Texture | Valentina Cirasola | Author and Designer

This week challenge is Texture. http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/texture

After learning about La Boqueria Market at a few T.V. cooking shows, I couldn’t wait to visit this open market when I was in Barcelona and there I went straight down La Ramblas to find it. I got hit with a profusion of colors, aromas and flavors that was hard to resist. I spent a few hours getting lost in food heaven, looking, learning and taking photos. I wanted to taste everything, or just about until I saw the Percebes.

Percebes

What in the world are these things? I was stunned, curious and disgusted all at the same time, but I was not leaving before my curiosity was satisfied. I waited to talk to the vendor until she was free from customers to bombard her with my questions.

Percebes are one of the most sought after delicacies in Spain. They are goose barnacles, taste briny and are very expensive. They are painstakingly harvested off the rocky shores of Galicia, in the North-West of Spain. It is very dangerous to harvest them due to the waves battering the rocks. Look at the price on the sign, Euro 55 per Kilo if you take them home and cook, or else if eaten at restaurants the price is much higher. Percebes are simply sautéed in olive oil with rock salt, or steamed, some people will make a simple wine and cream sauce.

I was not convinced enough and I did not get to taste Percebes while I was in Barcelona, my loss. Perhaps next time I return to Barcelona I will. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

I am writing a travel diary of my last trip to Puglia and Europe with an American group and sharing with all of you my notes of feelings, observations, food-wine tasting and experiences that have changed the life of people traveling with me. The trips I organize are made for people who want to live it up! Check out my books on