Castanyada ≠ Halloween (or does it)?

So as I woke up to a beautiful 65F degree sunny Halloween morning with a strong craving for sweets, and no desire to blog, I decided I would redirect my facebook readers to my previous post about Chocolate Churros. I thought it would’ve been a perfect day to have chocolate churros, since a. it is Halloween and b. every day is a perfect day to have churros.  I have a craving for sweets every day of the year, but on Halloween I think my social/ anatomical calendar reminds me that I have to consume at least 5,000 kcal of simple sugars.

As I put on a few items of clothing and made my way down to the awesome Churreria next to my apartment, I realized that today is a Catalan holiday. Last year I worked in a school where the students were mostly Catalan and explained to me in detail how they celebrated “Halloween.”  In fact, they didn’t. This year in fact most of my students knew and celebrate Halloween in their countries. So anyway, instead here in Catalonia, we celebrate La Castanyada. I can go on and explain what the holiday is, but a fellow blogger has done a great job at it and feel free to visit her site by clicking the above link.  The best part of the festival, for a non Catalan is that since we cannot totally immerse ourselves in the deep cultural significance of the holiday, we get to enjoy the “superficial” things that come along with the festival. For example, the food, music, etc…So my students, who didn’t really know why they celebrate the holiday either, told me that all we do is “sit around with family and have panellets, the parents have cava and we eat chestnuts and sweet potatoes.”  So as I slowly got nearer to the churreria I had the gut feeling that I wouldn’t be eating chocolate covered churros today, but instead panellets. There were about 300 pieces of panellets prepared already and I can only imagine how many more in the process of being made. So I asked, like a true gringo, if they have any chocolate covered churros and they said, “no, but we have panellets.”  From my previous experience, I knew that these round almond balls covered in pine nuts, weren’t the most inexpensive holiday treat. Last year I was so interested in what these bite size things were so  I bought 4 thinking, what the hell. But they ended up costing me 4 euros. Anyway, they were good and well worth it. So I ended up buying two this time and another chocolate pastry not worth mentioning and came back to my apartment.

In conclusion, I am glad they didn’t prepare churros today and I was able to share another great cultural event that happens here in Catalonia.  As for Halloween, I’m still in the process of trying to convince a few people to dress up and go to a party I’m invited to by a fellow American friend I have here. I’m not usually into the whole idea of preserving home culture abroad, but Halloween is also getting really popular in Barcelona, especially with the strong international population. Locals like it too and I’m sure the young ones find every reason to escape the panellets and sweet potatoes for some sweet rum with coke

Round Almond Treats Covered in Pine Nuts (panellets)

Fall and Winter Treasures-Chocolate Churros

When the temperatures rise in Barcelona (usually around May), my favorite pastry shop stops producing my favorite Spanish treat. So for the summer months, I only resort to Chocolate Croissants, but begin asking the Señor in charge of the churros, when will he start bathing these delicious sticks of fried heaven in the dark chocolate that only they are able to find in all of my neighborhood. As you can imagine my palette and I go crazy for them.

So what are these things, exactly? A regular churro is just a deep fried dough pastry…Yes, I know it already sounds contra my 6 days a week of working out. Then imagine these deep fried doughs dipped (or as they refer to them as bañados or bathed) in dark, semi-sweet chocolate.  This makes for an amazing breakfast, but you can also find it around at fairs or close to discotecas (nightclubs) after you are completely drunk and craving food.  You have four of these and you are completely satiated and don’t want anything that has to do with chocolate, if you are like me, for another 24-48 hours.  Today was the first time I found these at my local XURRERIA (CHURRERIA) and I have included a picture for your personal visual pleasure.  I just had 4 of them with coffee and let me just say, amazing! First time this season.

You can find and try these treats anywhere , but if you would like to visit this particular Xurreria, it’s at Metro Stop Poble Sec, at the corner of Calabria and Manso. You will also find very friendly Spanish ladies, willing to keep the order in line especially during peak snacking hours. Don’t miss these if you are visiting Barcelona during the months of October – April.

The Corner Bar at Muntaner and Sepulveda

Probably the most popular bar in Barcelona, so popular where they’ve decided that without publicizing it  with a name , people will still know about it and go. I think its name is ”Principal” for everyone who might need that information on their next visit, but really when one goes there they don’t really see a sign that indicates the name of the establishment. It is found in a triangular “plaza” where you can also find an internet cafe next door, a gay club called Metro, and a few hotels next to it if you are still left on the streets upon your arrival in Barcelona. It is on the corner of Muntaner and Sepulveda (at metro Universitat), specifically in the Sant Antoni neighborhood.

It is always packed, the terrace is occupied by both locals and tourists alike, who start off their night with the tasty and flavorful, Moritz beer (which was a local Barcelona brew in the mid 19th century but is now brewed in Zaragoza).

You can also enjoy the patatas bravas at this place without spending a fortune, as well as, be in the center of the city and head out to the bars and clubs to enjoy a late night, either drinking, dancing or whatever your sinful heart desires. I have lived in the neighborhood for about 16 months but I finally got the chance to go there just recently. In fact, in the past month, I have gone there three times already. I think it’s just a good meeting point, they have my favorite beer and my favorite snack, where I know it will be prepared just the way I like it.