Time to talk about food

When I got to Barcelona, one of my main concerns was the food - How good would it be? How much would it cost? Would I ever learn to cook? Where do they sell Frozen Yogurt (well, they don't)? What IS Spanish food exactly?

Through my culinary adventures on a shoestring budget, here's what I have learned so far. I admit that I was hungry the first week - I hadn't a clue where to eat. On one hand, I wanted to try Spanish food. On the other, all the pictures outside the restaurants in our neighborhood looked unappetizing. Why? There were all these bars and restaurants in Poble Sec we've come to call the "picture" restaurants - these are restaurants whose outdated, bleached color photos show interesting combinations of well known foods. For instance - take steak, french fries, tuna, lettuce, egg, and tomato and see how many combinations you can make without actually mixing any of them. Ex. A steak with an egg on top and lettuce on the side. Ex 2. Lettuce and tuna  with a tomato and french fries on the side. Ex 3. A plate of tuna.

These are the local, hole in the wall bar restaurants by Melon District. I learned soon on that these places aren't meant to impress. They're meant to provide daily comfort food to the neighborhood regulars that frequent them. On the contrary, there are many impressive, non "picture" restaurants throughout the Borne, Gracia, and Eixample neighborhoods. The biggest difference between Berkeley and here - a good, cheap, tasty, non-fast food meal will cost 8 euros or more. That is the cutoff between eating well and cooking at home. Enjoy the culinary ride:

Gofres. Translation: "Piping hot, chocolate and ice-cream covered waffles of divine goodness." Healthy because of strawberries. You must get these if you come to Europe.

Bo de B: The sandwich place that would roundhouse kick Jared from Subway in the face. Piles of fresh ingredients, meat cooked in front of you, a warm baguette, and maybe a seat if you're lucky. Downside: Up to an hour wait because they take their sweet, sweet time. 3.50 euro sandwich.

The Chris and Megan specialty: rice, vegetables, and something else with a good sauce. We do this most nights here in the Melon District, and it costs about 4 euro each for a full dinner. High fives for rewarding labor!

Spain runs on Doner. The Turkish, meat off a revolving barbecue stick treat. Watch as the friendly workers SHAVE the meat of the stick, pack it inside a pita and serve with spicy sauce. 

Chocolate and churros. The chocolate: not to sweet, but warm and delicious. The churros - numerous, but hardly guilt instilling. We're studying abroad...gotta live a little. 

Ok, this may be living too much. Francesinha in Portugal: A reminder, that's egg, cheese, bacon, steak, ham, roast beef, gravy, and french fries. Multiple layers of each = multiple layers of love. And bathroom trips.

In Porto, you eat cheaper than in Barcelona. This was a 5 course meal of tender meat, veggs, rice and desert for 7 euro. There were only 3 tables in the restaurant. Who needs customers!

18 words: Can't remember exactly what this was, but chocolate and ice cream and this must have been really good. Oh yeah.

Fish with the head and eyes intact. And bones. Spaniards make you work hard with these bony fish. Tip: If you're on a diet, make eating difficult!

Bone-free cod filet with mashed peas underneath. Creative, eh?

Braised beef made into a potato tower with Port wine sauce. Very good. Thanks Mom.

Megan claims this ice cream filled chocolate crepe was "the best desert ever." Snopes.com: Verified.

Risotto, cheese, mushroom...all that jazz.

Argentine Entrecot Steak...I was jealous of Megan for this one. It looked good.

But this chicken curry with a cool rice tower was hard to top.

Some more cod action. Spain likes dat fish.

6 people, many desert options - all went with the banana and chocolate crepe.

Patatas bravas...this is a dish muy española. It's goodness depends on it's presentation. The strategy: how well can I present this to hide the fact that it's spicy mayonnaise sauce on french fry squares? With tooth picks and a cool plate?

Or with a squirt bottle and an Ikea dish on sale.

I can't take credit for this photo, but I can take credit for having eaten "Pulpo a la Gallega" many times. It's fresh octopus with some tasty spice. It's always a go-to tapa when I grab a menu. What can I say...it's better than it looks?

While my foodventures aren't quite complete here in Barcelona, I can say with certainty that the food here is great. It has plenty to offer and the restaurants present themselves well. Sometimes it's hard to tell a fancy restaurant from an Applebees equivalent because they all go can pass for fancy and classy. For me at least. If you ever make your way here...budget to eat and eat well.

One final note, There is one thing Barcelona desperately lacks:

Burritos.