Barcelona//day 3: lost track of time

yo, Brooklyn! we'd like some tapas. NOW, please.

our friend. owning it.

mmmm, tapas.

YES. PLEASE.

(left) stuffed mushroom with goat cheese and jamon, drizzled with olive oil

(right) pork and cheese atop eggplant, drizzled with olive oil

blurry, because he didn't know how to use my camera.

but i still heart sir Brooklyn and Bar Ramon anyway.

thumbs.up.

hola friends.
been too busy to write...having so much fun just wandering the streets of barcelona.
made friends last nite with a bartender at a tapas bar (Bar Ramon) that we stumbled into, across from the Market Hotel where we planned to dine. The bartender was one of those guys with a baby face but was ambivalent to us since we couldn't speak spanish and all we wanted was some Estrella from the tap. He hands us frozen mugs filled with luscious beer and we decide to order some tapas (wouldn't hurt to try one before dinner!) Then I noticed he was wearing a 'BROOKLYN' tee and I immediately yelled out "HEY BROOKLYN! I LIVE THERE!" well, that got his positive attention and we sort of became friends. Turns out he's never even been to Brooklyn. Anyway, ordering tapas was suddenly easy. And getting free tapas and beer came easier. Replete with souvenir lighters and an "adios amigo", big thumbs up, and muchos gracias exchange, Emily and I left, knowing we'd be back.

tapas : stuffed mushrooms with goat cheese and jamon; large eggplant stuffed with pork and cheese; fritters of pork, bleu cheese, and chicken. Estrella beer to wash it all down (the official beer of barcelona...or maybe spain). SO. DAMN. GOOD.

i've been really savoring all the flavors of paris and barcelona. there's a beautiful complexity to each dish, each bite, that makes one slow down and just eat. it's just so tasty and rich in flavor that it's no wonder the portions are smaller here, simply because you don't need a lot to be completely satiated.

also, side note, there wasn't much to see, or offered, in terms of 'organic' or 'whole wheat' foods...seems like the portions compensate for the fat. it's interesting to contrast that with the current state of dining in the USA...we are all about nutritional value and % of fat....i think if our portions were controlled and the food was as rich and flavorful as that of paris, barcelona, probably most of europe, we wouldn't have to worry so much. i personally would rather have better quality than quantity!

ah, barcelona.