Eddy Lara Brito
DestinosActuales.com

The district of Eixample offers a variety of options. As seen from the above the latticework of streets seems to be infinite and here you will find hidden corners that reveal the most outgoing and multi-cultural side of the city.

The Small Food Corners of Barcelona could be counted in their thousands and their nationalities in the dozens. One of them is Kuks, a tiny corner located – for lack of a better term -some way off the Barcelona’s mainstream, beaten track. The place offers its patrons a more traditional taste of far off Argentina: pasties.

The success and secret of this place lies in the laid back way in which it was set up. Flor, originally from Buenos Aires but who has lived in Barcelona for several years, decided to make her pasties for the famous Bar Absenta. They were accompanied by a tango show. In very little time, the tango dancing was outshone by the pasties as they gained legendary status.

An improvised success meant that Flor became a clandestine star of gastronomy in just a few months. She made her pasties at home and even sub-let the basement of a hot-dog joint to make them. Eventually, she found the right place for her business – a place at 167 Calle Roger de Flor – and decorated it in a simple, yet cosy, style of her own.

Her pasties, pizzas and quiches complete the décor. Anyone who walks through the doors might think there is a little old lady out back making the pasties but in reality the creative genius behind these tasty delights is nobody else but the young and radiant Flor. With her accent and Buenos Aires smile, she’ll definitely make sure you succumb to her Argentinean temptations.

Feel like going now? Do it! Check out our prices here!

On Sunday morning is a good time to walk along the river Saone, when livelier are its quays. And that is because on this day, the riverbanks are transformed to welcome people who come in search of a unique treasure to take home.

On the left bank of the river, book vendors install on weekends in their usual metal boxes settled along the river or in the shops opposite. This is the place to complete your library with original works or rare copies you will find at the better price.

On the other side is located Le Marché de la Création , meeting point of about 170 artists from 80 different nationalities offering artworks to suit all budgets that include paintings, tapestries, jewelery, ornaments , lace and embroidery, sculptures and decorative items. It is a unique market in Europe for its size and number of exhibitors, and with a long history since it was established in 1979 by an elderly couple. Lyon is a very creative city, full of outstanding artisans and artists that show their works in these unforgettable markets. Do make sure to find here a unique souvenir made ​​in Lyon.

And nearby, the food market of St. Antoine. If weather is nice, people is always ready to choose between their fresh products, some bread, cheese, sausage, salad and fruit for a picnic in the park.

Le Marché de la Création
Quai Romain Rolland 69005 Lyon
Every Sunday from 8 h to 13 h

So you feel like visiting Lyon, do you? Book your flights here!

By Ferran Imedio from Gastronomistas

And in case your appetite was not satiated with our last post The trendiest restaurants in the city I, we suggest you some more places that are equally trendy even though are low cost.

CURRY 36

 Its name makes it quite clear what to expect here. Curry is king. But, only applied to sausages of all kinds and chicken. Nothing else. They put it on the sausages, on the chips that go with them, in the ketchup… It’s a simple take away (you can also eat at high tables in the street, sheltered by an awning) but it’s always full of Berliners hooked on its way of preparing the hot dog and its variants, and on its prices that start from €1.20. Open every day from 9 am to 5 pm. If you don’t fancy this idea, right next to it there are similar places offering pizza and Chinese food.

Mehringdamm, 36

MUSTAFA

 Berliners love this little Turkish place. They travel kilometres to get to this street kiosk next to the entrance to Mehringdamm underground station and to try its shawarma. It’s famous for its queues. We went at 11:30 am an it took us 30 minutes, but friends in the city tell us that at busy times you can wait for up to two hours. 

The portions are huuuuuge, tasty and spicy hot (just enough). They have golden brown chicken with vegetables, sauces and spices Prices are between €2.80 and €4.30.
Open week days from 10 am to 2 am, and weekends from 11 am to 5 pm.
Mehringdamm, 34

STREET STALL

And if your budget runs low you can always grab a hot dog for €1.50 at a street stall like the one in the photo. You can see why it’s so cheap, when to sell a sandwich all you need is an umbrella and a hotplate, some sausages, mustard and ketchup. The one you see in the photo was in front of the cathedral, but they sell them for €1.35 in Alexanderplatz. You can’t beat that!

By Ferran Imedio from Gastronomistas

Why not take a trip to Berlín? Have a look at our flights here!

Long queues have begun to form lately outside Nº 164 on Calle Girona in Barcelona with dozens of people, half of them Japanese, waiting patiently for Ramen-ya Hiro to open its doors. It’s the latest buzz on the streets of Barcelona: Hiro makes the best ramen in town.

‘Ramen’ is a type of soup that is served in a bowl with noodles. The dish, originally from China, has become one of the most popular in Japan and the small restaurant run by Hiroki Yoshiyuki has captured the very essence of Japan. To start with, they only serve one culinary speciality – as is the case in most restaurants in Japan. The focus here is on two varieties of ramen: one with miso stock and another with soy sauce stock, accompanied with vegetables, some meat and a naruto. Gyozas (small meat and vegetable pasties) are the perfect side dish for ramen and are served five at a time on a Japanese ceramic dish.

Among other things, the menu also includes edamame, onigiri, kimchi and chasu-don (a bowl of rice with strips of pork and onion). Also on the menu is a small selection of typically Japanese desserts, such as strawberry daifuku and green tea ice-cream.

So, what is the secret to the success of Ramen-ya Hiro? The excellent culinary skill and the tradition that goes into preparing the food. The noodles are prepared traditionally every day, as is the stock which is cooked for over ten hours. The flavour of the ramen at Ramen-ya Hiro is so good that just tasting it will transport your mind to Japan.

Ramen-ya Hiro
Address: 164 Calle Girona, Barcelona.
Opening times: Monday to Saturday from 13:30 to 15:30 and from 20:30 to 23:30. Closed Sundays and Wednesday lunch-times.
Price: basic ramen €7.50; plate of gyozas €4.50. They offer a set lunch menu for €10.50 with ramen and gyozas.
www.facebook.com/RamenYaHiro

By Isabel Romano from Diario de a bordo

We’ll be there, if you want to come too check out our flights here.