The Paella Club

On Friday night we had the privilege of spending the evening at The Paella Club. It is definitely one of my favorite experiences thus far in Barcelona! We went there at the suggestion of some folks we met while we were in London last year. They were coming to Barcelona to visit friends who own a winery and we decided to get together on Friday night. The brother of the winery owner is the owner of the Paella Club, so we went there. I wasn't really sure what to expect because I am not a huge paella lover, but it was super fun! I recommend it to anyone visiting Barcelona or those who live here and want a cool activity to do with friends or family or co-workers. It is not cheap, but it is well worth the price!!!

We started out with a glass of cava (obviously) and then we were escorted to our stations to cook. Each station is set up for two people and Bucky and I ended up at the seafood paella station. He was thrilled. The two people who run the show are both named Alex which made it easy! The chef, Alex, is the one who gave the directions on how to actually cook the ingredients. We, of course, learned all about his life by chit chatting with him too! The other Alex kept the cava flowing and elaborated on some of the things we were learning and ingredients we were using. He had us drink olive oil from a wine glass and it was amazing!

Preparing the paella was much easier than I anticipated. Of course, all of the ingredients were already chopped and measured so we just had to add them to the pan and cook as instructed, but it seemed pretty simple. You only cook the food for a little while on the stove because the real cooking takes place in the oven. 

As the paella was doing its thing in the oven, the Alexes moved us over to the dining table for some appetizers they had prepared. We had an amazing saffron cauliflower soup and the traditional tomato bread that is a popular tapa in Barcelona. We also learned the history of the tomato bread which was fascinating. (I won't spoil it for you!) When our paella came out of the oven, we were all impressed. I liked the chicken and rosemary one better, but Bucky was all about the seafood one. 

Wine was graciously provided by Geoff and Mary Ann's friend who owns the winery and man, it was amazing! He brought bottles from 1996 through 1999 and we compared them all. My favorites were 1997 and 1999, but I was partial since that is when my kids were born! As my niece would say, "the period on the end of the sentence of the evening" was the delicious chocolate dessert made by and served to us by Alex the chef. It was amazing. 

The Paella Club was a great experience! I feel like I appreciate the Barcelona culture more after spending the evening there. We had lots of fun with our friends and learned a lot about the foods and wines of the region. Plus, we ate a spectacular meal. The night was certainly a 10!!! 

Geoff checking out the local ingredients we would be using.

The station where Bucky and I would cook the seafood paella!

Our guiding chef, Alex, making notes!

Alex explaining steps to take!

Cooking the shrimp. You have to squish the heads and the brain becomes part of the dish. I let Bucky do that part!

Bucky and Mary Ann cooking!

We were saying PAELLA!

Selfie with Alex, the owner.

We just added in the rice. Mary Ann is preparing a chicken and rosemary paella.

Now it is time to eat what we made!!!

The finished chicken and rosemary paella.

The finished seafood paella.

A chocolatey delicious dessert prepared by Alex.

More chocolatey goodness. 

An of course there was wine. Plenty of wine. 

Hola Nancy!

Last year we were thrilled to learn that the daughter of dear friends would be coming to Barcelona for a semester abroad. Time flew by and she is now in Barcelona! Her parents and brother traveled with her to Spain over the holidays. They saw the sites and got her settled into her home away from home for the next few months. Fortunately, we were able to overlap with them for one night and catch up. It was fun to reminisce about the days when our children were little and we were faced with all of the parenting challenges for toddlers. We also commiserated about how the challenges change, but the devotion to parenting our children does not.

Nancy's family lived in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle in 1999. Bucky and I were fortunate enough to buy a lovely yellow house right next door. We were already friends, but living next door to each other with children of the same age made our bond stronger than ever. We put a gate in the fence between our houses so we could all walk back and forth more easily. I hate to admit it, but sometimes the grownups had dinner together at one house while the kids slept and one of us listened to the baby monitor in case we had to go next door. The kids played together on the swingset in our backyard or ran around at Nancy's house with their dog, Ivey. It was an idyllic time.

After a couple of years, we moved to Stockhom and eventually came back to Seattle and lived in the same neighborhood, but no longer next door. We all reconnected and our friendships continued. The Wall family left Seattle in 2004 to live near family on the East Coast. Since that time, we have had the pleasure of spending some pretty spectacular times with Nancy's family including stays at beach houses on Sullivan's Island, a week on Fishers Island and they even come to visit us in Eygalieres, France, when we lived there! So, we were thrilled to add connecting in Barcelona to our list.

I look forward to seeing as much of Nancy as I can in the next few months. She is busy with school, activities and friends, but she knows she is always welcome here. I have deemed myself her mom in Barcelona and I plan on taking my job very seriously although I doubt she will need me! She is smart and strong and quite an amazing young woman who will always be a cute little three year old with a bowl cut to me!

We are so happy!

A welcome note for Nancy!

Selfie with Nancy and Bucky. Fun!!

Back to Park Guell

During our three week trip to the States for Christmas, we really missed India (our dog) and Bisoux (our cat). The other thing we really missed was walking! So our first weekend home we headed up the hill to Park Guell. There is this wonderful forest behind the park where India can run off the leash. There has been lots of work done to the area and it looks lovely. Bucky and I huffed and puffed up the hills and realized that we had to get back into our walking shape after our time in the States. India gives us a great reason to do so. So do the beautiful views and sites that Barcelona has to offer. Happy walking!

India exploring a newly paved path.

View of Barcelona from Park Guell.

Orange trees in January!

Christmas 2018

Bucky and I had a wonderful three weeks in the States celebrating Christmas and New Years with our family and friends! We spent the first three days in New York City, visiting Kathleen and Venice in their cute apartment in midtown. It was fun to see the big city in all of its Christmas glory and it was amazing to see things from Kathleen and Venice's perspective!! The weather was not ideal (it was rainy!), but we made the best of it and enjoyed our visit immensely. One highlight was the four of us bowling at a cool place close to their apartment. We ate and drank and celebrated Bucky's big bowling win!

After NYC, Bucky and I headed to Charleston for the remainder of our visit. Luckily, Kathleen and Venice were able to come down for a few days so we could all be together! Unfortunately, I failed to take one single picture of our family together, but we enjoyed each other nonetheless!! My brother and his girls are living at our house with my parents so there was never a dull moment! We had lots of family and friends over and enjoyed eating at all of our regular haunts.

It was great being home and it gave me a good perspective of life in Barcelona. I missed walking the streets of the city and my dog and cat. We were happy to come home to our four legged loves and our humble abode in Gracia. I captured a few of our favorite holiday moments below. Enjoy!

Bucky and me singing in the rain at Rockefeller Center!

The only pic I got of Kathleen and Lucie! My loves.

Speaking of love, here are Venice and Kathleen in Charleston!

A favorite tradition - decorating cookies at Auntie Kay Kays. Here is Kate, Kathleen, Wren, Grace and Skyler!

Lovebirds in front of the tree!

Old friends together again! 

My heart was full!

Christmas Eve dinner table at Kate's!

Girls goofing off on Christmas Eve.

Brothers in deep conversation.

Tutu is happy with Canham and Jamie.

Lucie and Barb probably talking retail! 

Grace and Bucky. So cute!

Hamer and Canham with Bubba. Classic!

Me with my sister and brother. 

Kathleen on Christmas Eve in the NY subway.

Our wonderful housesitters sent me this picture of India in Gracia. LOVE!

Santa brought Wren a bike!

The UN cap was a hite!

Happy New Year everyone! Hope 2019 is amazing!