WHAT
Artistanal candy shop.
WHY
Visit the store to watch them sculpt colorful, glasslike candies in a variety of exotic flavors.
PAPABUBBLE
September 1, 2009
Every day, in Papabubble shops all over the world, candy makers sling sugar in such a theatrical and athletic way that a crowd forms to watch as they twist, roll, pull, and stretch the candy into beautiful rainbow colors and chop them into tiny cylinder shapes. The candy looks like droplets of Venetian glass, but tastes a whole lot better.
Christopher King and Nigel Chouri moved to Barcelona after becoming successful candy makers in Melbourne, Australia, with a shop called Sugar. Yet, they felt the need to move to different surroundings and start over. They were seeking a place that respected artisan traditions and the fact that Barcelona was located on the beach, sealed the deal for them.
Their vibrant colored candies are made the old-fashioned way, by hand on a marble slab. Americans Chris Grassi and Fiona Ryan were so taken with the process that they apprenticed at the Barcelona store and then brought the concept to the states, opening up their own Papabubble shop in Nolita. Six days a week, four to eight times a day, they create new batches of candy in a range of exotic flavors.
The process starts with a few simple ingredients: water, sugar, and glucose (which is made from wheat). And then the experimentation begins, mixing in fruit, herbal oils, or anything that will create a unique taste. Orange clove, lemon lavender, pear bergamot, raspberry sage, coconut curry, and mango and red chile, are just a few of the interesting combinations they have whipped up in their candy lab.
The candies are also exquisite looking. One of their most popular creations is called the “I Love NY Mix.” Each miniature sculpture has the name of one of the five New York City boroughs written on it.
The Papabubble concept is so popular that they have expanded all over the world, with additional stores in Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Seoul.
©2009 FindEatDrink.com
GENERAL INFORMATION
Website:
SPAIN
Barri Gòtic, Barcelona
c/ Ample 28
08002 Barcelona, Spain (map this)
T: +34/93.268.8625
Hours:
Tue - Fri: 10:00am - 2:00pm; 4:00pm - 8:30pm
Sat: 10:00am - 8:30pm
Sun: 11:00am - 7:30pm
UNITED STATES
Soho, New York
380A Broome Street
New York, NY 10013 (map this)
T: +1.212.966.2599
Hours:
Mon - Sat: 12:00pm - 9:00pm
Sun: 12:00pm - 6:00pm
NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam
Haarlemmerdijk 70, 1013 JE
Amsterdam, Netherlands (map this)
T: +31/(0)20.626.2662
Hours:
Mon: 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Tue - Sat: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Sun: closed
JAPAN
Tokyo
Arai 1-15-13, Nakano, Tokyo 165-0026 (中野区新井1-15-13) (map this)
T: +81/03.53.43.1286
KOREA
Seoul
658 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu
Seoul rodeo Hyundai shopping mall, 107 (map this)
T: +82/02.544.8891
Hours:
Mon - Thu: 11:00am - 10:00pm
Sat: 11:00am - 11:00pm
MULTI-MEDIA
For more about Papabubble, watch our VIDEO.
DOWNLOAD our Barcelona guide.
CHRIS GRASSI’S RECS
CHOCOLATE
MAST BROTHERS
VOSGES
132 Spring Street
New York, NY 10012 (map this)
T: 212.625.2929
KEE’S CHOCOLATE
2 Locations (Soho, Midtown West)
80 Thompson Street
New York, NY 10012 (map this)
T: 212.334.3284
452 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10018 (map this)
T: 212.525.6099
PICKLES
RICK’S PICKS
NEW YORK RESTAURANTS
VINEGAR HILL HOUSE
72 Hudson Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11201 (map this)
T: 718.522.1018
Pizza, Bushwick/East Williamsburg
261 Moore Street
Brooklyn, NY 11206 (map this)
T: 718.417.1118
TIA POL
Chelsea
205 10th Avenue
New York, NY 10011 (map this)
T: 212.675.8805
BARCELONA RESTAURANTS
Born & St Pere, Barcelona
c/ Montcada, 22
08003 Barcelona, Spain (map this)
T: +34/93.319.7003
BAR LA PALATA
El Born
c/ Mercé, 28
08002 Barcelona, Spain (map this)
T: +34/93.315.1009
TAVERNA CAN MARGARIT
Poble Sec
c/ Concòrdia 21
08004 Barcelona, Spain (map this)
T: +34/93.441.6723
©2009 FindEatDrink.com
