Barcelona Food Guide

8843618259?profile=originalA good many tourists, upon landing at Barcelona’s Aeroport de Barcelona-El Prat, disembark from their plane, or step from their train onto the landing of the Barcelona Sants railway station (or otherwise emerge from their form of Barcelona-bound transport with rather stereotypical thoughts. It’s not uncommon to listen to their pre-trip projections of a stay spent engorging on paella, tapas and sangria with little variance. While all of these foods are certainly abundant in Barcelona, they are actually not the most typical dishes the region has to offer. With its strong Catalan roots and heritage, Barcelona exists deeply immersed in the culture of Catalunya. Most newcomers to Barcelona are surprised to discover (fairly soon after their arrival,) a host of distinctive and versatile gastronomical delicacies that comprise a diet of Catalan food. This evidences the great significance the Catalans place on eating well--in fact, the Catalans would rank very high on any list revealing the cities of the world housing the highest concentration of foodies.

ElBulli

This small Catalonian Costa Brava restaurant, run by chef Ferran Adrià operated from 1964, until it could no longer be sustained and closed its doors in 2011. This MIchelin 3-star restaurant was (and will likely remain) the most (worldwide,) controversial, experimental restaurant ever. With a chief interest in tapping the science of Molecular Gastronomy, Adrià created one-of-a-kind, immensely popular food in Spain and the entire world. This world-wonder received as many as one million reservation requests each year, with only eight thousand of these fortunate enough to secure a table. Chef Ferran Adrià has been acclaimed as the best chef in the world. Elbulli clearly illustrated the strong preeminence placed on food preparation and treasured enjoyment held close within the heart of each Catalonian. So many elements of Catalan cuisine have served as prominent building blocks through the ages, by the most highly revered greats of the entire culinary industry, worldwide.

Fideuà: This remarkable dish is Catalan’s twist on the conventional paella, replacing the rice with short, thin noodles. Fideuà is a Catalan word for noodles. It’s far less grainy than the rice-based paella, and is a smoother treat that Catalans prefer. Fideuà stars as the host to whatever main attraction it accompanies. In most all cases, it’s some form of sea-produced ingredients, including shrimp, calamari, clams and prawns. For a more adventurous risk-lover, there is a signature dish, Catalans prepare that is a squid-ink black fideuà. Spills can be disastrous, and mouth-wiping between bites of this particular Catalan food is essential.

Find Housing Near Catalonian Dining

In conducting any search for housing Barcelona offers, whether short or longer term, if you’re lucky enough to procure accommodations in certain areas, you’ll be treated to the some of the best food on the planet. In Eixample, Fonda Gaig (C/Corcega, 200 | 08036 Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain,) could easily be the best Catalan restaurant, city wide. Among their signature dishes are monkfish and the macarrons--with a “to die for” dessert of magnificent chocolate banana bread with a touch of whiskey. Las Ramblas is home to several wonderful Catalan restaurants, and for the adventurous DIY-er, you might visit the Boqueria food market there, to purchase ingredients for making some homemade Catalan Cuisine. Most tourists find that an apartment accomodation rental is more appealing (and better priced,) in many ways than Barcelona hotel accommodations.To find a place to stay visit dormis.com.

Las Ramblas

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There are numerous great spots to find Catalan food around Las Ramblas. The Cafè del l'Òpera on La Rambla 74, is just opposite the Liceu theater and has a nice ambiance for hanging out with friends. For the best authentic tapas in Barcelona, Las Ramblas has three, well-appreciated spots. There is El Quim, or Bar Pinotxo, which is within the Mercat de la Boqueria and is the most famous of all the eateries of the marketplace..and its fourteen seats stay occupied from opening till closing every day. You might want to check out Bar Central, with some unique Catalan dishes, and a signature dish is their fried artichokes.

Anchoa--the Mediterranean-Cured Catalan Delicacy

Any worthwhile Barcelona food guide will include a tribute to the anchovy, and its strong prominence within the Catalonian tradition. Cured anchovies are included in many forms of world cuisine, but none so passionately as by the Catalans. Their salted anchovies are a rich, light brown color, and are meaty and firm. Catalans also enjoy boquerones, which are anchovies that they’ve pickled, and just at the right time to be white, firm meaty, with the ideal level of taste-satisfying acidity. A popular way they’re served is when accompanied by a cup of vermouth or the Catalonian answer to champagne--known as cava, and is a frequent choice to pair with many a meal. The Catalan town of L’Escala--on the Costa Brava--is the best-known anchovy-producer, and every October hosts the Festa de l’Anxova--a festival entirely dedicated to this little fish.

Bombas


8858653476?profile=originalThese potato-meatballs were originated to represent handmade bombs made by anarchists of the Spanish Civil War. They are a true regional delight and it’s highly unlikely that you’ll find them outside of Catalonia. You’ll find them on the menus of the best restaurants in Barcelona, and make sure to tell the waiter you want yours “muy picante,” with a double dollop of aioli and a nice, cold beer. The best bombas are served in the old fisherman’s quarter of Barceloneta, right where the original bombs were made by anarchists. The place is literally a little hole in the wall, with no sign and no menu. Just ask someone to show you where to find La Cova Fumada, Carrer del Baluart, 56.

Bottom Line, for the Barcelona Bound

In planning your trip to visit Barcelona, you would be doing yourself a huge disservice to make one of your objectives of this trip any sort of weight-loss journey. There is just way too much absolutely exquisite food in Spain to be enjoyed, savored and remembered for a long, long time. Take in all that you can, from the sights, the sounds, the colorful Catalan culture, the marvels dotting the city created by the famed Antoni Guell, and soak in the rich history of a place where so much vibrancy awaits people of all types of interests and pursuits. The cafes, restaurants, bars and food are a significant component of this region, and should be a fully integrated part of your Barcelona experience. Let go of all your American habits and adopt those of the Catalonians, in order to fully immerse yourself in the delightful way of life that Barcelona has to offer all who come there. And ask for extra aioli, every time.

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