Ok, I've been coming here more regularly, and I'm getting used to the rhythm of the city, and how things work...
While this will never be like my favorite farmers markets back in LA, it does offer stuff that you can't get in LA... so here's some of the good:
Poultry vendors - I go to the ladies at Monica Avirum (sp?) - they're friendly, they know me by now, and they have good chicken. And if you want your chicken thighs/legs boned, they'll do it for you - it's included with the service. And they have Italian parsley for the asking - so if you're getting chicken carcasses for making a caldo - don't forge to ask for the parsley.
And while i can't find all the fabulous greens that I love and miss so much - sometimes they can get things special ordered for you. I was trying to find pea shoots - but it's just not something people eat or sell or ask for here. And i was trying to describe it to this one produce vendor... he said he'd get it for me from Mercabarna for the following saturday. Well, he didn't have what i wanted. but he gave me a little container of pea blossoms for free. That was sweet of him.
So while i'm still intimidated by this place, and i'm still wishing they had organic stuff - i'm not hating the market as much as i was when i first moved to Barcelona. The vendors for the most part are friendly and try to help figure out what i'm asking for as my spanish vocabulary is still limited. read more