53 replies to this topic

[Mar Calpena]

HI!

I've thought about a fun idea those from us who live in Barcelona could undertake...

How about taking 30 € to La Boqueria market each and seeing what do we cook out of it? I don't know, I think this might stretch out culinary muscle.

Then we can write the menu each one of us cooked so that everyone else at the forum can have a look. Would anyone be interested in this? How do we go about it --- are everyday, back of the pantry groceries like flour and oil included? What do you reckon?

Just think aloud.

Mar

[Silly Disciple]

30 for one person or more? would we do this once, or are you thinking about a monthly thing? Would it be just the Boqueria or any other market, provided we record prices and such?
In principle I think I'm in.

SD

[Mar Calpena]

I don't know, I was maybe thinking about a menu for two people.

We should definitely list which is stall we got our ingredients from so that anyone trying to replicate it knows where to get their groceries.

I mentioned Boqueria because, much as I love that market, I hardly ever go there and I know I'm missing out on a lot of good stuff, but we could indeed include other markets or shops.

Other fun things we could try:

- Using a stricter budget (like 10 €)
- Developing a theme (seafood, or vegetarian, or traditional, or...)
- Trying to include wine in the challenge.

I don't know, let's see if can get other people interested and we can decide together.

Mar

[Bux]

I always enjoy a visit to the Boqueria market, but as a visitor to Barcelona, I don't have a kitchen. Sometimes, when I'm in the market, I really miss having a kitchen, but the feeling passes as soon as I find a place at a bar or a seat in a restaurant. I would very much enjoy reading about how others shop and cook from their purchases in the market however.

[Silly Disciple]

I always enjoy a visit to the Boqueria market, but as a visitor to Barcelona, I don't have a kitchen. Sometimes, when I'm in the market, I really miss having a kitchen, but the feeling passes as soon as I find a place at a bar or a seat in a restaurant. I would very much enjoy reading about how others shop and cook from their purchases in the market however.

Fine Bux, no excuses, next time you're in BCN you can borrow my kitchen. only condition: YOU cook for US

SD

[docsconz]

This sounds like a great idea. I wish that I could partake. Might I suggest photos of the produce. It would also be interesting to compare to other markets in terms of quality and price.

I hope this takes off. It will be fun to follow.

[Bux]

Fine Bux, no excuses, next time you're in BCN you can borrow my kitchen. only condition: YOU cook for US 

SD

Absolutely, just as soon as I run out of restaurants I have to try. I have focused so much on eating out in the province of Catalunya that I've hardly made a dent in my list of worthwhile Barcelona restaurants. My wife is always suggesting we rent a house somewhere in France or Spain. She keeps telling me that since I enjoy the market so much I would enjoy having a kitchen and I tell her it's enough to know what's in season so I know what to order at the restaurants. One of the things I most value about markets is the chance to put together the names with the foods. This is especially true of the fish and seafood.

[Bash]

Hola eGullet !

Mar Calpena, this is a great idea. Count me in. I'm not much of a chef, but I do shop at the markets and cook on a daily basis. This could be quite a learning experience I've got a few photos of the boqueria that I've taken over the past year. I'd be happy to post some of them if this takes off.

Lets see if we can draw out a couple more people....

[Mar Calpena]

I've enlisted my sister, cook extraordinaire, to help. As she is also a mother of two -and therefore, used to making the most of her pennies, she says 30 € is indeed a lot and suggests adding wine to the challenge, but I told her we are still discussing about the whole thing.

If I'm not mistaken, there's three of us interested in taking part in this. We can either choose a date, begin, and see if more people decide to join later or we can move this topic to the Cooking forum or the Adventures in eating one and open it to buying in any market worldwide (but then we ought to choose a theme so that we can compare our results), which might atract others' attention.

Mar

[Silly Disciple]

I've enlisted my sister, cook extraordinaire, to help. As she is also a mother of two -and therefore, used to making the most of her pennies, she says 30 € is indeed a lot  and suggests adding wine to the challenge, but I told her we are still discussing about the whole thing.

Mar,
30 is a lot, indeed. In fact, I've been thinking about the idea and I think I can even get as far as a 4-5 course meal for 2 people with that money. Adding wine might be a bit tricky, so I suggest we set a minimum number of courses instead, what do you think?

Not sure how many other BCN residents are in this forum: asola, who's not always around, and then amelia and jordi (artal and bcnchef), both very busy with their restaurant. So it might be just us to start with.

Silly.

[pepe]

I'm only a "dilettante", but if you want me now we are four, I think 30€ for a menu for 2 person without wine, gives for a good meal. I'm on

[Saborosa]

I'm up for it - workload permitting. I'm a better eater than cook though, so I'll probably benefit more than I contribute!

Kirsten

[Mar Calpena]

Ok, roll call

Silly Disciple
Saborosa
Pepe
Bash
Mar

Next: When, and exactly how? I need to buy a digital camera (I dropped mine on New Year's eve). We can give everyone one month's deadline, so that everyone proceeds at his/her own rythm.

Mar

[Silly Disciple]

Ok, roll call

Silly Disciple
Saborosa
Pepe
Bash
Mar

Next: When, and exactly how? I need to buy a digital camera (I dropped mine on New Year's eve). We can give everyone one month's deadline, so that everyone proceeds at his/her own rythm.

Mar

I can start next week I think. how do we go about it?

sd

[Richard Kilgore]

This is a wonderful idea that I'll follow from afar.

[Mar Calpena]

how do we go about it?

sd

Sorry if this is a long post, but I'm a journalist by trade, so I tend get off hand when I have a keyboard nearby.

These are some guidelines I would follow (but this OUR project! so please don't really listen to me)

If we need to, we could divide our posts in three parts:

- Begin by telling us about your buying experience: Tell us why you made the choices you made. Were you buying with a menu or a technique in mind or did something just catch your eye? Did you pick a theme? Did anything interesting happen while you were shopping? When did you buy the ingredients? -you know Saturday afternoon may be cheaper, but there are lots of closed stalls!!!. List how much you spent at everything and where you got it. You can use things you already had at home, provided it's reasonable to assume they will be in any given pantry (I mean stuff like oil, milk, etc... this is an experiment in cooking, not in home economics!). What did you enjoy most? Did you ask the vendors for tips?

- Cooking: Own recipe or putting someone else's to practice? Where did you cook things? How did you organize your time? What was the most difficult thing (cleaning afterwards, maybe?)? List the recipes. What were you trying to achieve in terms of textures and colors? How long did it take you from start to finish? Did you get inspiration from a famous cook?

- Eating. How did you plate and present things? Who were you eating it with? Did anything disappoint you or exceed your expectations? What changes would you make to your menu? If you bought wine, which one was it and how did it match the food? Did you have lunch or dinner? Did you learn anything? What struck you the most? And ABOVE ALL, did you enjoy yourself?

And don't forget that photographs about the whole process are always welcome!

Anyway, just my two (long) cents.

Mar

Edited by Mar Calpena, 14 May 2005 - 05:53 AM.

[slacker]

If this is still on in early June, I (we) might like to join in, if that's possible.

[Mar Calpena]

If this is still on in early June, I (we) might like to join in, if that's possible.

Yeah, no problem. How about choosing a deadline? Would Sunday, June 19 be ok with everyone?

[misscasserly]

hi! i am new to eG (not new to reading it, just to particating!) and i'd like to take part in this project too.
count me in!

[slacker]

If this is still on in early June, I (we) might like to join in, if that's possible.

Yeah, no problem. How about choosing a deadline? Would Sunday, June 19 be ok with everyone?

Early June being 1st to 6th.

Don't arrange especially for us, but we'll try and join in if there's anything on then. We are staying very close to La Boqueria, and will doubtless be visiting frequently. Are ther any days better than others?

[Silly Disciple]

Don't arrange especially for us, but we'll try and join in if there's anything on then. We are staying very close to La Boqueria, and will doubtless be visiting frequently. Are ther any days better than others?

I would recommend going tuesdays and fridays as early in the morning as you can. That way you get fresh stuff and avoid turists.

sd

[Silly Disciple]

Yeah, no problem. How about choosing a deadline? Would Sunday, June 19 be ok with everyone?

works for me.
so, each of us has to produce the following:
1. pictures of produce
2. detailed expenses
3. menu (did we agree on at least 4 courses?)
4. recipes?
5. pics of the meal.

agreed?

sd

[Mar Calpena]

Yeah, no problem. How about choosing a deadline? Would Sunday, June 19 be ok with everyone?

works for me.
so, each of us has to produce the following:
1. pictures of produce
2. detailed expenses
3. menu (did we agree on at least 4 courses?)
4. recipes?
5. pics of the meal.

agreed?

sd

Yes. If you copy recipes verbatim from a cookbook you may incur in copyright infringment, so just let's just give an overview of them if there's risk of this happening.

It's great to have two more people joining! I'm feeling very curious as to what everyone's going to make...

Mar

[slacker]

Oh, I've finally got it. This isn't Catalan Ready-Steady-Cook, but a bit of homework to get done as and when.

We're definately on.

At least I'm definately on. She (tcm) will prob be on, too.

In fact, we might just compete. Oh yes.

We need more rules. Perhaps I'll just reread those already given.

[Silly Disciple]

We need more rules. Perhaps I'll just reread those already given.

Go ahead and suggest any rules you want to add, Slacker... as long as it makes it more fun, I think we are all in.

And I think I already have my menu.... oh yes... i will keep things under veil for now

SD

[pepe]

OK, I think 19 June could be a good deadline, I also have ideas for a menu.

[culinary bear]

I hate you all... I would saw off both arms (though admittedly I would need help with the second) to live near the Boqueria. The fish is the best I have ever seen.

*weeps*

[Mar Calpena]

If there are no changes, it's Friday afternoon shopping for my sister and me on to a Sunday dinner!!! I'm really looking forward to all this ( she wasn't available any sooner ). I might split my answer in two posts... We're going to improvise, in terms of recipes.

Mar

[Silly Disciple]

Well, I just came back from the Boqueria, having spent EUR 29.4 .






I will and let you guess what each thing is. Later on tonight I will break down what I've spent, and what each thing is, along with the menu and an overview of the recipes.
We are planning a 6 course dinner tonight !!!!

SD

edited to add pics.

Edited by Silly Disciple, 18 May 2005 - 07:38 AM.

[Silly Disciple]

We just finished dinner... we are all quite full. A friend of mine from cooking school came to help me cook, along with another friend, and my mother was visiting too, so we ended up being five people instead of the original two. Surprisingly, we only had to add one or two things to what we bought to be able to stretch all the courses.
Here's what we originally bought:

100gr Morels - 4 EUR
450gr Duck Magret - 6.3 EUR
410gr sweetbreads - 3.1 EUR
1 big spanish mackerel, about 560gr - 2.20 eur
Assorted produce, consisting of:
- 3 tomatoes
- 4 sweet onions
- 2 zuchinnis
- 1 cauliflower head
- 1 pack green asparragus
- 1 pack white asparragus
- 1kg artichokes
- 1 mango
- 1/2 a pineapple
- some ciboulette
- 1 escarola (in english? chard?) head
- all for 11.8 EUR
1/2 dozen fresh eggs - 1 EUR
50gr almonds - 1 EUR

total: 29.4 EUR

I later bought a bunch of spinach for .9 EUR, so I'm officially over budget .
I also used 4 strawberries to garnish the dessert, lemon zest, olive oil, a bit of heavy cream, a bit of coffee, sugar, salt, etc., all of which I had at home.
To feed the extra three people, I added another duck magret and used 3 extra eggs (I broke one of the ones I bought, and I needed 2 more for one of the courses).

The menu:

1. Asparagus in three textures (served 5 people)


2. Egg Cocotte with morels and cream of spinach
(served 5 people and we had a few morels left)


3. Sweetbreads salad with coffee vinagrette (served 4 1/2 people)


4. Maquerel papillote with sauted zuchinni and artichoke heads. (served 4 people)


5. Duck Magret with Cauliflower puree, sauted chard and spinach vinagrette.
(served 5 people after I added an extra magret, and we had enough meat for a repeat).


6. pineaple ravioli with mango sorbet. (served 5 people + 1 repeat).

As I said, I'm pretty surprised we were able to create six courses for five people for about 40 EUR... that's really cheap, 8 euros a head, 1.3 eur per course !!! We were really thinking things wouldn't be enough for two people.

SD