Thin-cut steaks, often called bistec or filetes, are popular in Barcelona. Ask for bistec de ternera (beef steak) and don’t forget the allioli sauce for your fries!

Think of it as Spain’s version of a hearty English breakfast — but served for lunch or dinner. Expect meat, fries, egg, salad, and other tasty combinations.

It means “bread with tomato”, but it’s far more delicious than it sounds! The core purpose of the dish was a practical, waste-conscious approach to food. Because bread was typically baked only once a week, it would quickly become hard. During an abundant tomato harvest, rural Catalans discovered that rubbing the juice and pulp of ripe tomatoes onto the dry bread made it moist and palatable again. This simple, humble practice of using available ingredients out of necessity evolved into a cornerstone of Catalan cuisine and identity.

How it’s made: Rub half a ripe tomato directly onto fresh or toasted bread (never shredded!), drizzle with olive oil and a pinch of salt evenly. If the tomato isn’t juicy enough, use two!

The result: Top it with Spanish ham, chorizo, any other cured meats (I tend to go for Mortadella), tuna, omelette — anything goes! Either as a 'tostada' as shown in picture or turned into a 🥖 bocadillo (baguette sandwich).

Here is my simple Sangria recipe.

🍫 Catalonia’s Legendary Chocolate Drink

Cacaolat is more than just a chocolate milkshake, it's a local icon. Creamy, sweet, and irresistibly smooth, it’s made from a secret recipe that’s been loved for generations.

Born in Barcelona in the 1930s, Cacaolat was one of the first bottled chocolate drinks in Europe. Today, it’s still a favourite across Catalonia, and I’ve yet to find one that compares.

Whether chilled from a café fridge or sipped on a sunny terrace, it’s the kind of treat that brings back childhood memories for many locals. Try it once, and you’ll see why it’s hard to beat.

Bonus tip: If you're in the UK, keep an eye out during Spanish Week at Lidl supermarket. I ha've spotted Cacaolat there a few times!

🥤 Spain’s Summer Classic

Horchata is a sweet, milky, and refreshing drink. Perfect for hot summer days. It’s made from chufa, also known as tigernut.

Despite the name, chufa isn’t a nut at all. It’s a small root vegetable, the groundnut and it originated in Valencia.

You’ll find horchata served fresh from machines in local ice cream parlours, bakeries, bars, or bottled in supermarkets and cafés across Spain.