Randy & Katrina sample Spanish “pintxos” street food in Barcelona: Cod Fritters On A Stick.

 

A European tradition of food on a stick

Our trip to Spain confirmed that the Spanish people love to eat at all hours of the day. When you’re out with friends or eating on the go, nothing is more convenient than having that food on a stick.

Mercat St Josep is one of many similar markets you’ll find in a large city like Barcelona or Madrid. You’ll find most stalls selling produce, seafood, olives, meats, and other bulk foods.

But peppered between are those who keep the shoppers happy with prepared foods you can eat while you shop. We found cookies, sliced fruit in a cup, and all manner of slushes, smoothies and juices for the hot Spanish weather.

Pintxos – or “pinchos,” depending on what part of Spain you’re from – roughly translates to “spike” or “thorn.” But in common usage it means a small snack, often eaten in bars or on the street. They’re called pinchos because they often have a small toothpick or stick through them to hold them together. Sometimes different priced snacks have different colored toothpicks through them.

We tried many pinchos in Spain, but a few stood out as being particularly noteworthy and tasty. Fried balls of cod were the most popular offering at this stand, located just outside the entrance to the part of the market selling fresh seafood on ice.

Watch the episode to get Katrina and Randy’s take on these fried fish balls.

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