Ann at One Bag Nation’s last blog post..Not a Good Day

  45. theramblinghousewife responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 10:42 pm

    The candy looks magnificent–But the lamb’s heads and the piglets would have been enough to spoil my apatite–

    I’m not a vegetarian–but I cannot eat meat that looks like an animal–

    Uggh .. .. :(

    theramblinghousewife’s last blog post..For the Record

  46. golightly responds:
    Posted: July 21st, 2008 at 10:54 pm

    wow, I can’t fully say that the meat give me much of an appetite, lol! but the photos are great, I love all the colors.

    golightly’s last blog post..BSM- Just Another Day at the House of Mouse

  47. Maggie responds:
    Posted: July 22nd, 2008 at 5:02 am

    These shots are beautiful — and so different! Very creative things to share – and since I have never been anywhere like that, I am so excited to see them…thanks!

    Maggie’s last blog post..Best Shot Monday – Shining Sun

  48. magpie responds:
    Posted: July 22nd, 2008 at 7:37 am

    Awesome picture.

    And, it was lovely to meet you the other day.

    magpie’s last blog post..Tales from San Francisco: Blogher

  49. Chris responds:
    Posted: July 22nd, 2008 at 7:59 am

    Here in Thailand you always see pigs heads in the market, which I got to admit I fount strange the first few times I saw them :)

    Chris’s last blog post..Find broken links on your web pages : Free tool

  50. Andre Kibbe responds:
    Posted: July 23rd, 2008 at 5:44 pm

    As noted several times above, a carnivore’s dream, a vegetarian’s nightmare. Beautiful presentations all around, though. The skinned bunnies reminded me of the Mouse Kabobs in Critter Cuisine.

    Andre Kibbe’s last blog post..Review: Predictably Irrational

  51. Ellen Wilson responds:
    Posted: July 24th, 2008 at 10:02 am

    Oh man, this reminds me of my trip to Laredo, Texas, where we went to a goat ranch and a baby goat was sacrificed. Okay, killed for the food, but same thing! I could not watch, and remember going to my host’s fridge, opening the door and there was that little head. And a jar of blood. I think there was some kind of stew she made with it all.

  52. Natural responds:
    Posted: July 25th, 2008 at 9:08 am

    okay i was wondering what i was going to eat for lunch, but after looking at these photos, i don’t think i want lunch, well not true, but i do know i don’t want any meat. oh my. not much of a meat eater, not a vegan, just don’t care for it much.

  53. stpaulslim responds:
    Posted: July 28th, 2008 at 10:46 pm

    I once lived in Barcelona, and have visited many times. There is no city like it, and no market like the Boqueria. Who knew goat was so good?

    stpaulslim’s last blog post..Never mind the skin cancer, pass the botox, July 29

  54. Edinburgh Lover responds:
    Posted: August 24th, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    These are some beautiful photographs, and I love the dazzling colors of the candy and produce. The animal heads, on the other hand, definitely took away my appetite!

  55. Bookmarks about Gross responds:
    Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 10:45 am

    [...] – bookmarked by 1 members originally found by MistressTaurea on 2008-09-12 Best Shot Monday: A Taste Of Barcelona http://momgrind.com/2008/07/20/best-shot-monday-a-taste-of-barcelona/ – bookmarked by 1 members [...]

  56. Jonathan responds:
    Posted: October 14th, 2008 at 2:56 pm

    What a collection of shots! Not for the faint of heart, or the vegans! We’re planning a trip to Barcelona this December and we’ll be looking for some recommendations for spots to enjoy. Will keep reading!

    Cheers,
    J.

  57. Ingo Di Bella responds:
    Posted: October 28th, 2008 at 11:30 am

    wow these lamb heads really can make some nighmares :)
    like your Barcelona pics!
    Ingo

    Ingo Di Bella’s last blog post..[HD Video] Barcelona and its Street Art and Graffiti

  58. Staycation - Blogger For Hire responds:
    Posted: July 27th, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    [...] Bay Area. Instead of the elaborate vacations of years past (such as our visit to Barcelona and to Mercat de la Boqueria), which involved several flights and hotels, we picked a nearby destination that enabled us to [...]


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