Okay, so I had this crazy idea to somehow connect Barcelona and Denver. Not physically, obviously, but through… something. I wasn’t even sure what at first. It started with just staring at a map, which is how all good (and some very bad) ideas begin, right?
The Brainstorming Bit
First, I thought about writing a story. Maybe a character who leaves Barcelona and ends up in Denver? Too cliché. Then I considered a photo series, comparing architecture or something. But I’m no photographer, and honestly, the pictures I took on my phone were… underwhelming.
Then it hit me: food! Both cities have amazing food cultures. So I decided to try and find dishes in both places that somehow mirrored each other.
The Barcelona Leg
I started in Barcelona, naturally. I wandered around the Boqueria Market, just soaking it all in. The colors, the smells… I ate some jamón ibérico, obviously. And then I found this amazing little stall selling “pan con tomate.” Simple, but perfect. Crusty bread, rubbed with garlic and tomato, drizzled with olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt.
- Ingredient Hunting: I jotted down the key ingredients, nothing fancy, just good quality stuff.
The Denver Experiment
Back in Denver, I hit the local farmers’ markets. I wanted to find ingredients that felt as fresh and vibrant as what I had in Barcelona. I found some great sourdough bread, locally grown tomatoes (a bit late in the season, but still good!), and decent garlic.
- Local Sourcing: The olive oil was a bit trickier. I ended up with a Californian one that was pretty good.
Putting It All Together
I got back to my kitchen and tried to recreate that simple Barcelona magic. I toasted the bread, rubbed it with garlic, then with the tomato. Drizzled the olive oil, sprinkled the salt. And… it was pretty darn close!
It wasn’t exactly the same, of course. The tomatoes were a little different, the bread had a slightly different texture. But the essence was there. It was like a little culinary bridge between two very different cities. And it all started, with a map and not a clue what to do next.