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_EAT: Cornelia & Co

22 Jan

Steps away from the bustling shopping boulevard of Passeig De Gracia,  elegantly situated on Calle Valencia sits  Cornelia and Co. A charming space in the Eixample, which bills itself as “The Daily Picnic Store”.

With a formula that makes it both a gem for locals and visitors alike, the success of  Cornelia & Co.  is its ability to evolve from uptown Lunch hotspot to a romantic desert haven without missing a beat.

An effortlessly chic eatery that is more NYC than BCN – this tastefully decorated cafe houses a great dessert counter, delicatessen shop,  gourmet cheese stand & fantastic lunch/dinner menus.

The staff while both friendly yet professional, reflect a off-the-cuff charm, that is usually hard to come by especially in Barcelona.  From the comfortable loft like open dinning space to the intimate sidewalk terrace; this is the place to stop by when craving a delicious cappuccino and homemade carrot cake.

CORNELIA and CO.

C/Valencia 225 08007 Barcelona
+34 93 272 3956
 Hours: 8 am- Midnight
*Photo By David Naveira

FASTVINIC- Organic Fast Food In The Eixample

17 Sep

 

Right around the corner from Rambla Catalunya, Barcelona’s tree-lined cafe promenade; sits a new concept which is revolutionizing the way people look at  fast food.

FASTVÍNIC, is a new space that puts the soul back in to light fare meals with an ecoconcious heart. Designed as a  LIGHT a place where locals can go to grab a quick bite with friends or hang out. The  menu  places a strong emphasis on homegrown Catalan  products as well as  brining attention to the importance of purchasing home-grown ingredients; In fact their menu has gone as far as featuring Black and White portraits of their local suppliers

Chef Sergi de Meià and his team  have decided to elevate the everyday sandwich to become an icon representing the gastronomic essence of Catalonia. From breakfast to dinner Fastvinic, features everything needed for a first-class breakfast a healthy lunch or a healthy alternative to greasy tapas.

From the people who brought you MONVINIC,  it is  their attention to detail that makes this place a pleasant surprise in a neighborhood where every street has hundreds of  dining options.

Every day FASTVINIC presents more than twenty Catalan wines available through a  state of the art wine vending machine, so that every one of the denominacions d’origen are generously represented. The wines are chosen by the same team of sommeliers as Monvínic in order to provide a perfect pairing with the gourmet sandwiches and side dishes FASTVINIC has rapidly become famous for.

Not only satisfied with changing the way the city grabs a quick bite, the team of  Fastvínic not only places a special interest in cultivating their organic menu, but takes their commitment to healthier way of living to the next level by chosing  with an eco-friendly design approach to their space which has secured FASTVINIC a LEED certification, becoming the first restaurant to be given this recognition in Catalonia.

FASTVINIC-Diputació, 251
08007 Barcelona
934 873 241

_EAT: Bestiari

9 Mar

Walk into Bestiari on any given night  and you will unexpectedly find a restaurant where diners eat under intimate pools of light focused precisely on each table. More Sarria than Born, this is a restaurant that is free from the usual three  ring circus that characterizes most restaurants in the surrounding streets.  

Photo by: David Naveira

Steps away from the Mercat del Born, Bestiari sits elegantly on the corner of  the neighbourhood’s most important culinary avenue C/Comerc.

With a menu as international as the clientele, Bestiari stands out due to its simple yet chic interior and superb level of service, a rarity in Barcelona bustling restaurant scene.

With a varied menu featuring: foie , octopus carpaccio, rissotos and creative dishes that present a modern take on both meat & fish; Bestiari has quietly become an excellent choice when the need to impress arrises.

The dessert menu,  includes a mouth-watering selection of  citrus based sweets including, an  amaretto infused Tiramisu which is bound to inspire a battle of spoons for the last scoop.

For more on the menu check out  BESTIARI’S website or head directly to the corner of Fusina & Calle Comerc.

BESTIARI- C/ Comerç, 3
08003 Barcelona
932 683 080

El Bitxo- A Pre-Concert Bite Never Tasted This Good

2 Feb

 On a quiet street  parallel to Via Laietana, EL BITXO (beet-cho) is a bite sized restaurant, located steps away from the Palau De Musica unassumingly tucked away on C/Verdaguer i Callis. 

With a  simple banner on the outside, one would never imagine the culinary treasures that are presented when walking by at first glance.  However, once  through the door all prejudices are thrown out the window .

This small restaurant hides a huge surprise when it comes to grabbing a bite before heading to the theatre. Moderately priced and carefully executed, every last detail is pulled together effortlessly.

From the handwritten menu on the side wall to the drink menu scribbled on the mirror and the friendly staff- El Bitxo is sure to blow you away, thanks to their gourmet menu and reasonable prices.

 On a recent friday night, I witnessed the locals stopping by just to say “hi” to the staff, give a quick kiss and continue on their way. The intimacy of this cafe makes it unique choice when looking to try something new in Barcelona.

EL BITXO- C/Verdaguer i Callis 9 < Metro>: Urquinaona 

Telephone 93 268 17 08

Open Jan-Feb 1pm-1am Tue-Thur; 1pm-2am Fri, Sat. Mar-Dec 1pm-1am Mon-Thur, Sun; 1pm-2am Fri, Sat

Brunch @ FEDERAL cafe

22 Jan

 Located a stone’s throw from avenida  Paral-lel, FEDERAL CAFE has become the city’s living room. With a  comfortable 3 floor plan which allows the windows to open up to the street. This australian cafe has become a hit due to its flexible floor plans and friendly staff.

However, the key to its success- has to be it’s ALL DAY BRUNCH on Sundays which runs until 5.30 pm. In a city where coffee is the order of the day it’s nice to find a restaurant that serves a proper breakfast and allows you to stroll in without the worry of making it to the restaurant before the kitchen closes.

With a comfortable interior which turns into an outdoor cafe the design of the building is fantastic. I can’t wait for the summer to take full advantage of the terrace on sunday mornings. To find out more about FEDERAL check out their homepage which boasts a great soundtrack while getting familiar with the place.

For a look behind the scenes of the construction of the cafe, check out the FACEBOOK PAGE for before & after pics of the building and the creative process of making this project come to life.

FEDERAL CAFE-  C/ Parliament de Catalunya, 39
08015 Barcelona
931 873 607
Metro: Poble Sec

EL MERCAT DE LA BOQUERIA

13 Nov

Any tourist in Barcelona with a camera and some time to spare knows that the Boqueria is the place to take fantastic pictures. The Boqueria has a special place in the hearts of the locals due to its central location and catalan charm. It is not uncommon to see the world’s best chef Ferran Adria handpicking his ingredients at the Boqueria since right around the corner from the market is his now legendary workshop/office.

 After work on Friday my friend Florie asked me to accompany her to the Market to pick up a few things for her family. Since I always carry my camera on me here are some pictures of the Marketplace around closing time.

 

BCNtip* Check out the market around closing time means fewer people and better prices especially toward the back of the market.

Feed Your Inner Child at Cup&Cake Barcelona

4 Sep

Opened earlier this year Cup & Cake Barcelona, offers grownups the opportunity to regress back into childhood in a brightly lit temple of saccharine on Enric Granados (This street, a favorite among locals, thankfully never tends to be feature in any Barcelona guidebook).

Taking its cue from the now infamous Magnolia Bakery in New York City, Barcelona now has it’s very own cupcake shoppe in trendy Eixample neighborhood (think 8-year-old girls with Tous purses and Burberry sweaters). The friendly staff  will give you the rundown on the treats and recommend which one is the right one for you.

With a fantastic location free of junkies and prostitutes Cup & Cake is a great way to spend a sat morning strolling  up the Eixample in order to get a first hand look at how the other half-lives. Cupcakes, coffees and croissants are the order of the day and  if the 34-year-old little girl in front of you grabs the last one,  don’t throw a tantrum, Cup & Cake keeps them coming.

 
 

CUP &CAKE 
Enric Granados, 145 Barcelona, Spain
Phone: 932002872
Mon – Fri: 8:30 am – 8:30 pm
Sat: 10:00 am – 2:30 pm

 

_EAT: Big Fish Barcelona

4 Sep

 

Located on a hidden street behind the Mercat del Born sits a small cobblestone street with a restaurant which is a favorite among locals looking for a great eatery with loads of charm and atmosphere.

With its clean lines and casually elegant feel , the restaurant  reminds me of the great seafood eateries of Charleston, South Carolina while maintaining its own distinct feel of the Born (Barcelona’s answer to SOHO).  With a spectacular interior designed by Lázaro Rosa-Violán from Contemporain Studio, Big Fish has become an institution thanks to their outstanding service and diverse menu.

A seafood lover’s dream, BIG FISH covers the 7 seas in just one menu. Calamari with mango chutney, Prawns, Grilled Galician Scallops, Grilled sea bass with tomato and asparagus jam,  Bluefin tuna, plus a raw Sushi bar, all make for one fantastic dinner with friends any day of the week.

Big Fish tends to fills up by 2pm on the weekdays, and is close to impossible to score a table on Sundays. Reservations are strongly encouraged in order to snatch a great table.

Alone in Barcelona? Sit at the sushi bar apart from being great entertainment the chefs are quite nice and won’t bite.

 *If you can save some room the white chocolate brownies are the way to go.

BIG FISH -C/ Comercial, 9
08002 Barcelona, España
932 681 728

TimeOut Barcelona’s Best Restaurant List 2009

13 Nov

            xtra_410        This week TimeOut Barcelona announced the winners of their 2009 culinary awards at Luz de Gas, with seven categories  and eight judges TimeOut managed to find seven the most distinctive restaurants in the city.

Anyone who has been to Barcelona- understands how eating here can be like an Olympic sport, with hundreds of restaurants to choose from, finding the “right”  place can leave you feeling a bit stressed. This list will help you out if you coming to the city on holiday,or simply looking for a place to impress a date.

barcelona-torre-460_796164c                                                                                                            READER’S CHOICE AWARD_ Torre D’ Alta Mar             

barcelona

Here are the 2009 Winners of the PREMIS GASTRONOMICS, a list compiled by TimeOut and judged by 8 of the most prestigious names in the Catalan culinary world. For more information on the winners please click here

 

BEST TRADITIONAL CUISINE: Freixa Tradition 
BEST INTERNATIONAL CUISINE :  Koy Shunka
BEST MENU:   La Mar Salada
BEST WINE LIST: CalXim                                                                     

CRITIC’S PICK: Bar Velodromo                                                                              SPECIAL JURY PRIZE:  Dos Cielos ** pulso_pick

 For a complete list of the Winners and Runner-ups click on the TimeOut Logo

 

Style and Substance meet at LA XINA

9 Sep

SalaIn 2008 Tomas Tarruella and his partner Rosa Maria Esteva packed their bags and took 16 of their employees on a trip of a lifetime through the Orient on a journey to inspire them recreate the mystery and elegance of the Cantonese culture and cuisine.

After packing up four land rovers and traveling over 3000 miles from Peking to Shanghai, the out come of this voyage through China ended in the creation of LA XINA, a modern take on the tradition Cantonese Dim Sum Restaurant. 

Grupo Tragaluz teamed up once again with the designers of the critically acclaimed Hotel OMM-  Sandra Tarruella and Isabel Lopez, to breathe life and sensuality to this bi level space overlooking the  world famous Ramblas at the entrance to former Barrio Xino. Over looking the dining room, the huge paper dragon watches silently over diners reflecting the strength and mystery of far east in a more intimate setting in Barcelona.

 

La Xina- Pintor Fortuny 3 Barcelona, Spain

Metro: Liceu <L3>

http://www.laxinaderamblas.es/Enter the dragon

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