The Paperina cabbage

(Paperina is a Catalan word, means paper cone)

It’s outrageous! On Christmas we don’t cook turkey, sea bream or lamb. No, Catalan people cook soup.

Yes a soup a super-soup, after all a soup. Its original name is “Escudella i carn d’olla” let’s say a particular kind of soup and stew, but not exactly (coming soon I will publish the recipe, if a can translate it)

Time ago my family has taken over from Christmas cooking traditions, in this case it has been taken by my husband and my daughter four hands.

This dish is more than family tradition is just an identifying mark. For this reason, while you are cooking you always will find on your back a grandfather/grandmother/aunt or mother-in-law overseeing if you accomplish strictly whole ritual. This watchfulness goes beyond the kitchen.

I’ve said: “four hands”. But in fact to cook this dish we employ four hands and two feet, my feet. The same feet that every year goes to the butcher’s, to the greengrocer’s and to the market looking for the “famous” Paperina cabbage. I admit it, I didn’t know this vegetable before we take that responsibility. Until then I only eat it.

Last year I was very busy (this never happens). As a result, on 23th December I had not the Paperina cabbage enough. That day, while I was driving to the Liceu to winner Juan Diego Florez singing La Cenerentola, I couldn’t remove from my mind my mother-in-law voice.

.. Don’t worry my dear, if you cannot, we can cook the “other” cabbage… Note the especial emphasis on the word “other“. That meant, I could worry.

In that moment on the radio a man was commenting that the markets were opened (last year 23th december was Sunday and here on Sunday almost all markets are closed)

Great! I am saved

There were no many cars on the street and I get soon. I had enough time to park the car and as quick as a lightning, running to the St. Caterina market (I have to point out I wore high-heeled shoes)

Like hell! (sorry)

The market was closed. The journalists always tricking people.
By chance I had enough time and I went to Boqueria market just side by side with the theatre. (the most popular Barcelona’s market always full of tourists)

Only four shops were open, the most photographed by tourist, it looks too “fashion” for my cabbage. I was ready to give me up, when I saw a small shop on the right.

Between some red cabbages and some giant turnip there were my cabbage.

Making me understood for the owner, a Pakistani still non integrated in Spanish culture, waiting for the change, waiting for his bows (probably I was the only customer on the day, and sure the only one who bought Paperina cabbage) in the end I had no time to come back to garage and keep the cabbage in the car. Juan Diego Florez was waiting for me.

I hope you can imagine the expression of an old lady, when the theater’s wardrobe employer hang my cabbage side by side her mink’s coat (I point out that we were 20 degrees).

See you.