Category Archives: Spanish

Bar Mut – A must in Barcelona!

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Barcelona – This restaurant was recommended by a friend and he told me, even Robert de Niro was a visitor when in Barcelona. But the bar is really a must to visit in Barcelona.

The restaurant/bar is very small and has some high tables and some low tables but always packed with people. You need to reserve a table about 2 days in advance.

You can just order from the menu hanging on the wall or ask for small plates as a surprise….they will only stop serving when you say you had enough. The food is really good and the Spanish wines very selected.

www.barmut.com

 

La Guingueta – Catalan version of the chiringuito

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Barcelona – Barceloneta beach is just some 5 minutes walk from the city centre and actually really nice for a city beach.

If you become hungry after all the volleyball, swimming or just laying around – there are loads of restaurants, but the Guingueta caught our attention as it looked so open, friendly and modern. You can just have a freshly squeezed fruit juice or a wheat grass shot (….it felt like I just ate a whole golf green) or get a whole lunch.

The sandwiches and burgers are really tasty and the desserts looked great as well. This concept by Carles Abellan is the modern interpretation of a chiringuito “Guingueta” in Catalan (small restaurant with simple but good food at the beach). And I was so happy to find my very Spanish and favourite drink on the menu as well: Tinto de verano (but do not mix it up with Sangria!).

www.carlesabellan.es/la-guingueta-de-la-barceloneta

Fruit bar
Wheat grass shot
the bill
La Guingueta
the menu
sandwich and burger
Tinto de verano and guacamole with chips

Passadis del Pep – From the sea to the table

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Barcelona – If you like sea food as calamari, lobster, mussels and shrimps then you have to go to Passadis del Pep. You will get everything you see on the local market stalls. You will probably have asked yourself if people really do eat it – yes they do!

The restaurant has no menu card. You will receive several platters of mussels, sea snails, octopus, rice in calamari ink and so on. If you think you had enough, the waiter will ask you if you want meat or fish for your main course…so keep some space in your stomach.

Sea snails

The wine list is very good as well.

Ask to be seated in the main room of the restaurant when you do your reservation.

Note, there is no sign that tells you where the entry of the restaurant is…but there is an open door that leads you inside the building.

www.passadis.com

Disfrutar – Enjoy with the former El Bulli team

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Barcelona – When in Barcelona the challenge is to make your selection of the restaurants during your stay….as there are just too many good ones.20150906_141114

Actually we went to Barcelona to see Manà, the mexican rock band, as they not seem to ever come to Switzerland 😉 But it was a great excuse to spend 3 splendid days in Barcelona anyway.

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Now back to food:
Disfrutar restaurant was an experience! We went there for lunch as the evenings were already booked.

We enjoyed a lunch with countless courses that were all very good but we specially liked the egg in its shell. The dishes are quite experimental and a treat for people that like to enjoy various tastes and textures combined – the look of the food sometime cheated and felt or tasted differently once in your mouth.

The EGG
See through penne Carbonara…
Chocolates in pepper gown

Coffee was served in the little patio under blue sky.

Patio

If you have the chance to go, give it a try but bring some time and the big wallet.

disfrutarbarcelona.com (see also sibling restaurant compartircadaques.com)

 

Zelai Txtiki – Authentic Basque kitchen

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San Sebastian – We found one of our favourite restaurants thanks to a very friendly and talkative taxi driver. He told us we could find the best food of San Sebastian at the best price…and so it was! Be aware of the opening times (see below).

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We went at about 8 pm and of course we were the first customers while stuff was still cleaning the terrace. It was a very hot day with temperatures of about 35 degrees Celsius. When we arrived at the restaurant and drank our apero on the beautiful terrace, the Biscayan wind started to blow very strong, so we chose to sit inside. The food was absolutely delicious and if we would have been capable, we would have eaten much more. The croquetas (that I love anyway) were one of the best. And I still dream of the “Begi Haundi” tagliatelle of octopus (calamari) with shitake mushroom and creamy pepper sauce, tasty, tender and mouth watering as anything!!! Actually one of the best dishes I ever had in Spain. As wine we chose the Mauro V.S. 2009, it was definitively worth the price…..

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restaurantezelaitxiki.com

Eneperi Jatetxea – tongue breaker but with a stunning view over the Biscay sea

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Between Bilbao and San Sebastian – just overlooking San Juan de Gaztelugatxe…

The Basque language is a little different than any other language of its neighbors and so are the names of the restaurants and locations.

We did a day trip to the coast of Biscay and wanted to see the little church on the islet San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. The little stone bridge that connects the mainland was constructed by men and reminds me a bit of a miniature version of the Chinese Wall.

First I thought the restaurant on top with the view over the sea and islet is just a tourist trap but we were so hungry so we gave it a try.

We ate wonderful fresh local fish (Besugo) and salad. The restaurant actually does only have a few tables with a view. If you just want to enjoy a drink, you can also install on the terrace with the panoramic windows that serve food from the bar.

www.eneperi.com

Bar Borda Berri – Pinxtos, pinxtos, pinxtos

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San Sebastian – This bar is one of the many great pinxtos bars in the old town. Don’t forget to order the hot pinxtos as well and do not only eat the ones displayed at the bar.

Best time to go? Actually, any time of the day. You can go before or after the beach (about 10 mins walk from concha beach) in your flip flops or also in the evening but keep in mind that Spain still has the Siesta in the later afternoon.

facebook.com/pages/Borda-Berri-aki-se-guisa

La Viña del Ensanche – Bar, shop and restaurant

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Bilbao – The Basque Country has so many good restaurants, but the “La Viña del Ensanche” is one of my favourites in Bilbao! The venue has a bar, a shop and an elegant restaurant with a set menu. The menu contains 7 courses for 50 EUR and changes regularly.

When I go next time, I will probably have the apero in the bar or do one evening with pinxtos in the bar and the other in the restauant.

To reach the restaurant you need to walk through the shop. The delicatessen look great and is full of the best of the Spanish and Basque kitchen…

 

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The dinner itself was just great and we took some ideas home to try to cook at home as for example warm green fettuccine pasta nicely arranged in gazpacho soup.

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www.lavinadelensanche.com