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The Easter Cake in Catalonia can be an artwork made of chocolate. Godfathers offer it to their godsons or goddaughters on Easter Sunday. The word Mona, although is spelled as the female monkey, has an arab root and means present. In the old times Easter cakes used to be a ring shaped sweet bread decorated with whole boiled eggs.
Watch this video to see some Monas, including the 400kg woodpeker on display at the Escribà pastry shop at the Gran Via. Those crazy about shoes can get some high heel shoes made of chocolate.
http://www.antena3noticias.com/PortalA3N/cultura-espectaculos/Impresionantes-monas-Pascua-listas-para-regalar-Barcelona/10213459
Escribà is a century old family owned company and is well known for its cakes and chocolates, as well as caterings. Their website is quite original but not easy to navigate.
http://www.escriba.es/base_en.html
The purses, wallets and keyrings decorated with the design of the tiles paving the sidewalks of Barcelona, which are the symbol of the Modernism Route, are a good "souvenir" from our city. You can find them at Calpa, a shop selling handbags and luggage which was the first to have this idea and has registered its designs. They also sell purses and keyrings reproducing the hexagonal tiles designed by Gaudí for the Pedrera that you can also see on the sidewalks of the Passeig de Gràcia.
Calpa
c/ Ferràn 53. There is also an entrance on the Carrer del Call.
Nearby the Plaça Sant Jaume, Metro: Liceo (Green Line) or Jaume I (Yellow line)
For more information about the Modernism Route www.rutadelmodernisme.com
Today, in Barcelona, we enjoyed a beautiful spring weather and I took a long walk through the city center. I discovered the work of a group of young artists from different countries who collaborate to make bags from recycled materials (PVC from banners and belt buckles from cars). Most bags are painted but they also produce bags with pieces cut and sewn as a collage. Each piece is unique but most of them have a strap that can be used around the waist or around a bike´s handle as well as a detachable purse. They are fun and made to last. Prices: €50-80.
http://www.pinzat.org/
c/ Grunyi, 7, a small lane with c/Argenteria, not far from the Plaça Sant Jaume and Santa Maria del Mar. I also recommend the restaurant Senyor Parellada situated at c/Argenteria, where they serve traditional dishes at decent prices considering the setting and level of service.
Metro: Jaume I (Yellow line)
Today I walked past the Mistral Bakery and it brought me memories from my student years. Situated not far from the old building of the University of Barcelona, it produces a variety of artisan breads, including ecological bread. It is always packed with people as it is famous for its Coques de Pa -a typical flat bread with some caramelized sugar on the top- and the Ensaimades, a pastry original from the island of Mallorca, where it is been baked for centuries. The ensaimades, shaped as spirals, are made with flour, milk, eggs, sugar and pork lard (known as saïm in Mallorca). They are delicious when they are still warm. At this time of the year they also sell Bunyols (Lent Fritters).
Ronda Sant Antoni, 96 by the Plaça Universitat
Metro: Universitat (Red line)
Today I realized that tomorrow is Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos), a movable Christian feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter Sunday, just before the Holy Week (Semana Santa). Palms were on sale at a street market situated at the Rambla Catalunya with c/Diputació. The palms are leaves of palm trees which grow tied and protected from sunlight. Thus they don´t turn green and are very flexible. Palms for girls are not too big and are braided into different designs. The small braided palm leaves are worn on the lapel. Bay leaf branches are also used, mainly by adults. Although in Spain religion is losing ground, tomorrow you may encounter special ceremonies inside or outside most churches, which often include short processions. Many people still take their families to church on this date because for many of us, this tradition is part of our childhood memories.
The drawings by Picasso decorating the façade of the building which is the siège of the Association of Architects of Catalonia, at the Plaça Catedral, reproduce, among other subjects, the traditions of palm sunday.
In the USA I came across a chocolate bar called Barcelona Bar and it got my attention. It is made with hickory smoked almonds, sea salt and deep milk chocolate and it has a unique taste. It is one of the exotic chocolate bars produced by Vosges Haut-Chocolat, a company funded by a young American lady with the concept "Travel the world through chocolate". Her name is Katrina and she followed her food studies traveling the world. She started with Spain, where she worked with the Adrià brothers. Vosges produces many other interesting types of chocolate that come in beautiful presentations.
http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/product/barcelona_exotic_candy_bar/exotic_candy_bars
Check Katrina´s Blog for recipes, stories and beautiful pictures. She has just posted a recipe mixing hot chorizo and melted chocolate!!!. Kind of weird for Spanish people. If you try it, let us know.
http://www.peaceloveandchocolate.com/
The Vosges boutique in New York is located in the SoHo (check the website for other sale points)
132 Spring Street (between Greene & Wooster)
This morning I visited the old books market which takes place every Sunday morning around the building of the Sant Antoni Market. They sell books, comics, magazines, DVDs and music. Although most titles are in Spanish it is worth a visit.
The market of Sant Antoni is an old building which is part of the network of municipal markets dating back to the XIX century. At present, it is closed for renovation. On weekdays you won´t find books but there are many small shops in the area and you will get to know the life of this popular neighbourhood away from the tourist crowds.
It is located where the Eixample and Raval neighbourhoods meet and you can get there from the Ramblas walking through the narrow streets of the Raval. Close to the market, at Carrer Compte de Borrell 68, there is a small hotel with a nice restaurant called MARKET. It offers a stylish decoration and moderate prices.
Mercat de Sant Antoni is located at Ronda de Sant Pau with Ronda de Sant Antoni.
Metro: Sant Antoni, Line 2 (Purple). You can also walk there from the Metro Universidad (Red line)
www.markethotel.com.es
