CNN has made a rank list compiling the best fresh markets around the world and La Boquería beats them all.
“If La Rambla is the heart of the city, La Boqueria is its stomach.” This is the vision of the North American news channel, which, after studying world’s finest fresh markets, has given the golden medal to one of the Rambla’s most emblematic spots: Barcelona’s most crowded market since 1840.
The CNN article highlights an unquestionable truth: gastronomy is one of Barcelona’s greatest passions and we can prove it. Watching La Boquería quiet and without queues is as impossible as winning the Lottery without buying any tickets. After all, is the meetingpoint of both neighbours and those who know where to buy the best ingredients. Why? Because there isn’t a shade of doubt about the quality of La Boquería’s products. The market is home to fishmongers, butchers, cheese makers or dozens of small deli shops specialized in Spanish cured meats and ham. That’s why it is a mandatory stop for the best Spanish cheffs, like Albert Adrià, one of the responsibles of placing Catalan gastronomy on the map.
La Boqueria has prevailed over other world-renowned markets such as Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market (the largest fish market in the world since 1985, devastated by a fire in August), Union Square Farmer’s Market in New York or the exotic Or Tor Kor Market in Bangkok.