Cristina, our visitor author and the chef at Mezz Restaurant shares the very best of Catalan Delicacies
Cristina Ojeda is a younger Spanish chef, fast to snigger and as obsessed with consuming out in Barcelona as she is about being a chef at Mezz, a buzzy restaurant impressed by Seventies France. She’s beforehand labored at eating places together with Bar Salvatge, Fats Schmuck, Zaza and El Forat. When she has a while off, she likes to go to eating places sit on the bar, watch how the kitchen works up shut, and ask the chef a thousand questions. Cristina took over the Instagram account Musttry from a good friend who moved out of town. As a chef and lover of Catalan gastronomy, she loves discovering and having fun with the very best locations the place our Catalan delicacies actually shines.
These are a few of Cristina’s spots that by no means disappoint, from essentially the most conventional to essentially the most modern in her personal phrases.
Alkostat
Ronda Sant Antoni, 41, principal, 08011
alkimia.cat/carta-alkostat-eng
Alkostat at all times offers me the sensation of coming house. This restaurant, positioned on the primary ground of Ronda Sant Antoni, is the youthful sibling of Alkimia and focuses on conventional Catalan delicacies however with a high-level culinary method. Their Caesar croquettes are a should, and dishes just like the rostit lasagna or cubist hen are staples on their menu. Plus, Bernat, the sommelier, constantly has wonderful wine suggestions that improve the expertise.
Bodega Gol
C/ del Parlament, 10, 08015
instagram.com/bodegagol
Sant Antoni nonetheless preserves some conventional locations, and Bodega Gol is one in every of my favourites. It’s the best spot for a Sunday vermouth with buddies. Their tapas are wonderful, and the home vermouth is at all times an ideal selection. It’s a easy and genuine area, excellent for having fun with good instances with no fuss.
Casa Maians
Carrer Sant Carles 28, 08003
casamaians.com
Discovering good eating places in Barceloneta that aren’t vacationer traps might be difficult, however Casa Maians is an exception. Situated in a typical low home within the neighbourhood, their menu is brief however crammed with traditional and scrumptious dishes, complemented by a day by day specials board written on a big mirror. The black rice with purple prawns is a must-try, and the bombas are a pleasant shock.
Dos Pebrots
Carrer Physician Dou 19, 08001
www.dospebrots.com
Eating at Dos Pebrots is like tasting the Mediterranean in each chunk. From the appetizer that provides the place its title to the desserts. Every dish honours the product and the season. It’s a real gem of Barcelona’s gastronomy. My suggestions: the 2 peppers, an explosion of flavour, and the gnocchi with egg yolk, stracciatella, and gruyere, cooked spectacularly. It’s a fragile method, but it surely’s clear why it’s definitely worth the effort for them from the primary chunk.
Gresca
C/ Provenca 230, 08036
www.gresca.relaxation
Rafa Peña has been a key determine in Barcelona’s culinary scene for years with Gresca. It’s no coincidence. Every dish combines custom with a contact of avant-garde, clearly rooted in its origins whereas wanting past. The wine record is spectacular. On my final go to, a bottle of Cosmic which was advisable by the chef turned out to be a revelation. The cod gilda and profiteroles are two dishes you possibly can’t miss.
Els Casals
S/n, 08517 Sagas Spain
elscasals.cat
In an 18th-century farmhouse surrounded by fields in Sagàs, you’ll discover Els Casals, the place life and cooking comply with the rhythm of the land. They work with merchandise from their backyard which incorporates their chickens and pigs. Their menu adjustments with the seasons seamlessly. After I visited in February recreation and peas dominated the menu. The sobrasada with rosemary honeycomb is a dish I’ll always remember. It’s made just some kilometres away at Cal Rovira, a part of the household, in fact. When you can, keep the night time and luxuriate in breakfast the following morning, it’s an unforgettable expertise.
El Cup Vell
Carrer Ventallols 8, 43003 Tarragona
instagram.com/elcupvell
Hidden within the alleyways of Tarragona, El Cup Vell is a kind of gems that feels prefer it’s come straight out of a storybook. The area is rustic and cosy. The crew’s service is top-notch. They’re at all times prepared that can assist you select the very best wine or chat whereas they lovingly put together a superb product. My favorite dish was the melon soup with prawn tartare and olive and you could have their magical rice.
El Xampanyet
Carrer de Montcada, 22, 08003
fb.com/folks/El-Xampanyet
El Xampanyet isn’t any secret, however I at all times passionately defend it. This historic spot, regardless of being overrun by vacationers, has managed to maintain its essence intact. What fascinates me essentially the most is the nice and cozy therapy they provide locals, and the traditional dishes, completely executed, with that spark that captures you on each go to—a ten out of ten for the crew, their magic, and their resilience in opposition to the mainstream.
Suculent
Rambla del Raval, 45, 08001
suculent.com
Each time we go to Suculent, we go away utterly impressed. Chef Tonet elevates conventional Catalan delicacies, utilizing seasonal and domestically sourced substances combined with an excellent method. The service is superb, led by Pedro, who at all times appears to have the right wine pairing for every dish. It’s a well-rounded expertise, indubitably.
