Catalan Cuisine is based on fresh fruit and vegetables, meats and fish of great quality and last but not least olive oil. One of the secrets of Mediterranean Cuisine is that food is cooked in olive oil giving food a very special taste. Olive oil also helps to reduce the amount of cholesterol reducing the [...]]]>

Catalan Cuisine is based on fresh fruit and vegetables, meats and fish of great quality and last but not least olive oil. One of the secrets of Mediterranean Cuisine is that food is cooked in olive oil giving food a very special taste. Olive oil also helps to reduce the amount of cholesterol reducing the risk of heart disease.

Here are some examples of Catalan dishes:

Main courses:

Pa amb tomàquet: Bread with tomato rubbed over and seasoned with olive oil and salt.
All i oli: Sauce made of garlic and olive oil and salt. It is traditionally served with grilled meats or vegetables.
Fuet: Dry sausage of pork meat in a pork gut.
Mongetes amb botifarra: Beans and pork sausage.
Escalivada: Various grilled vegetables seasoned with olive oil and salt.
Calçots: Grilled onions.
Escudella i carn d’olla, Catalan stew.
Arròs negre: Rice with squid. The rice obtains a black colour from the ink squid. Traditionally served with All i Oli.
Canalons gratinats amb bechamel,: Pasta filed with meat (chicken, veal and pork) and baked with bechamel on top. Traditionally served on St. Stephen’s day (26th of December).

Desserts:

Crema catalana: Custard base with caramelized sugar on top.
Mel i mató: Fresh cheese with honey. Probably the most typical catalan dessert.

First of all let us remind you of the local timetables as they are different to most European countries. Lunch and dinner in Spain usually start later than the rest of Europe. Locals will normally have lunch from 14.00 to 16.00 and dinner from 21.00 to 23.30.

MESÓN DAVID – Located in Calle Carretas 63 (Metro Paral.lel [...]]]> Here you will find a short list of a few restaurants with very very cheap prices located by the city center. Pay attention that these places are quite a treasure. Some of them are also specialized in anniversaries and hen parties for large groups of people.

MESÓN DAVID – Located in Calle Carretas 63 (Metro Paral.lel L3, near Rambla del Raval). Open for lunch and dinner all week except Mondays. This is certainly a boom not to be missed, for a very low price you will get such amazing plates as we would call them in Catalan ‘plats casolans‘ or food that your own mom could cook. Better call for reservation if you are in a big group, otherwise it is not so necessary. Recommendation: Do not miss the dessert called ‘Pijama’.
Tel. 93 441 59 34
http://www.mesondavid.com

CASA DE ANDALUCIA – Located in Via Layetana 59 pral. 1ª (Metro Urquinaona L1 & L4). This is a traditional restaurant from Andalucía with all their magic and happy environment. They have large rooms to hold big groups in special parties. It is a kind of place that you will not imagine there is a restaurant until you are shown the place. Very very cheap prices, they have a Menu all days but also serve very good tapas and also sandwiches. It is mandatory to reserve before you go.
Tel. 93 302 04 03

TASCA I VINS – There are a few of them:
Industria 118 (Metro Sagrada Familia – Hospital San Pau L5) tel. 93 435 50 52
Cardenal Tedeschini 32 (Metro Congres L5) tel. 93 408 27 39
Diputación 304 (Metro Girona – Urquinaona L4 and L1) tel. 93 342 53 28
Marques de l´Argentera 13 (located in Borne – Metro Jaume I/Barceloneta L4) tel. 93 310 50 08
These are rustic restaurants with a long tradition within the city. Huge toasts with a large number of options to fill with … a kind of pizza but with a toast below… very good and cheap.

Click at the following link for a list of restaurants in city center.

Tapas, everybody has heard of tapas, but what exactly is a tapa? A tapa is a small portion of food that you get when ordering a drink, normally beer or wine. Depending on the bar, it can vary from peanuts to Spanish omelet or even a small portion of paella.

In [...]]]>

Tapas Bar Barcelona

Tapas, everybody has heard of tapas, but what exactly is a tapa? A tapa is a small portion of food that you get when ordering a drink, normally beer or wine. Depending on the bar, it can vary from peanuts to Spanish omelet or even a small portion of paella.

In some parts of Spain (e.g. Granada and Leon), the tapa is free. Unfortunately, this is not the case of Barcelona where you have to pay for them.

Here are some of the best tapas bars in Barcelona:

La Esquinica – C/ Fabra i Puig 192 (Metro L5 – Virrei Amat). Tel. 933582519.
Probably the best tapas bar in Barcelona. It is not located in the city center, therefore you will not find many tourists there. Large amount of tapas, really friendly staff and reasonable prices are the main characteristics.
The place is absolutely packed after 9pm so expect a long queue, so just try getting there before 9pm. Map.

Bar Tomás – C/ Major de Sarrià 49 (Metro L6 – Sarrià). Tel. 932031077.
Probably the best patatas bravas (spicy fried potatotes) in Barcelona. The place looks just normal from the outside however their patatas bravas are simply excellent. Prices are also very reasonable. Map.

Los Toreros – C/Xuclà 3-5 beside Las Ramblas (Metro L1, L3 – Plaça Catalunya). Tel. 933182325.
Typical Spanish restaurant with typical Spanish decoration. Wide of tapas. Localted in the city center. Map.

Tags: barcelona tapas, la esquinica, bar tomas