Joan, hi. I was at the Vineyard reception and Author's talk last week. We met briefly. I mentioned you in a recent post so I thought I'd share it with you! The evening was really special and I loved meeting all three of you!! https://trustedtables.substack.com
Thanks, Anne! It's Ruth. I'm not sure we met, but thanks for the comment. I really enjoy your blog and, as I said, I love your idea, “Home cooks recreating signature recipes." I will continue to be a reader and hope you stay in touch. Meanwhile, I'll work on recreating a few signature recipes for my own blog!
Oh my gosh! You are so right. I meant to send that note to Joan Nathan. so sorry! Thanks for taking the time to respond. And a particular thanks to your comment about the blog. I deeply appreciate it. I'm a newbie and it's all a big experiment. So positive feedback is particularly meaningful!
Ruth, your posts are always amazingly informative. Thanks to you for doing the research and providing the photos. I almost feel like I'm there. Can't wait to sample some of the recipes when you make them.
Thank you, Judy! After Atlanta, there are a whole lot of tapas I want to make--and you guys will be on the list for samples! But first a spot of travel baking!
I’m visiting Barcelona this fall and appreciate your recommendations and the link to the Sagrada Família. I also live in a tourist destination, and I guess to some degree I understand why Barcelona residents are so tired of tourists. But once summer is over and the tourists are (mostly) gone, hopefully their city will return to normal.
We also live in a tourist destination near the beach and just take it for granted that the crowds will come, especially in the summer. But of course there are other perks (like cooler weather!). The fall will be a great time to visit Barcelona. I'm sure there will still be crowds at the Sagrada Família, but when you look up there's nothing but beauty! Thanks for your comment, Lisa!
What a great Gaudi round up and overview of the artist’s life.Barcelona is amazing. Glad you navigated through the issues and had a fine visit. Fantastic photos—took me there.
I've never been to Barcelona, but your post makes me want to go! One question: Can you go inside the buildings that Gaudi designed? If so, are they comfortable as living/office spaces? So often famous architects design buildings for show that are miserable for living. What about Gaudi?
Yes, you definitely should visit Barcelona, Clarice! There's SO much more that I didn't talk about in my post and that, frankly, I didn't get a chance to see. I always leave wanting to come back (though I could say that about so many places I've visited over the years!)
Thanks so much for the question about the livability of Gaudí's buildings. It triggered more research. Gaudí was considered ahead of his time in taking functionality as well as aesthetics into account, coming up with ingenious solutions to interior light in Casa Batlló and creating indoor-outdoor synergies in his summer house, Casa Vicens, and structural innovations that also made living spaces more pleasant. Casa Pedrera (Casa Milà), which I didn't have a chance to visit, is one of the only places that still has tenants--actually only one tenant as others were paid to leave once it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Apparently there's not a straight wall in the place--but the owner has come to terms with it, as well as all the tourists, who occasionally knock on her door and stare at her when she walks in with groceries. Here's a link to more info on Casa Batlló. It has been updated several times, as have the other houses. https://www.casabatllo.es/en/antoni-gaudi/casa-batllo/inside/ I can't imagine living there now, but it must have been thrilling once upon a time.
Ah, I could eat tomato bread all summer long! So simple but SO good. Thanks for the wonderful trip to Barcelona, Ruth - one of those places that I'm dying to go!!
I can only imagine your take on Barcelona, Jodi, as everything you write is a joy to read! Thanks so much for the comment--and now I'm really craving some tomato bread!🍅
Aww, thanks, Amie! And I didn't even talk about the "tartar de vaca vieja"--the lucious aged beef tartar that we had. No screwing around with that one either!🔩💕
What a lovely introduction to Barcelona - a place I haven’t been but would love to visit. Gaudi’s architecture is so interesting and distinctive and quite whimsical. So much detail to look at.
What a post! Love the photo of you and Jeff and the mosaic McDonalds is a wow! One day, I dream of going to Barcelona and seeing the Sagrada Familia (and all things Gaudi!) ❤️
Thank you, Jolene! I really think you would love the city! I didn't really get into it because I was so focused on Gaudí, but the area where we stayed--the Eixample district--is really the heart of Modernist Barcelona, with not only Gaudí but other celebrated architects putting their mark on the area. After tapas and a sangria, there's a visual feast to be had!🥰
Thanks for sharing the scoop on Barcelona. I’ve never been, but my kids were just there and loved it. They said everyone they interacted with was friendly and helpful. No negative experiences. It’s on my must-see list, though I think I’ll take your advice and avoid it in summer.
Thanks, Domenica. Your kids are right. We have only had pleasant experiences with people there. I always leave with some regrets about what I didn't get to see, do, taste or whatever and making a mental note to plan another trip. To me that means I had a good time.
I think early summer would be okay, but spring, fall, maybe even winter, might be better times to visit.
Thank you for the amazing tour, Ruth! I used Gaudi's work as the inspiration for a mosaic piece I did with children for a school fundraiser once. His architecture reminds me of fairy tales. Too many tourists seem to be a problem everywhere!
No kidding about those tourists! I guess we all have to grin and bear it if we want to visit famous places--or search for undiscovered gems, though unfortunately there seem to be fewer and fewer of those. Do I blame it on Instagram?
Our first visit to Barcelona some years back coincided with a brief period when I was trying my hand at mosaics. I had a lot of fun and still have several boxes filled with broken pottery, china and glass. It was really fascinating to see how inventively Gaudí employs the trencadís technique in his work. So much of it does speak to the child in all of us--and you're exactly right that it's like wandering into a fairytale (except for the crush of tourists!).
One of our favourite cities, Ruth! We spent a winter there a few years back when we moved from LA to London to soothe our re-entry to the cold and damp. It sure helped!
I'm so envious that you spent a whole winter there--and I read and loved your piece about Barcelona too! We have relatives and friends who live there, and I can't help fantasizing about doing the same. It seems like a very livable city--and close to so many other places I want to visit. Thanks so much for the comment!
Ruth- Gaudi is one of my favorite architects. I appreciate this reminder. Hope you're well this week? Cheers, -Thalia
Joan, hi. I was at the Vineyard reception and Author's talk last week. We met briefly. I mentioned you in a recent post so I thought I'd share it with you! The evening was really special and I loved meeting all three of you!! https://trustedtables.substack.com
Thanks, Anne! It's Ruth. I'm not sure we met, but thanks for the comment. I really enjoy your blog and, as I said, I love your idea, “Home cooks recreating signature recipes." I will continue to be a reader and hope you stay in touch. Meanwhile, I'll work on recreating a few signature recipes for my own blog!
Oh my gosh! You are so right. I meant to send that note to Joan Nathan. so sorry! Thanks for taking the time to respond. And a particular thanks to your comment about the blog. I deeply appreciate it. I'm a newbie and it's all a big experiment. So positive feedback is particularly meaningful!
Ruth, your posts are always amazingly informative. Thanks to you for doing the research and providing the photos. I almost feel like I'm there. Can't wait to sample some of the recipes when you make them.
Thank you, Judy! After Atlanta, there are a whole lot of tapas I want to make--and you guys will be on the list for samples! But first a spot of travel baking!
I’m visiting Barcelona this fall and appreciate your recommendations and the link to the Sagrada Família. I also live in a tourist destination, and I guess to some degree I understand why Barcelona residents are so tired of tourists. But once summer is over and the tourists are (mostly) gone, hopefully their city will return to normal.
We also live in a tourist destination near the beach and just take it for granted that the crowds will come, especially in the summer. But of course there are other perks (like cooler weather!). The fall will be a great time to visit Barcelona. I'm sure there will still be crowds at the Sagrada Família, but when you look up there's nothing but beauty! Thanks for your comment, Lisa!
What a great Gaudi round up and overview of the artist’s life.Barcelona is amazing. Glad you navigated through the issues and had a fine visit. Fantastic photos—took me there.
Thanks so much, Jeanine! Glad you enjoyed it!🤗
The photos! Also, till seeing these I forgot the size of the structures.
They are SO immense! Impossible to show the scale in a post, but I tried! Thanks for pointing it out!
I've never been to Barcelona, but your post makes me want to go! One question: Can you go inside the buildings that Gaudi designed? If so, are they comfortable as living/office spaces? So often famous architects design buildings for show that are miserable for living. What about Gaudi?
Yes, you definitely should visit Barcelona, Clarice! There's SO much more that I didn't talk about in my post and that, frankly, I didn't get a chance to see. I always leave wanting to come back (though I could say that about so many places I've visited over the years!)
Thanks so much for the question about the livability of Gaudí's buildings. It triggered more research. Gaudí was considered ahead of his time in taking functionality as well as aesthetics into account, coming up with ingenious solutions to interior light in Casa Batlló and creating indoor-outdoor synergies in his summer house, Casa Vicens, and structural innovations that also made living spaces more pleasant. Casa Pedrera (Casa Milà), which I didn't have a chance to visit, is one of the only places that still has tenants--actually only one tenant as others were paid to leave once it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Apparently there's not a straight wall in the place--but the owner has come to terms with it, as well as all the tourists, who occasionally knock on her door and stare at her when she walks in with groceries. Here's a link to more info on Casa Batlló. It has been updated several times, as have the other houses. https://www.casabatllo.es/en/antoni-gaudi/casa-batllo/inside/ I can't imagine living there now, but it must have been thrilling once upon a time.
Thank you for the link and the additional information, Ruth. I will definitely check it out.
Ah, I could eat tomato bread all summer long! So simple but SO good. Thanks for the wonderful trip to Barcelona, Ruth - one of those places that I'm dying to go!!
I can only imagine your take on Barcelona, Jodi, as everything you write is a joy to read! Thanks so much for the comment--and now I'm really craving some tomato bread!🍅
“The chefs don’t screw around”!! Classic Ruth humor 🤣 and such gorgeous photos.
Aww, thanks, Amie! And I didn't even talk about the "tartar de vaca vieja"--the lucious aged beef tartar that we had. No screwing around with that one either!🔩💕
What a lovely introduction to Barcelona - a place I haven’t been but would love to visit. Gaudi’s architecture is so interesting and distinctive and quite whimsical. So much detail to look at.
Thanks, Julia! It's really a wonderful city--I hope you get a chance to visit one day.
What a post! Love the photo of you and Jeff and the mosaic McDonalds is a wow! One day, I dream of going to Barcelona and seeing the Sagrada Familia (and all things Gaudi!) ❤️
Thank you, Jolene! I really think you would love the city! I didn't really get into it because I was so focused on Gaudí, but the area where we stayed--the Eixample district--is really the heart of Modernist Barcelona, with not only Gaudí but other celebrated architects putting their mark on the area. After tapas and a sangria, there's a visual feast to be had!🥰
Thanks for sharing the scoop on Barcelona. I’ve never been, but my kids were just there and loved it. They said everyone they interacted with was friendly and helpful. No negative experiences. It’s on my must-see list, though I think I’ll take your advice and avoid it in summer.
Thanks, Domenica. Your kids are right. We have only had pleasant experiences with people there. I always leave with some regrets about what I didn't get to see, do, taste or whatever and making a mental note to plan another trip. To me that means I had a good time.
I think early summer would be okay, but spring, fall, maybe even winter, might be better times to visit.
Thank you for the amazing tour, Ruth! I used Gaudi's work as the inspiration for a mosaic piece I did with children for a school fundraiser once. His architecture reminds me of fairy tales. Too many tourists seem to be a problem everywhere!
No kidding about those tourists! I guess we all have to grin and bear it if we want to visit famous places--or search for undiscovered gems, though unfortunately there seem to be fewer and fewer of those. Do I blame it on Instagram?
Our first visit to Barcelona some years back coincided with a brief period when I was trying my hand at mosaics. I had a lot of fun and still have several boxes filled with broken pottery, china and glass. It was really fascinating to see how inventively Gaudí employs the trencadís technique in his work. So much of it does speak to the child in all of us--and you're exactly right that it's like wandering into a fairytale (except for the crush of tourists!).
Thanks so much for your comment, Vicki!
I do blame Instagram! I loved using bits of broken or discarded pottery and china in the mosaics.
Looks like such a great visit!
Thanks, Julia! It was fun!
Pimientos de Padrón are delicious -- and so much fun!
Most of them are fairly mild, but every once in a while you bite into one that's loaded with capsaicin.
🔥🔥🔥
It's like the snacking equivalent of Russian roullette.
"The snacking equivalent of Russian roulette"--I love it! And now I'm craving them! I will have to try making some! Yum!
One of our favourite cities, Ruth! We spent a winter there a few years back when we moved from LA to London to soothe our re-entry to the cold and damp. It sure helped!
https://open.substack.com/pub/marcoandsabrina/p/california-dreamin-on-such-a-winters?r=10ijux&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I'm so envious that you spent a whole winter there--and I read and loved your piece about Barcelona too! We have relatives and friends who live there, and I can't help fantasizing about doing the same. It seems like a very livable city--and close to so many other places I want to visit. Thanks so much for the comment!
Great write-up
Thanks, dear!