Paella

When we first went to Spain in 1997, the food was nothing to write home about.  If you substituted the word “ham” for “spam” in the Monty Python sketch, you could describe pretty much every menu we encountered.

Until we got to Barcelona.  The food there was wonderful, making the most of Mediterranean seafood, herbs, and produce.

The Catalonians have always preserved their culture, and their culinary traditions are a big part of that.  So cooking classes in Barcelona are a great way to expand your skills and learn more about Catalan culture.

Over the centuries, the region has been home to significant Roman, Jewish, and Arab populations, and the cuisine has been influenced by all of them.  It’s delicious and very healthy.

Cook & Taste has given cooking lessons to more than 4,000 students.  They offer half-day classes seven days a week in their school on Paradis Street.  Their 3-1/2 hour classes start at 11AM or 5PM and include a trip to La Boqueria Market for supplies.  Traditional dishes like gazpacho, tomato soup with smoked cheese, paella, tapas, tortilla Espanol, and crema Catalana are usually prepared.  And participants enjoy the meal they made together at the end of the class.  They also offer three-day advanced seminars.

Entrance to La Boqueria market

Located near the Placa San Jaume, GotoLearn.com has half- and whole-day classes that visit the market and include a recipe booklet.  With a maximum class size of twelve, you’ll get some hands-on attention.

Catacurian.com offers full-day classes that start at 10AM with a visit to La Boqueria.  Students enjoy their lunch accompanied by wines form the Priorat region, as well as Cava, brandy, and coffee.  Classes devoted to tapas or paellas are also available, so ask when you make reservations.  Prices depend on the number of participants.

If you have rented an apartment for your visit to Barcelona, CatalanCooking.com will come to your apartment and conduct a cooking class there.  Several different three-course menus are available.  And classes are available in English, French, or German.

Find cooking classes in Florence here. And cooking class in Rome here.

Paella Flickr Image: sjwilliams82
Entrance to La Boqueria market Flickr Image: laura padgett

Barcelona’s Palau Nacional

Barcelona has an original style all its own. Most of Europe’s major design trends made their way here, were influenced by Catalonian sensibilities, and emerged distinctively different. Which makes shopping for antiques in Barcelona especially enjoyable. The treasures you find here will be truly unique.

If you’re lucky, you’ll find an example of Barcelona’s fabulous version of Art Nouveau, known here as Modernisme.

Barcelona’s antique shops are grouped together on several streets, most of which are in the charming Gothic Quarter or Bari Gotic. You’ll find everything from antique dealers selling museum-quality furniture to vintage clothing stores.

Carrer del Banys Nous is the traditional home of Barcelona’s antique shops, although lately, some hip clothing boutiques have been creeping in. You’ll find teacups, tapestries, and vintage fashions at Heritage. And L’Arca de L’Avia sell antique textiles, lace, and linens.

Not far away, Carrer de la Palla also has several antique stores including Artur Ramon Art which specializes in 18th and 19th-century art and objets d’arts. Angel Batlle at number 23 has old posters, maps, and postcards.

In the Eixample district, at Passeig de Gracia 55 (in the Bulevard Rosa shopping center), the Bulevard des Antiquarius has more than 70 antique shops selling furniture, jewelry, paintings, crystal, and dolls. Prices here are firm and most purchases come with a written guarantee.

Barcelona’s Bari Gotic

If you’re willing to sift through some junk, El Encants, Barcelona’s biggest flea market, has a little bit of everything. It’s on the north side of the traffic circle at Placa de les Glories Catalanes on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Coin and stamp collectors should go to the Sunday-morning market in Placa Reial. And book collectors will enjoy the Sunday market at Sant Antoni.

The Mercat Gòtic de Antiguitats takes place every Thursday in the Placa Nova, the square next to the Cathedral. Prices here are higher because of the number of tourists, so do a little bargaining.

Barcelona

At the end of Las Ramblas near the port, the Fira Brocante Antique and Flea Market is held on Saturdays and Sundays. Look for the statue of Christopher Columbus. We found a great cast-iron dog there that we use as a door stop. Since it was the first day of our trip, we lugged it all over Spain and Portugal, but it’s now a family treasure. You should not pay full price here.

If you’re visiting Barcelona, be sure to leave yourself enough time to do some treasure hunting in the city’s charming antique shops.

Find Paris shopping tips here.

Barcelona’s Palau Nacional Image Flickr: harshilshah100
Barcelona’s Bari Gotic Image Flickr: puroticorico
Barcelona Image Flickr: papalars