Category Archives: Opinion

Safforn: Ingredients of our Paella

Saffron used in La Salsamenta Paella Experienc

Let’s dive deeper into Saffron Paella Ingredient, a key component used in our Paella workshop. It’s part of the Crocus sativus flower, which people most probably domesticated in Greece around the Bronze Age.

Saffron is one of the most expensive, if not the most, species in the world. That’s not only by its power to add a unique flavor as well as an intense yellowed color to our dishes, it is also due to the great amount of work required to produce the strands. To obtain 450 grams of dried saffron, collectors must gather over 70,000 flowers.

Actually, the 2 main regions of production are Spain and Iran. You could differentiate them (though it’s not easy) because the Iranian Saffron is darker, with softer smell and quite more bitterness. This is mainly due to climatic differences between both areas. Additionally, automated systems handle most of the collection process, which results in shorter strands compared to the Spanish ones where collectors use manual methods.

Production:

The one we are using is Hebra Roja, from La Mancha in Spain. Starting with the recollection when flower is opening (normally end of Autumn) until the drying by different technics, mainly over hot air flows.

Getting back to the kitchen:

One of its main characteristics is that its pigments are soluble in water making them easy to extract and due to that it has been quite used over the ages in clothing and painting. But let’s focus on the Kitchen!

Here’s a brief summary of the most common ways to process saffron for use in our dishes:

For rices and of course for our Paella at La Salsamenta use method 2 with an amount of 7 to 10 strands per person, depending on the intensity of color and flavor you want on your dish.

Method 1 is most commonly used, stews, omelettes, legumes and sauces. You can add about 10 strands for every 4 people. Add it at the beginning of the cooking (more flavor and color) or wait until the last 3 minutes (more aromatic). You can also use it for sweets like ice creams, cookies, cupcakes, etc…

Method 3 is most commonly used in professional kitchens, as you can store the results in the freezer and get back to it when you need it. Feel free to try it!

If you want to keep reading more in deep about saffron, one of the best paella ingredient, you can go here:

We will keep posting soon about our ingredients and about things related to our Paella Cooking Class!

Best Sagrada Famila Restaurants

Best Sagrada Familia Restaurants

Hello everybody!

Thanks for reaching us at la Salsamenta Barcelona Cooking Class Blog. This is the first post of a series where we will cover one of the main topics you ask to us. Restaurants to eat in Barcelona! In this case, let’s start with the best Sagrada Familia restaurants.

Classic style:

– El Celler del Vermut: It’s a very classic old-fashioned Galician Taberna. Classic tapas and Galician specialities. Not super fancy but really homemade and tasty. Small Place, better to reserve. So, It cannot be missing from our list of the best restaurants in La Sagrada Familia

– Bardeni: One of the better meat places in Barcelona but with a twist. Do not think about a steakhouse with big T-bones and so. It is designed to provide smaller dishes to share among the party. Maximum 4 people per table and only with previous reservation. This is one of the restaurants of this best Sagrada Familia restaurants that we go more often.

– El Pocavergonyes: That’s a true experience. It is located inside the farmer’s market of Sagrada Familia, which has nothing to do with other touristic markets like La Boqueria o Santa Caterina. Here you will find a nice Bar-Restaurant for getting some tapas in a nice inside terrace. Also, you will have the opportunity to see an authentic local market and buy supplies if you need them.

– La Granota: Nice and popular restaurant for locals. They offer a selection of tapas, being the Spanish omelette one of the signature dishes (several different flavors). They also offer an affordable lunch menu during weekdays. Check opening hours, they usually close from Saturday lunch until Monday. So, It is also a must in this best Sagrada Familia restaurants list.

– El Puertecillo: Funny seafood place! At the entrance you will find fresh fish shop where you can choose the fish that you want to eat and how do you want it to be cooked (grill, fry, steam…). Then you can take a seat and have a drink while they prepare the meal. They will call your number afterward, and you can get prepared food at the counter. We haven’t been there for a while, but some guests told us it was nice!

Getting a bit more international:

– La Chula or La Chula Taqueria: Mexican classics, The first is nicer to dine in and the second one is maybe better for a takeaway and eat at AV. Gaudi or Sagrada Familia Park

– El Bund: Homemade Dumplings and some original Chinese food. Quick, cheap and Homemade. Service can be a little bit rude when crowded, but food is very nice

– Michael Collins:  No surprises here. The classical Irish pub to have a beer and some Pub food.

– Can Pizza: Nice Napolitana style pizza 2min from the metro

We hope you enjoyed this best Sagrada Familia restaurants from La Salsamenta Barcelona Cooking Class!

Cheers!