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In Barcelona there is a grand street market, Boqueria. It’s a culinary treasure, one of the greatest street markets in Europe. And that is saying something if you’ve had the pleasure to wander the cities of Europe and felt the amazement as one food emporium after another spans the city street.

In the United States, there is a fleet of restaurants called Boqueria, four in New York and two in Washington, D.C. The moto of this chain is “From Barcelona to New York.” The restaurants are treasures, letting you sample tapas with utter authenticity.

And who is responsible for this? A Frenchman. Yann de Rochefort is the founder. As a youth, he grew up in France and spent August on a little boat sailing the Mediterranean. He would stop at Barcelona and stock up that small family boat with days of shopping: Rioja, whisky, anchovies … Yann’s intimate relationship with Barcelona is decades old.

Boqueria is his second generation of restaurants. It reflects all his experience, expertise and love for the tapas of Barcelona.

Last weekend we ate at one of the New York City outlets and enjoyed Spinach with Garbanzos with Raisins and Pine Nuts. It’s glorious. Look!

And this recipe is happily included in the cookbook Boqueria. Recipes here are arrayed in “standard” chapters:

  • The Classics
  • Salads
  • Eggs
  • Vegetables
  • Rice and Noodles
  • Seafood
  • Meat and Poultry
  • Desserts
  • Drinks

Ah, “standard” names but hardly standard recipes. Look at this treat from The Classics, Salt-Cured Anchovies and Eggplant on Toast.

Here’s a baker’s dozen recipes from Boqueria that you owe it to yourself to sample and surely relish:

Fried Potatoes with Spicy Tomato Sauce and Aioli

Ham Croquettes

Salad of Arugula with Fried Artichokes and Spicy Mayonnaise

Crisp Fried Eggs with Potato Chips and Iberian Ham

Braised Lentils with Smoked Paprika Dressing

Quail and Porcini Mushroom Rice with Artichokes

Roasted While Branzino with Potatoes, Onions, and Peppers

Grilled Sardines with Parsley and Caper Salad

Wine-Braised Chicken with Prunes and Cinnamon

Marinated and Confited Rabbit

Dessert of French Toast with Yogurt Ice Cream, Berries and Toffee Sauce

Chocolate Tart with Walnuts and Coffee Cream

Watermelon Sangria

Very often in a tapas restaurant, the portions are small and dishes rather simple. Tasty but still simple In Boqueria, both the book and the restaurants, the portions are full and the recipes dance with flavor. That Wine-Braised Chicken with Prunes and Cinnamon is a glory to view:

And I’m sure to taste.

Suzi and I are testing recipes from the book with fanaticism. We’ll let you know the delicious results. In the meantime, if you can visit one of the restaurants, do. Or, probably better, put a copy of Boqueria in your kitchen and enjoy it the year round.

I did like that Spinach with Garbanzos, Raisins and Pine Nuts so much that I’m posting the recipe for you tonight. Oh, you don’t like spinach? You will. You will.