Bingsu at Bing Bing Cafe
“Travel and eat ”, Anna is very clear when I ask her what the origin is and where the idea of opening Bing Bing , her cafeteria located in the Ronda Sant Pere street from Barcelona. In a neighborhood where, more and more, we find a new and curious offer of oriental pastries: bubble tea bars (bubble tea or pearl tea made with a base of tea mixed with fruit or milk, or places where we find the bubble waffle , a sweet from Hong Kong that mixes three great classics: waffles, crepes and pancakes. As you see, the bingsu lives with interesting neighbors but today our attention and interest falls on him.
A TRIP, A DESSERT
The saying goes that “the earth calls” and it must be so because Asia has been the continent that has always aroused the most interest in this couple when it comes to wanting to discover and connect with their culture. Whenever they have had a choice, they have opted for countries in the Far East. Of these he called the coexistence of tradition with modernity . See how the oldest temples and palaces are revered by people living in some of the world's largest cities. And how these same cities, that never sleep, they offer food at any time of the day in restaurants or street food stalls . On some of their trips to Asia, they discovered new gastronomic proposals that aroused their interest and decided to turn it into a business opportunity. vision and courage to decide to approach one of the most popular Korean desserts by some, to a virgin and unknown terrain for others.
Bing Bing Café: not for sweet addicts
Anna declares herself a pastry chef out of passion, not profession. She has always tried to reproduce the dishes that she has seen cooking at her parents' house, the most curious recipes that she has found on Instagram or some of the dishes that she has discovered in countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Japan or Korea.
And it is right there, in Korea , where this wonderful dessert is born, a sweet halfway between an ice lolly and a creamy ice cream. A curious solution to cool off.
While the creator explains to me the origin of this dessert, I remember that in Japan I discovered the kakigori , a shaved ice based ice cream that at first glance seems very similar but in the mouth it turns out not to be. It is seen that the difference lies in the base, the bingsu it's “his improved version of her,” Anna says with a smile.
Bing Bing Café: not for sweet addicts
the milk , instead of water, changes the texture of that "powdered snow" base and turns it into a creamy dessert . They do it with Cow milk but there are versions made with vegetable drinks for people with intolerances . After sweetening the milk and adding, in addition, condensed milk , the dessert is finished by adding types of ingredients. And it is that the bingsu , unlike the Japanese version, offers a greater wealth of toppings: matcha, enjolmi (yellow soybean powder), red bean, fruit, ice cream, cream, biscuit .. and endless possibilities that arise from the imagination of whoever makes it. In this case, Bing Bing offers the classics and then the seasonal specials such as the black sesame bingsu, m&m's bingsu or melon bingsu . Imagination to power and unleash creativity.
EASTERN BRUNCH
But do not think that because it is the star dish of the place in Bing Bing they only serve bingsus . Not much less! Anna declares herself a lover of brunch and in her cafeteria she offers several options for lovers of sweets and, of course, from salty . Why wait for the weekend to enjoy an authentic brunch? Choose yourselves between: Pancakes (the classics and the matcha ones), bowls, benedict eggs or bagels. And for dessert, in addition to a man bingsu To share, you have options that are also difficult to find in the city: dorayakis (better known as "Doraemon's cupcake"), fluffys japanese cheesecakes (the flubber version of Japanese cheesecake) or a milcreppes (the house recommends the matcha with strawberries).
At Bing Bing Café you can order pancakes for a good brunch
All this accompanied by a good shot : Coffee growers alert! The coffee is 100% Arabica , imported from Korea and made in high mountain areas, with which the grain manages to have a sweet and hazelnut touch. If coffee is not your thing and you are more than tea They also have a selection of infusions. And if green runs through your veins, like the owner of the premises, you can dare with a matcha latte with a shot of espresso. Since you're here, play hard!
Connoisseurs say that the best bingsus are those from Seoul, the Korean capital, and I'm not going to be the one to doubt it. But after trying the ones they prepare at Bing Bing, the bar is high, like the blood sugar level . Invent many more, please! I challenge you to dark chocolate bingsu with kumquat . Will they dare? I leave it there...
Charming corners