In Barcelona Cult Recipes, Stephan Mitsch takes us on a fascinating journey to Barcelona to explore its rich food culture and introduces us to many iconic local dishes.
Having been a resident of this city for more than two decades, where he works as a part-time tourist guide focusing on its culinary specialities, his enthusiasm for Barcelona knows no bounds!
"I’m almost pathologically curious, and I have absorbed as much as possible the Catalan lifestyle, culture, and language, as well as the unique local cuisine. Today, I’m sure there is no paradise. God lives here!”
In the introduction, he delves into how Barcelona’s cuisine was shaped by immigrants from many different countries over the years, so it is truly a ‘cocina de fusion.’ And as Barcelonians are fortunate to have access to an abundance of fresh seafood and local fruit and vegetables it has enabled them to create a wide variety of dishes. He also introduces us to Barcelonian dining culture and tells us where Barcelonians love to eat.
Barcelona Cult Recipes is packed full of many creative recipes that have only a few ingredients and are easy to put together. It is divided into five chapters: Tapas, Main dishes, Desserts, Drinks and Basics. Each recipe is prefaced by a very brief headnote to give it context and is accompanied by a beautiful photograph.
We travelled to Barcelona some years ago and spent several wonderful days exploring the architecture and art of this vibrant city including Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia, his Guell Park, as well as the majestic Barcelona Cathedral and the Fundacio Joan Miro. We enjoyed, as many tourists do, sampling some Catalan food in its famous market, ‘The Mercat de San Josep’ and ate tapas at local bars and paella at a local restaurant. But this book would have encouraged us to be much more adventurous.
With Barcelona Cult Recipes on hand, we could have embarked on a self-guided foodie tour using the map at the end of the book, which shows 39 of Stephan’s favourite restaurants, tapas bars, markets, and shops selling confectionary, local beer, and premium olive oils.
And as all the dishes in this cookbook are introduced under their traditional and Spanish names with an English translation, we would have been able to recognise them on restaurant menus and been able to order a wide variety of iconic Catalan dishes.
Barcelona Cult Recipes filled me with post-holiday nostalgia. But for now, I must be content with creating some of his tasty dishes at home. In some, he uses local ingredients that would be difficult and expensive to procure here, but there are many others in which the ingredients are readily available.
These dishes have already become family favourites:
Mojito sin alcohol (non alcolic mojito) made with organic limes, mint, fresh ginger and ice cubes. It’s great to find this recipe for a non-alcoholic mojito! This summer, we’ll sit on the deck outside, quenching our thirst with this cool, refreshing drink before lighting up the barbecue.
Gambas con Romesco (Prawns in Romesco sauce). I love tasty and speedy recipes for fuss-free entertaining, and this one hit the spot! Romesco sauce is a staple of Catalan cuisine and Stephan’s variation on this very traditional sauce gives it a very unique flavour.
Escalivado ( grilled vegetables) This typical Catalan side dish, in which red capsicums and aubergines are the heroes, can be served warm or cold. If you cover it with a layer of olive oil it will keep for several weeks in the fridge. It will be a very convenient side dish to have on hand on a hot summer’s day when I would much rather be outside enjoying the sunshine than spending time cooking inside.
Sorbet de Prunes. In this plum sorbet the addition of red wine contributes to its striking deep purplish red colour. It is absolutely delicious and I love the way it is so decoratively garnished with a star anise and a cinnamon stick.
For cooks who love to explore the cuisine of different cultures, Barcelona Cult Recipes is a must-read. And for food lovers planning a trip to Barcelona this would be an invaluable guide.
Reviewer: Lyn Potter
Murdoch Books