What happens when a blogger/ce-web-rity goes to Barcelona for vacation?

He turns into a food photographer!

Jason Calacanis is in Barcelona enjoying the Spanish fun and sun, and went back to a tapas bar called Ciutat Comtal, which he went to when he was in Barcelona eight years ago. He says the tapas there are even better than he remembered. I am falling over myself just gazing at what looks like a pinxo with sliced tomatoes, anchovies and olives.

Is there a tapas bar like this in LA?

I don't know why we do this to ourselves - let ourselves surf the web and read about places we can't yet go, things we can't yet do, foods we can't yet try.

The New York Times' Travel section has a short piece on a small grocery store in Huesca, Spain called Ultramarinos La Confianza. Certainly an article about a grocery store, unless it's Trader Joe's opening in NYC, isn't all that exciting, but the story here is that Ultramarinos La Confianza is possibly Spain's oldest grocery store, built in 1868. It draws customers not only from around Spain, but all of Europe.

It is called a food lover's delight, and rightly so. I'd love to stand in front of its shelves and fill my basket with candied chestnuts, artisanal chocolate, and cheeses made in the local mountains. Could you imagine?!?! I imagine I'd certainly have no problem finding bacalao here to make croquetas.

However, it seems that the small store has been in business for long not for the things it carries, but the people behind the counters running the place for almost five generations - the Sanvicente family.

I'm very into Spain right now. I think it might be the fact that Asian cuisines are a little old for me (I grew up on them!), Mexican is everywhere here in LA, and Mediterranean is all over the Food Network. But Spain? Somewhere a little less travelled, it seems.

Gambas al Ajillo, garlic shrimp, is a classic tapa served in bars around Spain to accompany drinks. I've combined a few recipes after doing some research, adding quite a bit more lemon and wine, and changing the cooking process from sauteing to poaching, but the idea is the same. The shrimp are served at the bar (or in your living room), room temperature, chased with lots of sangria.

Sarah's Spanish-style Garlic Lemon Shrimp

In a large bowl, combine zest from 1 lemon, 1/2 c. fresh lemon juice, 2 cloves finely minced garlic, 1/4 c. dry white wine (from Spain would be the best), 1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil, 1/2 small red onion thinly sliced, and about 2 sprigs finely chopped fresh parsley.

Rinse, de-vein, and peel about 2 lb. large shrimp. You can take the tails off, but I left them on as "handles."

Poach peeled shrimp in simmering water for about 1 minute, until they are opaque. Remove from water, and immediately place into the bowl with the sauce. Toss to coat the hot shrimp, cover, and let stand at room temperature until they are ready to serve, or in the refrigerator if you are making it ahead. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley. I also served toasted, thinly sliced baguette.

Previous Trips to Spain:
Estofado Catalan - Beef stew from Catalonia
Patatas Bravas - Fried potatoes with spicy tomato sauce

One of the best ways I know how to learn about a culture is to cook the food. I learned a little more about Spain ths past weekend by slow cooking estofado catalan, as well as a whole table full of tapas-like dishes to go with sangria. One of the things I made was patatas bravas, or potatoes served with a tomato sauce. It's kind of like French fries and ketchup, but a million times better.