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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

What to eat in Barcelona, Spain

Juanita Bayen at Bar Pinotxo tapas bar, La Boqueria, Barcelona

Tapas. Sangria. Jamon. 

Everyday.

Repeatedly.

This is my favourite way to travel across Spain.

Do you remember my trip last year to Bulgaria? The organisers of that famil were happy to fly me home from anywhere in Europe, so considering I was already halfway around the world, I stumped up for a cheap flight from Sofia to Barcelona. My mission? To eat as much jamon as I could.

Bar Pinotxo tapas bar at La Boqueria, Barcelona
Bar Pinotxo at La Boqueria Market, Barcelona

As luck would have it, the now UK-based Minh was also in Barcelona for the weekend. Hurrah! We arranged to meet at Bar Pinotxo in the Boqueria Market for brunch.

To call Bar Pinotxo an institution is an understatement. This tiny 14-seater tapas bar has been trading for more than 50 years, serving up Catalan cuisine for hordes of hungry locals and tourists. There's never a quiet moment and rarely an empty seat. You'll have to hover behind patrons like a desperate seagull to be seated. There are usually mere milliseconds between one person vacating their stool and another person sliding in as a replacement.

At the helm of this iconic eatery is Juanita Bayen. Bayen, pictured above, is the owner and face of Bar Pinotxo. He's always behind the counter, always smiling and impressively efficient, taking orders, distributing plates and manning the coffee machine without raising a sweat.

14-seat counter at Bar Pinotxo tapas bar, La Boqueria, Barcelona
The 14-seat counter

Bayen's nephew, Albert Asin, is the chef manning the stoves in the narrow kitchen. The kitchen runs about two-thirds the length of the counter. Diners get to watch all of the action from their stools.

There's no printed menu here. Everything is prepared depending on what's fresh and seasonal. Ask for a recommendation or do what we did, and point at what other people are having!

Croquettes at Bar Pinotxo tapas bar, La Boqueria, Barcelona
Croquettes

We start with croquettes, crazy hot and crunchy from the deep-fryer, holding three different fillings: olives; potato with jamon; and chicken.

Chipirones con Judias squid with haricot beans at Bar Pinotxo, La Boqueria, Barcelona
Chipirones con Judias 
Squid with haricot beans

The guy sitting next to us was digging into this picturesque dish, so we immediately ordered one for ourselves. It is just as amazing as it looks, a huddle of plump tender haricot beans jumbled with the tenderest baby squid you could imagine.

Xuxos de creme Catalan donut at Bar Pinotxo tapas bar, La Boqueria, Barcelona
Xuxos de crema Catalan pastry with custard

A couple of coffees and a xuxos de la crema tide us over until lunch. Xuxos would become a new obsession. It's a Catalan pastry, made from viennoiserie pastry that is filled with crema catalana, deep-fried and then rolled in sugar. Imagine a deep-fried flaky croissant stuffed with creme brulee custard and you're practically there. Glorious.


La Boqueria

Pine mushrooms at La Boqueria, Barcelona
Pine mushrooms

La Boqueria is the most visited attraction in Barcelona and with good reason. The covered market is a riot of colour and noise, filled with fresh produce, animated owners and plenty of hungry shoppers. The existing market was built in 1840 although various markets have existed on this site since 1217.

Bacalhau cod fillets at La Boqueria, Barcelona
Bacalhau dried and salted cod fillets

Cigala scampi at La Boqueria, Barcelona
Cigala scampi

Pipis at La Boqueria, Barcelona
Pipis

Olives at La Boqueria, Barcelona
Olives

Sharp-toothed fish at La Boqueria, Barcelona
Menacing sharp-toothed fish

Nutella crepes at La Boqueria, Barcelona
Crepe stand including Nutella crepes and jamon fillings

Jamon carving at La Boqueria, Barcelona
Carving jamon


El Xampanyet

Tapas and cava at El Xampanyet, Barcelona
Tapas and cava at El Xampanyet

This was my third visit to Barcelona but my first visit to El Xampanyet. This cosy tapas bar has been around since 1929, found in a small street not far from the Picasso Museum.

Entrance to El Xampanyet, Barcelona
Entrance to El Xampanyet

We arrive exactly at midday - their advertised opening time - but the doors don't creak open until ten minutes later. By the time 12.30 hits, the place is heaving. The atmosphere is the best thing about this place - it feels like 10pm on a Saturday night inside with the happy chatter of people, clinking glasses and sprinkles of laughter.

Pintxos at the bar at El Xampanyet, Barcelona
Pintxos at the bar

There's no menu here either but you can have a look at some of the pre-made pintxos sitting at the bar. Our friendly waiter was also happy to provide guidance.

Cava Spanish sparkling wine at El Xampanyet, Barcelona
Cava Spanish sparkling wine

Getting into some cava, a Spanish sparkling wine, is mandatory. It's a light drink that's quite sweet but it goes brilliantly with the assortment of tapas that will march across your table. The special glasses are fun too - deliberately shallow. We order much more food than most other tables but our waiter barely raises an eyebrow.

And everything is delicious. We revel in the contrasts between sweet and salty, smoky and brined, crunchy and tender. The white anchovies are a highlight.

Potatoes with red peppers at El Xampanyet, Barcelona
Potatoes with red peppers

White anchovies at El Xampanyet, Barcelona
White anchovies

Roasted red peppers with olives on bread at El Xampanyet, Barcelona
Roasted red peppers with olives on bread

Tortilla Espanola potato omelette at El Xampanyet, Barcelona
Tortilla Española potato omelette

Cockles berberechos at El Xampanyet, Barcelona
Berberechos cockles

White asparagus at El Xampanyet, Barcelona
White asparagus

Not phallic at all.


Meson Errioxa

Entrance to Meson Errioxa, La Barceloneta, Barcelona
He doesn't bite

After a few hours on Barceloneta Beach (only a 25-minute walk from La Boqueria) we find room for more tapas. We settle into outdoor chairs with sandy bodies, windswept hair and thongs on our feet and knew that really, life doesn't get much better than this.

Pimientos de padron at Meson Errioxa, La Barceloneta, Barcelona
Pimientos de Padron fried green peppers €6.25


Padron peppers are amazing, like a young green capsicum kissed on a smoky grill. Occasionally you'll encounter a super hot one but we didn't come across any.

Chipirones fried baby squid at Meson Errioxa, La Barceloneta, Barcelona
Chipirones fried baby squid €7.50

Chipirones, or baby squid, are coated in a thin delicate batter and then deep-fried until crunchy. A squeeze of lemon adds extra zing.

Calamares bocadillos at Meson Errioxa, La Barceloneta, Barcelona
Calamares bocadillos €6.50
Fried calamari sandwich

And seriously this was the best calamari sandwich I'd find on my trip: tender rings of calamari in crisp batter, a squiggle of mayonnaise and a baguette that combines the right ratio of crusty shell with fluffy interior.


Around Barcelona

Barcelona architecture
Narrow alleyways and tall buildings

Barcelona is a gorgeous city. Grand architecture mingle with narrow alleyways and there are barely any chain restaurants or fast food eateries to be seen. The main streets are wide and grand and I was deeply envious of all the bicycle lanes around the city too.

Jamon, paprika and olive oil
Freshly carved jamon with paprika and olive oil at an outdoor stall

Elaborate carvings in Barcelona
Elaborate carvings

Outdoor barber at the Lost & Found Fashion Market on Barceloneta Beach, Barcelona
Outdoor barber at the Lost & Found Fashion Market on Barceloneta Beach

Browsing records at the Lost & Found Fashion Market on Barceloneta Beach, Barcelona
Browsing through records at the Lost & Found Fashion Market on Barceloneta Beach

White sangria at Xup Xup Restaurant on Barceloneta Beach, Barcelona
Jug of white sangria €19.65

Post-beach refreshment at Xup Xup Restaurant right on Barceloneta Beach

Churros cooking in Barceloneta, Barcelona
Fresh fried churros at the street stall in Barceloneta


Pasteleria La Colmena

Pasteleria La Colmena bakery and patisserie on Placa de l'Angel in the Gothic area of Barcelona
La Colmena

Tapas has to be balanced with dessert. I stumbled upon La Colmena Pasteleria and was immediately taken by its quaint shopfront. When a tour guide stopped here and gave a spiel, I realised it had to be of significance. La Colmena, I would discover, is one of the oldest patisseries in Barcelona, established in 1864.

Biscuits and meringues in the display window at Pasteleria La Colmena, Barcelona
Biscuits and meringues

Everything is old skool here, from the array of biscuits, meringues and pastries out the front, to the wonderfully wizened shop assistants inside.

Coffee meringues at Pasteleria La Colmena, Barcelona
Merenga de cafe €2
Coffee meringues 

I went straight for the lemon meringue, piped into a patty pan and much like a pavlova in texture and lightness. The marshmallow core was as soft as a pillow.

Lemon meringue at Pasteleria La Colmena, Barcelona
Merenga de limon €2
Lemon meringue


La Mercè
 2013 
Parade of Fire Breathing Dragons & Beasts
Passejada de dracs i bèsties de foc

La Merce 2013 Parade of Fire Breathing Dragons large dragon

Our visit serendipitously coincided with La Mercè, Barcelona's largest street festival held every year in late September. The festival honours the Virgin of Grace (Mare de Déu de la Mercè), the patron saint of Barcelona who is said to have helped Barcelona rid itself of a locust plague in 1687.

The Parade of Fire Breathing Dragons is one of the bigger events in the festival calendar. The streets are packed tight with families who watch the procession unfurl. Floats were interspersed with marching bands of drummers who created a carnival atmosphere with their infectious drumming and whistles. I was expecting perhaps a dozen floats at most but there must have been about 30 different animals, each huge in size, and lit with blazing butane flames.

It was a wild mobile party through the streets. Click on the Instavid for a brief video capture.

La Merce 2013 Parade of Fire Breathing Dragons baby dragon


Three-headed wolf at La Merce 2013 Parade of Fire Breathing Dragons

Dinosaur at La Merce 2013 Parade of Fire Breathing Dragons

Throwing confetti into the crowd at La Merce 2013 Parade of Fire Breathing Dragons


Click here if video isn't playing



Can Eusebio

Grilled razor clams at Can Eusebio, Barcelona
Navajas a la plancha €3.50
Grilled razor clams 

The next morning, we had... tapas. We chose Can Eusebio randomly when we brokenheartedly discovered that our intended target, Quimet y Quimet, was closed. But you know what? As long as the place isn't shamelessly targeted at tourists, it's hard to find a bad meal in Barcelona.

The razor clams are superb, barely cooked and garnished simply with shallots and garlic. Morcilla blood sausage is intensely earthy, and although the fideua Valencian noodle paella isn't exactly my cuppa tea, it's an interesting variation on the usual rice paella. Two cups of cortado, an espresso shot cut with milk (cortado means cut) provide all the fuel we need to face the rest of the day.

Cortado coffee at Can Eusebio, Barcelona
Cortada €1.25

Tortilla espanola potato omelette at Can Eusebio, Barcelona
Tortilla espanola €3.50
Potato omelette with tomato bread

Albondigas meatballs with tomato and fried potato at Can Eusebio, Barcelona
Albondigas tomate y patatas €4.90
Meatballs with tomato and fried potato

Calamai rings at Can Eusebio, Barcelona
Calamares la romana €3.90
Calamari rings

Fideua Valencian noodle paella at Can Eusebio, Barcelona
Fideua €3
Valencian noodle paella

Morcilla blood sausage at Can Eusebio, Barcelona
Morcilla de jaen €3.90
Blood sausage

Grilled sardines at Can Eusebio, Barcelona
Sardina plancha €3.50
Grilled sardines


Lizarran

Self-serve pintxos at Lizarran, L'eixample, Barcelona
Self-serve pintxos at Lizarran

When Minh and her mates headed back to Ol' Blighty I kicked around town on my own for another night. Lizarran is one of the few chain tapas bars you'll find in Barcelona. This successful franchise operation can now be found in North America, South America, China and Russia.

In any case, the bar wasn't intimidating for a solo diner, the food tasted okay, and I liked the easy pricing system here: €1.40 each for pintxos with a short toothpick, and €1.90 for anything with a long skewer. Dinner. Sorted.

Octopus, jamon and croquetas pintxos at Lizarran, L'eixample, Barcelona
Octopus with potato €1.90 
Jamon and croquetas pintxos €1.40 each

Tortilla espanola with jamon pintxos at Lizarran, L'eixample, Barcelona
Tortilla espanola with jamon €1.40


Forn Pastisseria

Forn Pastisseria in L'eixample, Barcelona
Forn Pastisseria in L'eixample

On my last morning in Barcelona I hunted down one more xuxos for breakfast. Google research led me to Forn Patisseria, handily close to my hotel. There are three outlets across the city.

Xuxos Catalan custard donut from Forn Pastisseria in L'eixample, Barcelona
Xuxos Catalan custard pastry

The smell of butter and sugar hits you as soon you step through the doorway. I cradled the xuxos like a precious newborn to take back to my hotel. The pastry was flaky but soft, like a freshly baked croissant, and there was a generous piping of custard in the middle. Sugary lips were half the fun.

Ensaimada from Forn Pastisseria in L'eixample, Barcelona
Ensaimada

And I couldn't resist an ensaimada either. This soft fluffy bun originated in Majorca but is now popular across Latin America and the Philippines. Traditionally this is made using a mother dough, flour, water, sugar, eggs and pork lard. The bun was as light as a pillow and faintly sweet from the snowstorm of icing sugar.


La Mercè 2013
Correfoc Fire Run

Floats being wheeled to the start of the Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013

The night before I hung out to watch Correfoc or the Fire Run, one of the biggest drawcards at La Mercè.

Dragon float being wheeled to the start of the Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013

I was early enough to catch the floats being wheeled into position before I staked a prime spot which necessitated standing for two hours until the event began at dusk.

Gates of hell at Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013

Correfocs or fire runs are a key feature of Catalan festivals. Primarily they involve individuals dressed as devils who then light fireworks and run through the streets. The fireworks are set off from stakes held by people, or the animal floats which are spun around at great speed.

These are live fireworks, and often the spray of explosives will cascade onto the public. Apart from the start of the parade, there are no barricades to hold back the crowds. Festival guides encourage you to "wear old clothes in case falling cinders burn you" and "bring ear plugs for the noise". There is no way this event would happen in Australia or the US but I love that Spaniards uphold tradition and spectacle above nannying of the public.

It was wild, terrifying at times and definitely a night to remember. The Spanish really know how to party!

Dragon spraying fireworks at Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013

Diables devils spraying fireworks at Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013

Diables devils spraying fireworks at Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013

Diables devils spraying fireworks at Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013

Dragon spraying fireworks at Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013

Dragon spraying fireworks at Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013

Lizard spraying fireworks at Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013

Diables devils spraying fireworks at Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013

Lizard spraying fireworks at Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013

Diables devils in red and black spraying fireworks at Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013

Diables devils in blue and yellow spraying fireworks at Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013

Pig spraying fireworks at Correfoc Fire Run for La Merce 2013


Click here if video isn't playing

La Mercè is held every year in Barcelona in late September. September 24 is always a public holiday in Barcelona in honour of the city's patron saint La Mercè.


>> Read the next post: Goosefoot barnacles in A Coruna, Spain



Bar Pinotxo
Parades 466, Mercat de la Boqueria, Rambla, 91, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Tel: +34 933 171 731
Open Monday to Saturday 6am-5pm

Can Eusebio
Vila i Vilà, 84, Poble-sec, 08004 Barcelona, Spain
Tel: +34 934 420 307
Open Monday to Thursday 7am-12am, Friday and Saturday 7am-1.30am

El Xampanyet
Carrer de Montcada, 22, 08003 Bareclona, Spain
Tel: +34 933 197 003
Open Tuesday to Saturday 12pm-3.30pm and 7pm-11.30pm; Sunday 12pm-4pm

Forn de Pa Pastisseria
Carrer de Girona, 73, L'Eixample, 08009 Barcelona, Spain
Tel: +34 934 874 390
Open Monday to Friday 7am-8.30pm, Saturday ad Sunday 8.30am-3pm

La Boqueria
Rambla, 91, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Tel: +34 933 182 584
Open Monday to Saturday 8am-8.30pm

Lizarran
Carrer de Mallorca, 257, L'Eixample, 08008 Barcelona, Spain
Tel: +34 934 872 602

Meson Errioxa
Carrer de l'Almirall Churruca, 5, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Tel: +34 688 379 864

Pasteleria La Colmena
Plaça de l'Àngel, 12, Barri Gòtic, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
Tel: +34 933 151 356
Open 7 days 9am-9pm

Restaurant Xup Xup
Paseo Marítimo de la Barceloneta, s/n, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Tel: +34 932 240 353
Open 7 days 1pm-11.30pm


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38 comments - Add some comment love

posted by Helen (Grab Your Fork) on 1/22/2014 10:30:00 pm


38 Comments:

  • At 1/22/2014 11:01 pm, Anonymous Minh said…

    Forgot how much food we ate!!! So good catching up with you Heren, must do it again :D

     
  • At 1/22/2014 11:09 pm, Blogger Annie said…

    this post takes me back to my Europe trip a few years ago. especially the many pintxos bars. so wanna go back now!

     
  • At 1/23/2014 1:33 am, Anonymous chocolatesuze said…

    i need more jamon in my life

     
  • At 1/23/2014 8:14 am, Anonymous john | heneedsfood said…

    You're killing me with this post, Helen. Barcelona is one of my favourite city's and the first place I tried razor clams. And so much jamón! I've eaten some incredible food there and, at the time, desperately wanted to move there. And you ate so well!

     
  • At 1/23/2014 8:32 am, Anonymous ChopinandMysaucepan said…

    Dear Helen,

    What an amazing trip and importantly, so much deliciousness.

    Reading your story and watching those videos is almost like being there in person, I can taste your inspiring sense of adventure.

     
  • At 1/23/2014 8:57 am, Blogger Tina @ bitemeshowme said…

    i feel like you took me to barca with this post. spewing that i had to forgo this country during my euro trip. i totes missed out!

     
  • At 1/23/2014 9:09 am, Blogger Jarhead said…

    I'm so envious of your trip! So much great food. I loved Barcelona when I went there a few years back and was lucky enough to stumble upon Quimet y Quimet (that's annoying that it was closed when you were there) - the salmon, yoghurt and truffled honey dish was particularly memorable!

     
  • At 1/23/2014 12:38 pm, Anonymous Lizzie @ Strayed from the Table said…

    I want to go to Spain right now. You have brought back some food memories for me of my time in Spain. Tapas, jamon and plenty of sangria for sure.

     
  • At 1/23/2014 2:29 pm, Blogger Mel said…

    ALL the food looks amazing - I LOVE Padron peppers, but it's a shame I didn't even know about them when I was in Barcelona about a million years ago. I *think* the markets you've shown here are the ones I went to...but I don't remember the food counter...bummer.

     
  • At 1/23/2014 3:18 pm, Blogger Roo Food said…

    Barcelona is a wonderful city and you can NEVER tire of tapas!!!!

     
  • At 1/23/2014 4:02 pm, Blogger Milktea Eats said…

    wow, just wow. epic amount of amazing food. eat all the jamon!

     
  • At 1/23/2014 7:39 pm, Anonymous Napoli Restaurant Alert said…

    What an awesome post! Have passed it on to my sister who is heading there.

     
  • At 1/23/2014 11:06 pm, Anonymous My Kitchen Stories said…

    Wow Helen this is wonderful. Amazing pictures and you have captured those fireworks like I was there myself. What a trip , how jealous am I?

     
  • At 1/24/2014 6:36 am, Anonymous Hannah said…

    Oh great. This post has reminded me not only how hungry I am (it's 2:30pm and I've already eaten all the food I brought to work today nooooooo bottomless pit day!) but how single I am, too.

    Thanks Helen.

     
  • At 1/24/2014 10:47 am, Anonymous JJ - 84thand3rd said…

    What a massive post! Now I reeeeeeaaallllyyy want to go back to Spain - not just soon but tomorrow! In the meantime I may just sit in a corner and eat little pieces of bread with things on them... Oh, and white anchovies always win ;D

     
  • At 1/24/2014 11:06 am, Blogger Jacq said…

    I've always wanted to travel to Spain - mainly for the food, but those festivals look insanely fun too!

     
  • At 1/24/2014 7:08 pm, Blogger Sarah said…

    OMG amazing!!! I love Barcelona! And how wonderful that you were able to arrange to squeeze this in on the end of your Bulgaria trip!!

     
  • At 1/24/2014 7:20 pm, Blogger Unknown said…

    I've never seen so much tapas in one post before *DROOLS* Those festivals look brilliant!

     
  • At 1/24/2014 8:36 pm, Blogger vegeTARAian said…

    Wow. I've not yet visited Spain, it's certainly on the wish list. While I would need to sidestep all the jamon, I'd happily get by on churros and sangria every day!

     
  • At 1/24/2014 11:24 pm, Anonymous Cindy (A Foodie's Joy) said…

    So happy you posted about your trip to Spain! Yay! I am planning to go to spain either this year or next year. Your post is part of my trip research! Thanks Helen, great post! Love, love tapas and Jamon to the max!!

     
  • At 1/25/2014 5:28 am, Anonymous MinAi said…

    Hi Helen! It's been a while since I've posted a comment! :) What a timely post though and thank you! I'm planning a visit to Spain in June/July and Barcelona will definitely be in the itinerary.. yum! I'll be having plenty of paella too when I visit Alicante! :P

     
  • At 1/25/2014 11:18 am, Blogger Unknown said…

    So much to love about this post. From the xuxos de crema, (move over Cronut!) To the big white anchovies & little near perfect portions of bacalao. The jamon, the delicious pitchers of white sangria and more! Thanks for showing us your delicious adventure.

     
  • At 1/25/2014 11:54 am, Anonymous charlene @ aus2usa.wordpress said…

    everything looks absolutely amazing! and those churros in golden oil. wow...

    thanks for sharing the world with us! such wonder! :)

     
  • At 1/25/2014 12:38 pm, Blogger Sherrie @ Crystal Noir said…

    You've got me wanderlusting over Spain! It's always been somewhere I've wanted to go and you've just set that decision for me in stone :P Baeutiful pictures as always, Helen!

     
  • At 1/25/2014 5:07 pm, Anonymous The Food Sage said…

    I, too, have a photo of this bloke from Pinotxo bar in La Boqueria. He really looks the part, doesn't he? Great market to pintxos hop around and well captured by photo. Would go back there in a heart beat.

     
  • At 1/25/2014 5:36 pm, Blogger Felicia @ Next Stop: Food said…

    omg everything looks absolutely amazing!!
    all those pasteries!!
    mm~~~~

    - Cassie

     
  • At 1/26/2014 2:12 pm, Anonymous sara | Belly Rumbles said…

    Spain is on my wish list, still haven't made it there. Food, food and more food, oh my gosh! Then a festival, just sounds so perfect.

     
  • At 1/27/2014 12:12 pm, Blogger Pearls of Style said…

    Oh how I'd love to dine in Spain! It's on my list. I can only imagine how incredible croquettes must taste over there!

     
  • At 1/27/2014 6:33 pm, Blogger Unknown said…

    You're living the dream Helen. Gimme a bucket of Jamon every day.

     
  • At 1/28/2014 10:28 am, Anonymous thesuzchef said…

    Gosh you squeezed in a lot in a short time!

    I need to go back to Barcelona. Last time I was there, I had just found out that I was pregnant, so no jamon for me. Talk about torture!

     
  • At 1/28/2014 11:12 pm, Anonymous Gareth said…

    Wow what a trip Helen, thanks for sharing the pics and videos. We went to Bar Pintxo and signor Bayen was there. I loved the market, especially he fresh juices and the jamon. What a treat timing things for the festival. Great videos

     
  • At 1/29/2014 9:25 pm, Anonymous Christine @ Cooking Crusade said…

    SO much to do and see! Looks like you had a fabulous trip. Those pastries look especially amazing!

     
  • At 1/30/2014 9:28 am, Blogger Unknown said…

    I have been to quite a few of these places, El Xampanyet was my favourite!

    Barcelona is so beautiful!

     
  • At 2/03/2014 2:07 pm, Anonymous Amanda @ Gourmanda said…

    I love the fact that half these places don't have menus. It's such a simple and relaxed way of dining, completely at odds with the way we scrutinise menus and reviews online here in Australia before we try new places.

     
  • At 2/04/2014 1:37 am, Anonymous Like Living There said…

    Too bad you missed Quimet; great food and a fun place. If you want to slow down for a great meal (lunch or dinner), head for Cafe de l'Academia in the Barri Gotic. Hard to find but worth the effort. There's always something on the menu with foie gras!

     
  • At 2/12/2014 12:06 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    OMGGGG This makes me miss Barcelona so bad and I'm so excited to be planning my own return this year! I don't remember Barbers being at the beach markets last time...Fancy! I <3 Spanish food.

     
  • At 5/25/2015 3:58 pm, Anonymous Martine @ Chompchomp said…

    How did I miss this post of yours??? Barcelona is by FAR my most favourite city I have traveled to. I didnt eat a single mouthful of food that wasnt delicious, and I ate waaay to much!!! Last time we were there I put on 4 kgs in 7 days!

     
  • At 7/19/2015 3:26 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Wow, amazing blog, we just returned from Barcelona & other areas of Spain. We ate ourselves silly at Pinotxo bar the whole time we were there. But those xuxos... incredible...please...please...please does anyone out there have the recipe???
    If you are at the Boqueria Market GO there, you owe it to yourself.

    Picaniny.

     

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