Posts Tagged ‘Barcelona’

Fancy an evening at the cinema? Relax, we also show movies in their original versions

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

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You are in Barcelona and it is raining or it´s just too hot to walk down the street. At the same time the movie you have been waiting for has its world premiere!
Then I propose a plan for a movie and popcorn in central Barcelona and what is most important: films in their original versions in case your effort picking up the Spanish language during the last few days in Barcelona hasn´t been a complete success.

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Boliche Cinema is located on the Avenida Diagonal (No. 508, between C / Tuset and C / Balmes), it offers good movies, comfortable chairs, a nice bar to wait before entering and delicious fresh popcorn.

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What more can you ask for of a cinema?
So now you know, if you fancy a movie, go to Boliche.

Today we prepare the world’s best croquetas: My grandmothers!

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

In Barcelona, you can order croquetas in any restaurant or tapas bar at any time but after that you’ve  tried my grandmother’s 100 years old recipe, you will have difficulties to find a better tasting “croqueta”.
So please, enjoy one of my family’s best kept secrets.

INGREDIENTS

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PREPARATION

1. Chop the onion and ham (separated)

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2. Fry the onion in a saucepan with olive oil.
3. When the onion starts to get a golden color, add the ham and stir a bit.
4. Add flour while stirring. Continue stirring and add the milk a little at a time and stir until the mix becomes smooth and let it simmer for 5 minutes.

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5. Let the mix cool off in the fridge for a couple of hours.
6. Form the mix into “croquetas” by using 2 tablespoons.

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7. Roll each “croqueta” in eggs and breadcumbs.

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8. Deep-fry in very hot olive oil.

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If you want, you can do many at a time and freeze them (before you deep-fry).
In this way, you always have some tapas ready if you would get a surprise guest!

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Summer with children in the center of Barcelona

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

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The heat wave of recent weeks, has made it almost impossible to take a stroll through Barcelona.. The summer has only just begun and if your idea is to come to Barcelona with young children, this finding in the heart of the Eixample district, will save many tears, and serve to cool you all down a bit before continuing your route through the city streets.

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“The beach of l’Eixample, is a space of leisure where the little ones can swim in the pool and playing in the sand every day from June 24 until September 7. Its perfect location in the heart of Barcelona, allows the children to swim and play outdoors in the sand even the days you don’t have time to go all the way to the beach.

The entry is only € 1.45 or € 0.65 in the case of large families (3 or more children.) If you want to put your feet in the water you can do that from Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 20.00h and Saturdays and Sundays from 10.00 to 15.00h.

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Address: C / Roger de LlĂşria, 56
ph: (+34) 934234350

Creative jewellery from Cuca och Ena Macana

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

Walking along the streets of the Born district, it is normal to find small shops of young designers, with the most creative locals and the feeling of being unique. This week, walking with a friend I found a little shop full of small jewellery.  After several minutes of shouting “Hello!  Is there someone there? ” a girl came in through the front door and  who turned out to be one of the designers.

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In this small  3 in 1 local, which serves as a workshop, showroom and shop, you can buy earrings, brooches, rings and more of the brands Cuca and Ena Macana.

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If you want a special souvenir of your visit to Barcelona, please stop by.
It´s located on the street Portal Nou, near the Plaza de Sant Agustí Vell. I didn’t remember writing down the exact number and it´s not on their website either but by looking at the photos I’m sure you will find it.

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If you want to know more before you go:
www.enamacana.com
www.cucajoyeria.blogspot.com

Picnic + movie tonight at Sala MontjuĂŻc.

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

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Since a few years back, Barcelona offer one of the best combinations of culture and entertainment for the summer: outdoor movies in  Sala Montjuïc. There is no better plan for the nights of Monday, Wednesday and Friday than to prepare a Picnic with good friends and eat it together sitting down on the lawn of the Montjuïc Castle, listening to live samba music while waiting for the movie to start.

Furthermore, as a tourist you cannot miss the stunning views of Barcelona that the viewpoint of the castle offers.

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This week I have gone 2 times and I will continue to go, because what good is short and the open air cinema only last from June 29 until July 31.

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Practical tips:
-Even though it may be very hot in Barcelona, make sure you pack warm clothes because when it starts to darken it gets chilly and as the sea is very close there is plenty of moisture.
-Rent a comfortable chair for 3 €. Although it at first appears very comfortable sit on the grass, you will not know where to put your legs after 2 hours. Furthermore, if the people in front of you have a chair, chances are you will not see the screen.
-If you do not have a car, buses goes up out of the castle from Plaza Espanya from 20.30h.
-I suggest you arrive between 20.30 and 21.00h in order to get a good seat and enjoy your picnic with live music and short film projects.
-All films are in the original version, subtitled in Spanish, so enter their site and choose one that you can understand.
-Price of entrance: 5 €.

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Find out more: http://www.salamontjuic.com/

See you there!

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Gazpacho: The Summer Soup.

Monday, June 29th, 2009

During the hottest months of the year, my fridge never lacks a good pitcher of Gazpacho. This cold vegetable soup is the star of the summer menu and although you can buy it at the supermarket, I prefer my family’s homemade recipe.

As a starter for lunch and dinner or even between meals, the Gazpacho is a delicious and healthy alternative and perfect to keep your shape.

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Ingredients for 4 people

6 large ripe tomatoes or 12 small
2 green peppers
1 red pepper
1 small cucumber
1 large onion
1 clove garlic (optional)
2 slices of yesterday’s bread (optional. You can remove this for a lighter version.)
 3 hard boiled eggs
Cold water, salt, extra virgin olive oil, wine vinegar.
Preparation time 20 minutes

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Preparation
1.
Wash and chop tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, garlic and boiled eggs. Mix all ingredients.

2. Place the mixture of ingredients In an electric mixer (in one or in several batches), add a little cold water and crush to obtain a cream. Add the bread, oil, vinegar and salt and beat again until everything is well crushed
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3. Add more cold water and mix well. Taste and correct if needed with salt and vinegar.

4. Optional: pass it through a strainer to remove skin from peppers i tomatoes. (Depending on if you like the soup more or less thick). I usually don’t pass I through the strainer.

5. Put it in the refrigerator until it got the desired temperature.

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6. Can be served alone or accompanied by diced raw cucumber, cubes of bread (regular or toasted), green pepper cut into squares and chopped onion, diced Serrano ham or diced melon. Place each item in a separate plate so that each can serve themselves whatever they want.

I guarantee you’ll like!

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Find the best gift among Beardsley’s thousand ideas

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

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This 30 year old shop on the street Petritxol keep surprises me every time I visit it. It is the perfect shop for a gift or to just treat yourself with something special.

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On the first floor will find all sorts of interior fittings of romantic and antique style. Everything seems to be perfectly positioned to make it easy for you to bring it home.
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Go down one floor and you enter a fantasy world full of flowers, paper goods, toys and perfumes. Everything is colorful and original. You simply cannot leave Barcelona without visiting this shop!
And do not forget that you can eat chocolate with churros just across the street in La Granja La Pallaresa.

Address: C / Petritxol, 12 (close to Las Ramblas)

A romantic dinner at a fixed price

Monday, June 15th, 2009

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In the heart of the Sant Gervasi district, near the foodmarket Galvany, we find Mariona restaurant which opened its doors in 1985.
The restaurant is low lit, quiet with light colors which create a cozy atmosphere in this small two-storey building. The relatively low noise level allows us to maintain a quiet conversation, and even if the owners are not the happiest in Barcelona the service is more than acceptable.

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Mariona offer a three course menu with a wide choice of the best of the Mediterranean region to the fixed price 29 €. The menu changes every season in order to always offer the freshest products.
It is often full, so you do best to call ahead to reserve a table. I recommend that you go here for dinner but they also have a lunch menu for 18 €.
They also offer menus for groups, so do you want to go here in couple or with friends? You choose.

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Address: C / Amigo, 53 (Tel. 932011830)
(5 minutes walk from Plaça Francesc Macia)
Hours: Closed Sunday and Monday night.
Getting here: FGC (Muntaner) / Bus: 14

Authentic “gelato italiano” in Barcelona

Monday, June 8th, 2009

The queues have already started for the year at the Gelateria Italiana by la Plaça de la Revolució in Gracia. This small ice cream shop has become a favorite in the last few years for many of Barcelona’s citizens, me included.

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They have a lot of flavors to choose from and all ice creams are made with traditional methods and natural ingredients.
It is a classic in the afternoons and summer evenings to go to the Gelateria Italiana, take a number and wait in queue while you plan out what flavors you want; pistachio, lemon, melon, figs, meringue, yogurt, cinnamon, After Eight ?… And you ask yourself: Why don’t they make tubs of 20 different flavors? … After a while you get your ice cream and as always, it was worth the wait.

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If you are really lucky, one of the tables on the terrace is free and you can sit down to eat your ice cream, but it´s more likely that you will eat it while you walk through Gracia, one of Barcelona’s busiest neighborhoods.


Address: Plaça Revolution 2
How to get here: Metro L3 Fontana
Opening hours: daily from 17:00 to 1:00 pm

The sun is burning and I need a new bag

Monday, June 1st, 2009

The first swim of the year in the sea confirms that my favorite season has arrived:  The summer is here!

Summer always brings something special; the colors, rhythm and even the smell of the sea that seems to be spreading throughout the city. When the heat arrives, I always have a great need to find that new bag that will go with me everywhere because it´s the perfect summer bag. Today I went out to search and I found it in Natura.

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I managed to control myself to buy only a bag, because you should know that if you´re looking for the full beach kit with a touch of ethnic trends, Natura has it all: sandals, thin trousers, blouses, scarves, jewelry and everything you else can imagine. Pop in to one of their stores and have a look around and if your happen to visit Barcelona on a Sunday, do not despair, Natura has also shop at the mall Maremagnum (Port Vell, next to the sea and near the Columbus statue), which opens on Sundays.

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 natura-web5                     *Photos from www.naturaselection.com

Here is a list of all Natura stores in Barcelona:

C / Canuda 41
C Argenteria, 78
C / COUNCIL OF HUNDRED, 304
C. CIAL DIAGONAL MAR, AVDA. DIAGONAL No. 3 LOCAL 3580-3590
C / PI, N Âş 1 - ESQUINA GALLERIES Malden, E-1
AV / DIAGONAL, 280 C. CIAL GLORIAS LOCAL 217-218
P Âş. POTOSI, 2 C. CIAL The local machine C-111
C. CIAL MAREMAGNUM 41-42 LOCAL Moll d’Espanya S / N (opens on Sundays)
C / MATEU BENET, 55
C / AVINYO, 22
Travessera OF GRACE 162
AVDA. 557 DIAGONAL C. CIAL L’ILLA DIAGONAL, LOCAL 217