Best Mojito in Barcelona!
Tuesday 30 May 2006 in Bars & Clubs
Another contentious issue (see “Best Paella in Barcelona“!), but here’s my votes:
Pilé 43 (Calle Agl� 43, 93 317 39 02) in the Barrio Gotico – by far the best in town, made and served with a laid-back passion by two lovely ladies of the Barrio Gotico. It’s not a glitzy place, more 70’s retro, but damn do they do a good Mojito.
Staying in the Barrio Gotico, there’s the perenial favourite, Marguertita Blue (Calle Josep Anselm Clavé 6, 93 317 71 76). Consistently good, if not outstanding Mojitos. Good Mexican food too, and fun during the week for the various shows they put on.
Up-town there’s Negro, on Diagonal. Now this IS a glitzy place, and the food’s pretty good too. If you find yourself uptown, definitely worth dropping by.
I can’t mention the best withouth shuddering at the thought of the worst Mojito in Barcelona. There’s some irony, as the place that deserves this accolade is called…Mojito’s! Fun little salsa club, good vibe and fun crowd, but the crappest Mojito I have ever had in my life! They keep them half-prepared on the bar, use concentrated Lime syrup (yack!), and were absolutely revolting. Both of us were up half the night with churning indigestion caused by the acidity, they were THAT bad!
Always on the look-out for a good Mojito – let me know if I’ve overlooked your favourite!
Ca L’Isidre, Best Catalan Restaurant in Barcelona!
Sunday 21 May 2006 in Catalan, El Raval
If you’re looking for a classic Catalan dining experience, and you don’t mind paying top whack, I certainly recommend Ca L’Isidre, on the edge of the El Raval district. It has a well-deserved reputation (even the King dines here occassionally!), and is worth the money. Without going mad on the winelist, expect to pay about €150 to €200 for 2 persons.
I opted for the raviolis stuffed with langustinos, lima, and ginger, and have to say it was one of the best starters I’ve ever had. The main, seared tuna steak with sea salt and tomato coulis, was super fresh. And I had to go for the famous chocolate mousse, and my conclusion was the fame is well-deserved – mouth-wateringly delicious.
My dining partner went for a mushroom-based starter with poached egg and deliciously creamy salsa, again a fantastic starter. Being a carnivor, ribs of a young goat followed, and were reportedly delicious. To finish, a fruit tart, and once again like you’ve never tasted.
Edit: And how could I forget the cherry-based Gazpacho aperitivo?!? If anyone told me that the combination of cherry, garlic and tomato was worthy trying, I’d laugh, but no, it was fantastic, truly original and delicious!
Go easy on the wine list – it’s extensive, and expensive – if you feel the urge to splurge a grand on a bottle, this is the place to do it! My dining partner and I shared a Priorat, Les Terrasses 2003, for a modest €40, and agreed that it was “buenísimo”!
Isidre Gironés, the owner, goes to the nearby Mercat de la Boqueria every morning to scrupulously follow the seasons and get the best of the catch of the day. The cooking style here has nothing to do with the more modern styles practiced elsewhere in town; what’s served is superb and subtly modernized traditional Catalan cooking. The Gironés’s daughter Nuria, who now runs the kitchen, is responsible for the sumptuous desserts.
Definitely one of the best restaurants in town – classic Catalan cooking at it’s very best.
Ca L’Isidre C Flors 12, Barcelona, 93 441 11 39
Getting groceries delivered
Wednesday 19 April 2006 in General
Another top tip for the idle – all the supermarkets here (Bon Preu, Corte Ingles, Caprabo, etc) will deliver your shopping to your door. Some make a nominal charge, but well worth it to avoid lugging those 8 litre bottles of water up the stairs!
What happened to February?
Sunday 12 March 2006 in General
Keen observers will note that there are no entries for February – let’s just say that there’s been good snow this year 
Cooking Monkfish
Sunday 12 March 2006 in General
Don’t let it dry out! Best to cook it in a tasty sauce, and watch it like a hawk!
Not all paellas are created equal
Sunday 12 March 2006 in Restaurants
A sunny Sunday afternoon in Barcelona, and immediately one’s thoughts turn to a long lunch by the sea. When this idea pans out well, life is good, but when it doesn’t, it’s just bloody annoying. Top tip: if you’ve made a reservation at a good restaurant (and if you haven’t, forget finding a last-minute table!), then make sure you turn up on time! Today I didn’t, meaning that I had to cruise the entire Villa Olympica area in a desperate search for somewhere to eat. Finally found a table right in the port, I’ll name the restaurant when I can remember it, so you can avoid it – lousy service (ok, they were busy, but half an hour to get bread?!?), over-priced, and a totally tasteless paella. And a crap bottle of wine. Damn, I hate it when an eating experience turns out badly…
Moo Restaurant, Hotel Omm
Sunday 22 January 2006 in Restaurants
Wow, that was an exceptionally classy and interesting eating experience! I recently ate at the Moo Restaurant, located within the Hotel Omm, and certainly recommend it as a very unusual eating experience. Ostensibly Haute Cuisine, of the now distinct Catalan variety, it is very much a feast of the senses.
The decor is classy, not overly minimilist. The service was both attentive and friendly, very discreet but on the ball – not once did I have to even think about keeping my glass of bubbly topped up. The menu itself has something to offer everyone, from interesting twists on normal dishes to some way-out-there inventions. I had the Salmon Tartare – with real smoke (had to try that one!), and a tuna steak deliciously poco-hecho…but the desserts, oh man, the desserts were something else. If you go, you’ve got to try the “Viajo a la Havana” – somehow they’ve replicated the cuban cigar as a dessert, and it is incredible (as long as you like the taste of smoke!)…I also couldn’t resist their attempt to recreate a fragrance by Carolina Herrara as a dessert, which was remarkably accurate.
All in all, a classy, sexy place to dine out for the night – just try not to trip over the Ferraris on your way out!
No Smoking!
Wednesday 18 January 2006 in General
The days of inhaling your dining neighbour’s smoke as you tuck into your tapas are now over! As of the 1st of Jan 2006, there are big restrictions on smoking in public places. I for one was sceptical about how this would work, in the first European country to “discover” tobacco, and where it seems that everyone puffs away merrily as if lung cancer was unheard of.
I’ve passed through several of my favourite eating places recently, and have been amazed at how quickly people have adapted to the new legislation. Definitely no downturn in business, no noticeable discomfort in anyone’s behaviour, and much pleasure in not reeking of smoke after a quick beer and tapas session. Amazing!
A fishy day out
Wednesday 4 January 2006 in Kids, Places to go
Sticking to the “what to do with the kids” theme, it being the holidays, another option is the Barcelona Aquarium. Ok, it’s a little “normal” shall we say, but it does keep them (and you!) amused for a couple of (expensive) hours. Personally, I find myself getting hungry as I imagine how one would cook the various little chaps…if you nip upstairs to the “restaurant”, there are of course plenty of fish-based meals to be had (though I’d suggest reining in that hunger and heading off to somewhere with higher standards…)
Bar Kasparo, Plaza Vincenç Martorell
Thursday 29 December 2005 in Kids, Places to go
It’s often tricky to find spot where the kids can run around while the parents can do something other than mind them (other than the beach of course!). Which is why I often find myself at Bar Kasparo, just off the top of the Ramblas. In the plaza there’s a small playground, with the usual swing/slide/spring-loaded animals combination, but the best bit is the proximity of the playground to Kasparo – yes, at last you can sip your cafe con leche or your caña, tuck into some decent food (stuffed vine leaves, one of the best tortillas in town, and their eponymous potato slices are my favourites) whilst your kids do, well, their own thing…phew…Bag yourself a table out front, bask in the sunshine, and enjoy…
Pages
Categories
- Activities (1)
- Bars & Clubs (1)
- Events (1)
- Expat living (1)
- Financial (1)
- General (12)
- Kids (2)
- Places to go (2)
- Raval Life (1)
- Restaurants (6)
- Barrio Gotico (1)
- Catalan (1)
- El Raval (1)
- Japanese (1)
- Reviews (1)
- Books (1)