Architecture Decorating™

You cannot visit Barcelona and not eat your way through the city. Barcelonians are all about food: whether it be tapas, pinchos, large meals or dessert.

While not strictly Spanish, the Gelato shop Amorino along La Rambla was probably my favorite haunt; conviently located 2 blocks from our hotel, Le Meridien.

I don't have much of a sweet tooth but I do have a taste for good gelato -and this is the BEST gelato you will ever have, I promise you. So if ever in Barcelona, Paris, London, Munich or any city lucky enough to have one of these shops, be sure to visit and indulge! Be sure to get a cone and enjoy the presentation: an ice cream cone transformed into a flower.

This is not something I'm going to get into the habit of posting about, but I couldn't resist. I love french food -and apparently...now..I also love Belgian food! I'm not quite sure where the difference lies, though. Well the restaurant I'm talking about is Brasserie Beck ( http://www.beckdc.com/ ). The restaurant is charming and only a few blocks from my home. It has a Vienesse / hoffmanesque feel to it - a real charming bistro from Vienna in the 1920's transplanted to Washington, DC! Beautiful woods, high ceilings, large windows with a modern lace covering, white marble and blue upholstery complete the looks.

The food was a heartattack on a plate -but it's worth it. I had poached eggs over gruyere cheese over serrano ham with a light hollandaise sauce and some mesclun greens on the side. Now - grueyere cheese, poached egg yolks and Ham are probably my favorite foods, but I've never had them THIS GOOD before. The portion was small but very filling but unfortuantely I think I could have had about 6 more plates worth.

The most charming part was the copper pan it was served in, similiar to the one seen below! BEAUTIFUL presentation! I read that they serve a lot of their entrees in copper - purely for presentation -not the pans that are actually used to cook the food with. I really have a thing for copper pans and wish I hadn't already started my collection of the stainless all-clad. Too late to switch now ( besides, copper is a lot more expensive and high maintenance!) My mom used to polish her copper pans with ketchup, I guess the acid takes away the tarnish? I always thought it looked really gross though, like giving birth to a shiny copper kettle.

Back to brunch and away from births. Of course, the best part of brunch is generally the cocktail (no disapproving looks, please). Insead of the obligatory mimosa, I tried a Crevecour which is champagne (naturally) with citrus chamomile tea. It was really delicious - a great way to start a Sunday!

their famous pea soup

If you live in the DC area, check out Brasserie Beck. I can't wait to go for dinner now! I generally like to test out a restaurant with something hard to mess up like brunch - they passed with flying colors!