For one night, Barcelona in South Norwalk cleared out their back dining room and set up a mini market that featured the good folks that provide the restaurant with some of its ingredients. The event, called “La Vida del Mercat,” allowed the public to sample fine wines, cocktails, cheeses, high quality meats and finger foods with the adding bonus of mingling with like-minded foodies. And of course, La Vida del Mercat doubled as a showcase for these local farms and businesses that provide Barcelona (and other restaurants that we love) with the good stuff.
Some of the businesses on hand at La Vida del Mercat included…
Jamones Segovia with some of the best ham you will EVER taste. In fact, they brought two; Jamon Serrano (aged 12-24 months) and Jamon Mangalica (aged 24-38 months).
Forever Cheese out of Long Island City, NY, a company that imports cheese from Italy, Spain, Portugal and Croatia to the U.S. They brought along a variety of cow’s milk, goat’s milk and buffalo milk cheeses for the crowd.
Captain Lawrence Brewing Company from Elmsford, NY is a Top 5 rated brewery by Beer Advocate. Chances are if you live in the NY/CT area you know about Captain Lawrence. And you know how good their brews are.
Speckled Rooster Farm is ultra-local, as in Westport, CT local, and many of their products can be found in the area. (Best. Eggs. Ever.) Their products were used a bunch at La Vida del Mercat that included three different kinds of deviled eggs and a duck egg and blood sausage mini sandwich prepared by the new Executive Chef at Barcelona SoNo, Wayne Homsi.
Doc’s Maple Syrup, also a common find in local stores and farmers markets, whipped up some maple glazed walnuts, a non-alcoholic maple syrup and lemon juice drink with crushed ice, and provided some sweetness to a few of the cocktails made by some of Barcelona’s bartenders.
Caledonia Spirits showed off their Barr Hill Reserve line of goods in cocktails and for some of the lucky ones that stayed around to chat, a tasting of their vodka, gin, and Tom Cat. The cool thing about the Barr Hill Reserve line? It’s made from raw honey.
Also present at La Vida del Mercat was Barteca Wine Director, Gretchen Thomas who not only knows how to pour a glass of wine, but she has serious wine knowledge and took the time to pass some of that knowledge along to guests at the event.
Oh, and we can’t forget about the giant pan of vegetable paella that Chef Wayne cooked up in the back. It was, no doubt, the largest pan of anything that most people in the room had ever seen. Well, at least until La Vida del Mercat Part Two. Next year perhaps? Stay tuned.
Visit Barcelona’s Website HERE
Twitter: @BarcelonaWineBa
For more photos from La Vida del Mercat visit Food Dudes and visit the Food Dudes on Facebook.