Tag Archives: Barcelona

San Sebastián, Pintxos & Parsifal

20 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by in Contemporary Music, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel

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The magical streets of San Sebastian.

The magical streets of San Sebastián in the Basque Country.

I’ve been encouraged by a tremendous response to my last blog (about Biarritz, France) that another Basque Country story might be interesting and enjoyed around the globe. From Angola, India, Ireland, Algeria, France, Canada, Brazil, Venezuela, Japan, China, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Germany and the U.S. my following in the Biarritz  footsteps of Igor Stravinsky and Ho Chi Minh made that post my third most popular. So I thought I’d go in a different direction, locating the tracks of legends, mythical or gastronomic, from our base for Biarritz, which was in San Sebastián. Or was it Donostia?

Parsifal?  San Sebastián? Gipzukoa?

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Markets, Mushrooms & The Four Cats in Barcelona

03 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Barcelona, Catalonia, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Travel, Uncategorized

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The legendary Juanito Bayen of Bar Pinotxo.

The legendary Juanito Bayen of Bar Pinotxo.

I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving last week here in the United States and that you’re gearing up for more holiday celebration. Hannukah falls on December 16th, also Beethoven’s 224th birthday, and I’ve already got a dinner party planned for six with roast goose. And I have one more reason for celebration this season. Jan and I are preparing a wonderful dinner in honor of my father’s 100th birthday December 8. Cooking with his cast iron pan brings him back to life.

Food shapes the destiny of my memory. When I brew a coffee from Cong CaPhe I return immediately to Hanoi. Add chipotles or guajillos to a dish and I’m back in Mexico. Lemongrass and galangal takes me to Thailand. Put a cheese course together and I’ll start dreaming in French. Make any soup and I’m working again with my parents.

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The Best Chocolate in Barcelona

21 Friday Nov 2014

Posted by in Barcelona, Catalonia, Contemporary Music, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Mexico, Music, San Francisco, Travel, Uncategorized

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Got Jamon Iberico?

Got Jamon Iberico?

Since our American holiday of Thanksgiving is around the corner next week I thought the obvious thing to do would be to focus upcoming holiday posts on the markets, tapas bars, restaurants, meals, chocolate shops, produce, pinxtos, wine and you name it about the world of food in the Catalan capitol city of Barcelona and the Basque dream city of San Sebastián. Two tastes emerged that still linger as personal favorites, both enhanced by an excellent flute of Cava. Jamon Iberico and chocolate.

There are a lot of food posts to come so let’s get started!

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A Barcelona Diary

11 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by in Arnold Schoenberg, Barcelona, Benet Casablancas, Catalonia, Composers, Contemporary Music, Education, Food, LA International New Music Festival, Los Angeles, Music, Southwest Chamber Music, Travel, Uncategorized, Vienna

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A majestic sky over Barcelona.

A majestic sky over Barcelona.

Dreams often get tucked away – but hopefully not forgotten.

From a youthful spark of excitement their inspiration often takes years to become reality. And after visiting Barcelona, I know that dreams in my family now have a new home in a Catalan city we intend to visit as often as possible.

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