A special occasion? Creative cuisine and quality at Coure.

Written by Marta the 5 April 2010 at 17:55

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If you want to try a creative food based on the roots of Catalan cuisine, Coure is the best option. A relaxed atmosphere and minimalist decor and a most attentive service.
The best thing about this restaurant is the perfect value for money, something hard to find nowadays if you want to try something special and elaborated in detail.

The menu is quite extensive and the most desirable, but the best option is to choose the tasting menu (45 € + drink) or Seasonal Menu (35 €). Surely, you will not be disappointed by either. My advice is to choose the Season menu at night and the tasting menu if you’re going to eat for lunch because in my opinion it’s just too much food for dinner (1 appetizer, 3 starters, 1 fish, 1 meat and 2 desserts).

All delicious, but if I have to choose my favorites, ummmm, how hard!! I’ll take 2 of the starters:
The chicken broth with poached egg cooked at low temperature with Comte cheese ravioli and Quinoa.

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Marinated foie roll on Catalan bread.

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You gotta try it! I, for sure will return!

Address: Passatge Marimon, 20 (Sant Gervasi)
Bus: 6, 7, 15, 32, 33, 34, 58, 64.
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 13.30-15.30h 20.30-23.30h
Phone: 932007532

Inopia: The tapas of today served in the bars of yesterday.

Written by Marta the 22 February 2010 at 21:56

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The vogue for quality tapas bars in Barcelona goes on and on. Inopia is one of those new modern bars that with its tiles pays homage to the bars of a lifetime.

We arrived at 7 o’clock and we entered the first after they have opened a ribbon at the entrance as in the hottest nightclubs where people fight to enter. We didn´t understand much because at the time there wasn’t even queue. We sat at the bar … I cannot say where they came from but at 19.05h the bar was completely full and a queue had already formed on the street.

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Quality products, informal and dynamic atmosphere and although the portions are rather small for the price, makes this Tapas bar really worth a visit. I recommend consulting the dishes of the day, an assortment of olives to start and certainly a custard dessert (identical to my grandmother does).

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The video they have on their website describes it better than me, so here’s
www.barinopia.com.
Address: C / Tamarit, 104
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 19.00-23.00hy Saturday 13.00-15.30h/19.00-23.00h.
There is only one table for 12 people to book. (Tel.93 424 52 31)

Christmas Recovery Plan

Written by Marta the 4 January 2010 at 16:02

Welcome back to real life. The holidays are almost finished, but here in Barcelona we still wait for the three wise men to arrive tomorrow night. We have been eating and drinking too much, we have received and given lots of gifts and as always we have a new list of resolutions for the new year …
I personally intend to start the year like this:

1. First of all, by thanking Santa for these wonderful gifts from “Made in Spain” fashion house Bimba and Lola.

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2. Switch to healthy living to recover from the excesses (proposal: a cheap gym downtown where it’s not necessary to spend long sessions)

Basic Fit (www.basic-fit.es)
Address: C / Aragón,
Price: 15 € / month

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3. And … Saving a little to spend on January 7, because that’s when the Winter Sale finally arrives to Barcelona!!!!!

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Happy 2010 to all!

Lights, shopping and. .. action!

Written by Marta the 22 December 2009 at 21:11

Barcelona Christmas is dressed with 305 streets and a total of 58 Kilometers of lights.
Nothing like a nice lighting from 18.00 to 21.30 h to encourage and inspire our purchases when choosing our gifts.

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 Although this energy waste does not seem the best solution to the crisis, the council ensures that the installation of lights with low energy to achieve savings by 27% over the previous year, and the truth is that in times of crisis also need to give a little of joy to the city! so… shop to dark.

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Relax with the most Arabic air of Barcelona

Written by Marta the 9 December 2009 at 14:50

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After weeks of stress at work, I decided to do something to recharge body and soul … in the neighborhood of El Born I found the solution: the Arab baths Aire de Barcelona. At 21.45h I was by the entrance and surrounded by an atmosphere of candles, incense and dim lights I fully prepared myself to relax.

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There are different treatment options that you can choose (see website) and in my case, I enjoyed Thermal Bath + Aromatherapy + Relaxing Massage 15 minutes (36 €). The circuit lasts 1 ½ hours in total.
I totally recommend this experience if you come to Barcelona. For couples, friends or even alone, there is nothing better to recharge the batteries and I assure you that you will fall into a deep sleep when you get home.

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It´s very important to reserve! It took me 2 weeks to get an appointment that suited my time schedule.

And if you want to surprise someone you just have to ask about their gift certificates.

Address: Paseo Picasso, 22
Phone: 902 555 789
Hours: Sunday-Thursday (10.00-23.30 shift of 1 hour)
Friday, Saturday and eve holidays (also 24.00-2.00)

Images www.airedebarcelona.com

Ice Cream in autumn? Yes of course!

Written by Marta the 15 November 2009 at 18:53

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Ice cream and crepes and waffles and milkshakes and all the flavors you can imagine in Belgious …. And those that you cannot imagine too, because I’m sure that goat cheese ice cream with chocolate, gin and tonic or saffron ice cream certainly were not on your list.
Who does not enjoy a good snack in the fall? Pay a visit to Belgious and convince yourself that you love to eat ice cream in the fall, the winter, the summer, yes anytime!
Here is the website where you can see all the flavors and combinations while smacking your lips.

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http://www.belgious.com/home.html
Address: Avinyó, 50 (Metro Liceu)


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I love my new gifts!

Written by Marta the 3 November 2009 at 10:44

As I said earlier, I have just celebrated my birthday and there’s nothing better to overcome the sadness of growing old than to receive wonderful gifts! Here are 2 of my favorites: a pair of gray boots (Springfield) and a necklace that will accompany all my sweaters this winter (came in a surprise letter from Sweden). Thank you very much Anna and Ing-britt!

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Shunka, the best Japanese restaurant in Barcelona

Written by Marta the 26 October 2009 at 15:20

Do you like Japanese food? Undoubtedly, in Barcelona, the best choice for Sushi is Shunka. Without reservation, it is virtually impossible to find a table and if you call before, I recommend you to reserve a space at the bar to experience the activity of the cooks. Every time I go I’m fascinated watching the perfection of their movements as they prepare the dishes and I also try to learn some tricks for my sushi and dreaming that one day they might resemble theirs.

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All the fish and vegetables are of highest quality, the dishes are cared for and full with details that brings out the best flavors of the Japanese cuisine.
As much as I try other Japanese restaurants, Shunka is still my favorite and the favorite of many other Barcelona citizens.

shunka-web2You gotta try it! It is hidden in a small street between the cathedral and Via Laietana. (see map below)


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My blog comes to life again …

Written by Marta the 26 October 2009 at 15:12

Hello again. I’m sorry I disappeared for so long. I never thought that moving to a new apartment, starting a new job and celebrating my birthdays were going to keep me away from the blog for so long! Now, more stable and happy, I promise to compensate for lost time with much needed information about Barcelona, starting right now!

Fiestas de Gracia and Tapas at l’anxoveta

Written by Marta the 31 August 2009 at 16:28

Last week I was walking on the decorated streets of the Gracia district, and as every year, the street festival was really worth a visit.
The Gracia neighborhood takes its street party seriously and are working very hard to decorate their streets with the help of patience and lots of creativity.
But all the walking is going to make you hungry and then what better plan is there than: Tapas at l’Anxoveta!!

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A few months back we discovered this modern decorated tapas bar with its traditional selection of tapas and when we visited this time around, we were once again very pleased.
At first impression it reminds us of Tapaç 24, but if I’m going to choose where I get most value for money, I choose without hesitation l’anxoveta. The service is relaxed and homely and the food very good. I recommend “las bombas” and of course the Cantabrian anchovy that has given the restaurant its name.

And since a picture is worth a thousand words … here you are:

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Address: C / Sant Domènech, 16 (Barrio de Gracia) (tel: 934159223)
Opening times: Closed on Tuesdays


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