Archive for the ‘Food and Restaurants’ Category

A special occasion? Creative cuisine and quality at Coure.

Monday, April 5th, 2010

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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.

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

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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)

Ice Cream in autumn? Yes of course!

Sunday, November 15th, 2009

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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: AvinyĂł, 50 (Metro Liceu)


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Shunka, the best Japanese restaurant in Barcelona

Monday, October 26th, 2009

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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Fiestas de Gracia and Tapas at l’anxoveta

Monday, August 31st, 2009

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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Today we prepare the world’s best croquetas: My grandmothers!

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

In Barcelona, you can order croquetas in any restaurant or tapas bar at any time but after that you’ve  tried my grandmother’s 100 years old recipe, you will have difficulties to find a better tasting “croqueta”.
So please, enjoy one of my family’s best kept secrets.

INGREDIENTS

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PREPARATION

1. Chop the onion and ham (separated)

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2. Fry the onion in a saucepan with olive oil.
3. When the onion starts to get a golden color, add the ham and stir a bit.
4. Add flour while stirring. Continue stirring and add the milk a little at a time and stir until the mix becomes smooth and let it simmer for 5 minutes.

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5. Let the mix cool off in the fridge for a couple of hours.
6. Form the mix into “croquetas” by using 2 tablespoons.

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7. Roll each “croqueta” in eggs and breadcumbs.

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8. Deep-fry in very hot olive oil.

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If you want, you can do many at a time and freeze them (before you deep-fry).
In this way, you always have some tapas ready if you would get a surprise guest!

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Gazpacho: The Summer Soup.

Monday, June 29th, 2009

During the hottest months of the year, my fridge never lacks a good pitcher of Gazpacho. This cold vegetable soup is the star of the summer menu and although you can buy it at the supermarket, I prefer my family’s homemade recipe.

As a starter for lunch and dinner or even between meals, the Gazpacho is a delicious and healthy alternative and perfect to keep your shape.

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Ingredients for 4 people

6 large ripe tomatoes or 12 small
2 green peppers
1 red pepper
1 small cucumber
1 large onion
1 clove garlic (optional)
2 slices of yesterday’s bread (optional. You can remove this for a lighter version.)
 3 hard boiled eggs
Cold water, salt, extra virgin olive oil, wine vinegar.
Preparation time 20 minutes

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Preparation
1.
Wash and chop tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, garlic and boiled eggs. Mix all ingredients.

2. Place the mixture of ingredients In an electric mixer (in one or in several batches), add a little cold water and crush to obtain a cream. Add the bread, oil, vinegar and salt and beat again until everything is well crushed
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3. Add more cold water and mix well. Taste and correct if needed with salt and vinegar.

4. Optional: pass it through a strainer to remove skin from peppers i tomatoes. (Depending on if you like the soup more or less thick). I usually don’t pass I through the strainer.

5. Put it in the refrigerator until it got the desired temperature.

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6. Can be served alone or accompanied by diced raw cucumber, cubes of bread (regular or toasted), green pepper cut into squares and chopped onion, diced Serrano ham or diced melon. Place each item in a separate plate so that each can serve themselves whatever they want.

I guarantee you’ll like!

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A romantic dinner at a fixed price

Monday, June 15th, 2009

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In the heart of the Sant Gervasi district, near the foodmarket Galvany, we find Mariona restaurant which opened its doors in 1985.
The restaurant is low lit, quiet with light colors which create a cozy atmosphere in this small two-storey building. The relatively low noise level allows us to maintain a quiet conversation, and even if the owners are not the happiest in Barcelona the service is more than acceptable.

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Mariona offer a three course menu with a wide choice of the best of the Mediterranean region to the fixed price 29 €. The menu changes every season in order to always offer the freshest products.
It is often full, so you do best to call ahead to reserve a table. I recommend that you go here for dinner but they also have a lunch menu for 18 €.
They also offer menus for groups, so do you want to go here in couple or with friends? You choose.

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Address: C / Amigo, 53 (Tel. 932011830)
(5 minutes walk from Plaça Francesc Macia)
Hours: Closed Sunday and Monday night.
Getting here: FGC (Muntaner) / Bus: 14

Authentic “gelato italiano” in Barcelona

Monday, June 8th, 2009

The queues have already started for the year at the Gelateria Italiana by la Plaça de la Revolució in Gracia. This small ice cream shop has become a favorite in the last few years for many of Barcelona’s citizens, me included.

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They have a lot of flavors to choose from and all ice creams are made with traditional methods and natural ingredients.
It is a classic in the afternoons and summer evenings to go to the Gelateria Italiana, take a number and wait in queue while you plan out what flavors you want; pistachio, lemon, melon, figs, meringue, yogurt, cinnamon, After Eight ?… And you ask yourself: Why don’t they make tubs of 20 different flavors? … After a while you get your ice cream and as always, it was worth the wait.

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If you are really lucky, one of the tables on the terrace is free and you can sit down to eat your ice cream, but it´s more likely that you will eat it while you walk through Gracia, one of Barcelona’s busiest neighborhoods.


Address: Plaça Revolution 2
How to get here: Metro L3 Fontana
Opening hours: daily from 17:00 to 1:00 pm

The best Spanish Invention: Tortilla de Patatas.

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

Today you cook! To prepare your palate for delights of the Spanish cuisine, I will teach you how to make a Tortilla de Patatas. So when you come to Barcelona you can compare yours with the one they in the town’s tapas bar.

Invite your friends to dinner and surprise them, success is guaranteed. I have not met a single foreigner who does not like my omelette, well yes, Tova and Klara, but they are still too small to eat things that do not resemble meatballs, macaroni or granddad’s pancakes so they do not count.

TORTILLA DE PATATAS (4 people)

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Ingredients:
-5 Potatoes
-1 Large onion
-6Eggs
-Olive oil
-Salt

Preparation:
1.
Cut potatoes in thin slices
2. Cut the onion in thing rings

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3. Fry in olive oil, stirring often so they are sticking to each other, and add salt.
4. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs in a large bowl and add a pinch of salt
5. When potatoes and onions are golden, remove draining the oil and add the mixture to the beaten eggs.

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6. Important! Do not throw out the oil; we will need it to make the Tortilla later.
7. Mix the eggs with the potatoes and onions and let it stand for 5 minutes.
8. Heat the pan with the oil, pour the mixture into the pan over low heat and let it be without stirring for about 5-10 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally to avoid sticking.
9. Now comes the most dangerous moment!!!!! You need a lid or a plate larger than the diameter of the pan to flip the tortilla. Put the dish over the frying pan, put your left hand over the plate and pressing; the right grasping the handle of the pan. Turn rapidly the frying pan while pressing the plate, put the pan into the fire again and gently slide the tortilla into the pan without breaking it.
10. Let simmer another 5-10 minutes on this side over low heat and voilĂ !
11. Your very own Tortilla de Patatas is ready!

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*I’m sorry but I didn’t have time to take the picture before my hungry friends had eaten half of the omelette!

Serve it with a good salad and the best invention of Catalonia (pa amb tomĂ quet).