2.8.09

Smashed eggs


I live right in the centre of Madrid, on a reasonably picturesque street with a pretty mix of old brick buildings and trendy tatto parlours, independent bookshops, italian restaurants and ultra cool hairdressers. We also, this being Madrid, have a few bars, and a fair amount of night time traffic, but less than most surrounding streets.

This means that on weekends there are people walking around drunk and loud until more or less three or four. And that´s fine by me, until the high spirits become out and out vandalism. Walk along singing off tune and you´ll find I merely turn over and fall back asleep, but smash bottles under my window, or use thrash cans for a batucada, and you wake the dragon.


I go to the balcony and if they´re near enough, smash a couple of eggs into the offending group. This is all in the great Madrid tradition of "huevos estrellados", or smashed eggs: fried potatoes with fried eggs gently broken over them, so that the yellow yolk gets everywhere and you can have a proper cholesterol fest. Apparently the secret to making this, according to Lucio, the famous master of the smashed egg, is to make the egg over easy, not in masses of boiling oil. 


So there you are: urban violence and popular culture, all in the Sunday morning´s work. I just wish I could remember to buy cheap eggs for this, because it breaks my heart to waste good organic stuff.

9 comentarios:

kickpleat dijo...

I love the idea that you are hurling eggs off your balcony! But I do like my eggs smashed over fried potatoes.

Elk dijo...

What a great idea, I think I should introduce the custom to the streets of Sydney when we have the riotously drunk groups deciding to loiter for several hours at three am drunk as skunks outside our windows.

I shall have to make some of those eggs on potatoes I think, I have had them before at tapas bars here and enjoyed it but haven't attempted it myself yet.

Raquel dijo...

Me dan pena.
Los huevos, digo.

Qué bonita la ilustración. ¿Es una acuarela?

english muffin dijo...

Brilliant post! I love that idea! Your site is fabulous, I've been a long time reader, huge fan, but first time poster : )

Your illustrations are wonderful as well! Thank you!

english muffin dijo...

Brilliant post! I love that idea! And the smashed eggs over potatoes sounds scrummy! I am long time reader of your blog, huge fan, but a first time poster!

Your illustrations are wonderful as well! Thank you!

english muffin dijo...

Brilliant post! I love that idea! And the smashed eggs over potatoes sounds scrummy! I am long time reader of your blog, huge fan, but a first time poster!

Your illustrations are wonderful as well! Thank you!

Pille dijo...

We do fried eggs over fried potatoes as well. I always thought that it's thoroughly Estonian :D
And re: throwing eggs over annoying streetwalkers - you'd never get away with it here. That's why we prefer plastic bags filled with water. :D
(PS I'll make sure never to be too noisy outside your lovely home :))

lobstersquad dijo...

Kickpleat: I´m a violent lady if need be except to fried eggs, of course.
Elk: I usually have it at tapas bars, too, but it´s not hard.
Guru: ya, pero mira, en un momento de ira, todo vale. Es una acuarela hecha allí mismamente.
English muffin: well great thanks a lot
Pille: eggs and potatoes must be the most universal thing, I guess.
And no, I can´t imagine vicious egg hurling on your lovely street, not ever!

dave dijo...

Funny post and brilliant illustration!

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