BEST FOOD TO EAT IN BARCELONA
BEST TAPAS IN BARCELONA
Tapas are small dishes that fill you up faster than you think. You can always ask for more later on.
PIMIENTOS DEL PADRON
Beware bite a little, as they could be very spicy, not all of them are, yet tasty.
Contains: Green peppers with sea salt flakes.
JAMON SERRANO
Spanish ham is raw, don't be afraid unless you are pregnant.
Contains: Raw ham mostly.
I only eat it with pa amb tomàquet, see further below.
SOLOMILLO DE TERNERA
At its best medium cooked ("al punto")
Contains: One Beef Sirloin with crispy toasted bread, pimiento de padrón and sea salt flakes. (we ordered 3 :)
BROCHETA DE GAMBAS
Simply delicious tapa.
Contains: One prawn skewer with sea salt flakes on crispy toasted bread with butter. (we ordered 4 :)
GAMBAS A LA PLANCHA
Some places are more generous than others...
PATATAS BRAVAS
Contains: fried diced potatoes with spicy sauce, usually made up of ketchup and mayonnaise.
My favourite ones are from "Pans & Company", (fast food Baguette's chain.)
SEVERAL TAPAS
Croquette on crusty slice of bread (not made of potato).
Crab salad with prawn on top.
ALIOLI
Alioli is a homemade sauce, egg, garlic, salt, whip!
Similar to garlic mayonnaise but tastier, all means garlic, i means and, oli means oil in Catalan, so garlic and oil.
CANELONES (MEATY)
Canelones are similar to lasagne but more meaty and with bechamel sauce.
In Spain they are always full of meat mostly, the spinach version is rare for them.
BERBERECHOS
Berberechos are cockles.
Cockles and lemon, some add pepper.
ANCHOVIES & more
Anchovies, olives, pepper and tomatoes.
4 CHEESE
Self explanatory.
SPANISH VS MEXICAN FOOD
A friend went to visit Barcelona and proud of her Spanish, she ordered the following:
Tortilla: thinking it would be a fajita type of thing, but they brought her an omelette, as this is what it means in Spain.
Taco: thinking it would be another fajita type of meal, only to be given a piece of cheese. "Taco de jamon, or taco de queso" mean simply a slice or piece.
She was disappointed her friends had better dishes than her who knew more Spanish! It still makes me giggle! Read the guide below and check the pictures for future reference..
TORTILLA DE PATATAS
Spanish omelette with fried potatoes.
Contains: eggs, potatoes, sometimes onion, occasionally pepper or chorizo.
Homemade ones, are best!
QUESO MANCHEGO
Buying it abroad doesn't really work!
GAZPACHO
It's a cold soup.
Contains: tomato, onion, peppers, olive oil, salt, vinegar.
Most restaurants have this on a set menu, for a starter, specially in summer.
ALMEJAS
Almejas are clams.
Cooked either with white wine or tomato sauce.
MAIN DISHES
PAELLA
My mum's seafood paella..good luck finding one like this!
Contains: Rice, seafood, saffron, etc.
BISTEC OR FILETES
Steaks are usually thin and they are called bistec or filetes. This one is a beef steak, bistec de ternera.
For the chips ask for alioli sauce, explained above.
PLATO COMBINADO
Similar to an English breakfast, but for either lunch or dinner.
Contains: several combinations, mostly with meat, french fries, egg, salad..
PA AMB TOMAQUET
WHAT IS IT
It means "bread with tomato" but it's tastier than it sounds! Catalan way to eat bread, accompanied of cold meats or anything that can be made onto a "bocadillo" (baguette sandwich).
Either with fresh bread, or perfectly acceptable if it's toasted from the day before.
PA
Friction half of a tomato on bread, (not shredded!), olive oil and salt.
If tomato isn't juicy, you can add two instead.
RESULT
Catalans add either Spanish ham, chorizo, tuna, omelette, anything.
BEST DESSERTS IN BARCELONA
TARTA DE FRESAS
A favourite dessert.
Contains: Cream, custard, strawberries.
If you want dessert don't ask too many tapas ;)
CHURROS CON CHOCOLATE
This picture has "melindros" rather than churros, they are soft.
Next to it there is "horchata", see below.
CREMA CATALANA
Creme Brulee.
Contains: custard, burnt sugar on top.
TARTA AL WHISKY
For extra naughty ones.
Contains: nuts, cream, whisky, custard.
DRINKS
SANGRIA
Do I need to say anything else??
Contains: Red wine, fruit, sugar.
Cheap versions abroad contain lemonade, fanta, etc.
CACAOLAT
Tasty chocolate milkshake.
Very easy to drink, secret recipe.
I have yet to find one as good.
HORCHATA
Milky sweet summer refreshing drink made of "Chufa".
Chufa is a Spanish word meaning ground almond, "chufa", has been called earth almond, groundnut, tigernut, duck potato and edible rush.
Most bars have a machine on display, or bottled ones.
PLACES TO GO IN BARCELONA
Please check my personalised Barcelona map here for exact locations, etc
CIUTAT COMTAL TAPAS BAR
Most of this food is from my favourite tapas bar :) it can be a bit pricey but worth it, 80 euros for 3 people, but it depends on how much you ask.
They are so popular that they don't need a website, yet is always busy.
It is a chain of restaurants with the same concept but different names, "La flauta", "La mallorquina", etc.
Go through the crowd from the entrance to ask for a table, the rest are waiting already.
Go for an early lunch or dinner, like 12pm or 7pm to avoid queues. Enjoy!
RESTAURANTS WITH MENUS
They range from 9€ to 12€, it mostly includes everything.
Starter, main course, dessert, bread, drink and coffee.
I tend to avoid touristic zones, and look for a local one (e.g. Restaurant L'Eucaliptus behind "Las Ramblas", see my personalised Barcelona map here.
PANS & COMPANY
Fast food (not so unhealthy) chain with tasty baguettes and salads.
My favourite: Extremeño (thin pork loin with manchego cheese), and patatas bravas with it.