The Counter Culture

While living in Barcelona for almost four months, there were certain foods I began to crave.  Soon included hamburgers and onion rings.  Of course I seemed only fitting to pick one up when I got home.  Thankfully in California we have more options than I can possibly imagine - the all so favorite In 'n Out, Islands, Tommy's, Johnny Rockets, Ruby's, the Habit, etc.  But what I was craving was the Counter.

If you have ever heard of the COUNTER, you will know what I am talking about.  It is not the normal diner style burger joint, instead they call it the "Counter Culture." Instead of normal menus, they have clipboards with the different levels of the burger, each with a wide selection of additions or substitutions.  You simply check the box of the type of meal you want and the waiters will have it ready in no time.

Burger or bowl? Regular lettuce or mixed greens? What type of bun? Normal, wheat, English muffin, pretzel bread?  Classic beef, turkey, chicken or veggie patty?  Toppings?  So many to choose from: grilled onions, tomatoes, pineapple, eggs, coleslaw, cranberries.  Gourmet toppings such as bacon, cheeses galore, and finally every type of sauce imaginable.  Each burger comes with a choice of 4 toppings and 1 cheese, but ordering over that isn't too pricey, so let your dream burger come true.

Then every few weeks or months, they create a "Market Selection" suggestion list.  This has different buns, toppings, and sauces that are a little out of the ordinary.  Example from last night: bison burger, smoked gouda, artichokes, garlic-petso aioli sauce, and a holiday-themed eggnog milkshake.

If you are unsure where to begin, they also have some classic combinations, however these can't always be substituted.  Moving onto the sides, have you ever had sweet potato fries? Ah, delicious and hey, sweet potatoes have some good health benefits to them.  Ok, maybe not in the fry form, but they sure are tasty.  Not sure if you want regular, sweet potato fries, or onion strings? Order the "50-50" for a combination of two types.

I usually have a set burger order, but decided to try some different things.  Why not?

Chicken patty on mixed greens, artichokes, sweet BBQ sauce, pineapple, coleslaw, tomato and smoked gouda. Might have also added some more sauce (BBQ and ranch from the fries).

The Classic Sliders: 4 mini cheeseburgers with cheddar cheese and onions on little brioche rolls.

A cheeseburger with avocado, cheese and lettuce on an English muffin. 

Here's the "50-50" with regular fries for the padre and then onion strings for us gals.  My favorite!

It's every picky and gourmet eater's dream, so try something new and different and join the Counter Culture!

http://www.thecounterburger.com/

Barcelona's Champaneria

A neat place to eat in Barcelona is the Champaneria.  My friend, Allee, first recommended it to me before I started this study abroad adventure, but sadly it has taken me over three months to make it there.  This hole-in-the-wall shop is located at Reina Christina, 7 off of Port Vell (Barceloneta).  If you don't know where to go, it can be very difficult to find.  It is hidden between a few shops on a side street, but is well worth the search.

Cava is the Spanish equivalent to champagne.  This sparkling wine used to be called Spanish champagne, however due to EU law it is no longer allowed to be called this because champagne has Protected Geographical Status. Basically because the grapes aren't grown in the Champagne region of France, the French demanded that everyone else change the name.  However, in many areas it is still called champán or champaña in Spanish or xampany in Catalan.  Now, in the United States, we are required to change the name to sparkling wine.  Hm, that should be interesting.

Anyways, I had heard this was an excellent and cheap place to eat, so Liz and I decided to check it out. Inside is a large bar where sandwiches, jamon, cheese, and cava are sold.  Most people order their meals and stand around to eat, so it can get very crowded easily and quickly.  If you are able to stake out a space to rest your food and glasses, it makes for a more relaxing outing.  Otherwise, watch your bags and glasses because you will be pushed around as people attempt to walk back and forth through the store.

Each of us ordered a cheeseburger sandwich and shared a selection of cavas. I had debated the chorizo sandwich, but instead made the order less complicated and went for the American classic.  For only 5€, you are able to get two bocadillos and a bottle of cava.  There are many different types of cava and you are able to choose a cup or a bottle.  From white to rose, sweet, dry, and more.  Depending on the type, glasses can cost between 0,70€ to 0,90€.  Great for sharing with people and very filling. Make sure to add this to your list if travel to Barcelona!

Matt, Mike, Sam, Liz, and Nuria

Celebrating Halloween Spanish Style

Spain doesn't exactly celebrate Halloween in the sense that Americans do. It isn't a Spanish holiday, but it is becoming more prevalent. Instead, Spaniards like to celebrate All Saints Day (November 1st) and the Dia de los Difuntos, or in Mexico, Dia de los Muertos on the 2nd of November.

A traditional treat is the panellet and are located all over Barcelona and Spain. We were at the Mercat de Santa Caterina and decided to see what all the fuss was about. Generally they are made of chestnuts and sweet potatoes. Panellets come in different shapes, sizes, and are decorated with different toppings. Most are round, made from marzipan (almonds and sugar) and the most popular are covered in pine nuts.

Liz and I split four (all quite small) and attempted to decide which ones were our favorite. One in particular had a more flavorful taste, probably that of coffee, and yet another had a sweet kick, the extra sugar coating the marzipan. I could relate the flavor and texture to a very doughy sugar cookie. Most patisserias tend to sell them for high prices, but we lucked out with four panellets for 2.55 euro.

In Spain, the theory is to feast on the 31st and 1st of November so that on the 2nd, the day of the dead, their stomachs will be completely full and will not have room for the bad spirits to enter. Similar I guess to our “Fat Tuesday” during the Easter season.

Orange, sugar, coffee, and coconut

Certainly another way to celebrate the fall. What is your favorite fall tradition?

Oh the Selection of Sandwiches

Ever tried to find the "hole-in-the-wall" places that everyone talks or raves about? Well, it usually is just that. A hole in the wall or in this case, a store below the sidewalk, out of eye view.

I had heard about everyone getting these delicious 1 Euro sandwiches and sometimes a 1 Euro beer and turns out, I had been walking straight past the place in question for the past three weeks. It is known as Cerveceria 100 Montaditos and is located off Ronda Sant Pere in Barcelona. The menu consists of over 100 choices, broken into three four categories of gourmet heaven. The first tier is the basic selection of cheese, salami, sausage (chorizo), or even chocolate. With each consecutive level, the ingredients and breads become more complex and gourmet. The menu also includes a selection of 4-5 salads, all that look divine and are reasonably priced.

I went with my friends Bonnie and Liz on a Wednesday, which happens to also be the day when ALL the sandwiches are 1 Euro. My lunch sandwiches included a spicy chorizo sandwich, a kebab/chicken, and a chocolate con leche. Two, from the tier 1 sandwiches arrived on a tiny baguette and the third was on a more artisian roll. The chocolate or pan con chocolate con leche was very reminiscent of a s'more - basically a couple blocks of chocolate on a semi-warm baguette. I have had more than enough s'mores in my life time between camping and Girl Scouts, so it wasn't exactly my favorite sandwich. Next on my list is the BBQ sandwich with BBQ sauce, chicken, cheddar cheese and grilled onions. Very American.

Chorizo, Kebab/Chicken, Chocolate con Leche

Not the greatest angles, but a glimpse of the meal

With each meal comes a small handful of potato chips. There is also the option to purchase french fries, which appeared more like Pomme Frites, the skinnier fried potato, or even a Spanish version of chips, salsa, and guacamole. I am curious to see how their guacamole differs from that of California, so I may have to test it out sometime.

I have included the link, but sadly it is all in Spanish and might include a little Catalan. But it is fun to check out the site nonetheless. It is well worth standing in line for a selection of sandwiches and nothing can beat their prices!

Sangria in Spain

I am not very fond of red wine, yet have heard how fabulous the sangria is in Spain. This could be unfortunate because honestly, the red wine has such a strong taste it turns my taste buds away. When I took a wine tasting class a few weeks ago, I found a new option and new love - Cava. This is basically the equivalent of champagne and can be found in many restaurants and bars.

There is one restaurant I have found in particular that is located in Barcelona by the very famous cathedral in Barcelona, La Sagrada Familia. Along one of the streets, there is a very wide alley that is host to multiple restaurants. They all have tables outside as well as inside and it is a great place to either sit for an evening drink or dinner. At The Pharaoh, I have found one of the best Cava Sangrias. It has a much sweeter and lighter flavor than the normal red wine sangria. I could almost relate the bubbly flavor to that of a sweet orange flavored Pellegrino. We also split a delicious Carbonara pizza that was constructed out of mozzarella, onions, canadian bacon, and oregano. It had just the perfect amount of flavor and crust to toppings ratio.

My friends Liz, Sam, and I are going to attempt to reconstruct it at another point in time, whether here in Spain or back in the United States I am unsure. For now, I will remain on the search for the best of Barcelona.

Sugar Tooth

Always a fun site to browse and see what other people in Southern California are baking is

http://www.latimes.com/features/food/lat-sugar-rush-your-sweetest-photos-20110331,0,4425492.ugcphotogallery

It is mostly a photo gallery but if you have some time, flipping through the images provides for lots of great ideas and often some delicious recipes!

A great way to salivate at some of the sweet treats available in the southland.

ENJOY!

Katalina en Catalunya

For the next three or so months I will be traveling in Barcelona and beyond. I will be documenting a lot of the food adventures my friend, Liz, and I encounter so stay connected at

www.buenviajeaespana.wordpress.com