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- Herausgeber: Gramercy Park Press
- Kategorie: Lebensstil
- Sprache: Englisch
There are many people who are enthusiastic about food—the cooking of it, the preparation of it, the serving of it, and let’s not forget the eating of it.
But Andrew Delaplaine is the ultimate Food Enthusiast.
“This concise guidebook was exactly what I needed to make the most of my limited time in town.”
= Tanner Davis, Milwaukee
This is another of his books with spot-on reviews of the most exciting restaurants in town. Some will merit only a line or two, just to bring them to your attention. Others deserve a half page or more.
“The fact that he doesn’t accept free meals in exchange for a good review makes all the difference in his something brutally accurate reviews.”
= Jerry Adams, El Paso
“Exciting” does not necessarily mean expensive. The area’s top spots get the recognition they so richly deserve (and that they so loudly demand), but there are plenty of “sensible alternatives” for those looking for good food handsomely prepared by cooks and chefs who really care what they “plate up” in the kitchen.
For those with a touch of Guy Fieri, Delaplaine ferrets out the best food for those on a budget. That dingy looking dive bar around the corner may serve up one of the juiciest burgers in town, perfect to wash down with a locally brewed craft beer.
Whatever your predilection or taste, cuisine of choice or your budget, you may rely on Andrew Delaplaine not to disappoint.
“Unlike the ‘honest’ reviews on site like Yelp, this writer knows what he’s talking about. He’s a professional, with decades in the business, not an amateur.”
= Holly Titler, Los Angeles
Delaplaine dines anonymously at the Publisher’s expense. No restaurant listed in this series has paid a penny or given so much as a free meal to be included.
Bon Appétit!
Das E-Book können Sie in Legimi-Apps oder einer beliebigen App lesen, die das folgende Format unterstützen:
Seitenzahl: 58
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021
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2022
BARCELONA
Restaurants
The Food Enthusiast’s
Long Weekend Guide
––––––––
Andrew Delaplaine
Andrew Delaplaine is the Food Enthusiast.
When he’s not playing tennis,
he dines anonymously
at the Publisher’s (considerable) expense.
James Cubby – Senior Editor
Copyright © by Gramercy Park Press - All rights reserved.
BARCELONA
The Food Enthusiast’s
Long Weekend Guide
Table of Contents
Introduction
––––––––
The A to Z Listings
Ridiculously Extravagant
Sensible Alternatives
Quality Bargain Spots
INTRODUCTION
Barcelona, Spain’s second biggest city, is one of the most visited cities in Europe, with many millions of tourists visiting annually. I am most definitely one of them. Barcelona, known for the splendid Modernism architecture of Antoni Gaudi, is arguably just as much the city of Picasso and Miro. The city boasts gorgeous beaches, serene parks, lovely gardens, a preserved medieval historic quarter and fine museums, but many visit Barcelona for the gastronomical delights. Barcelona is a city to be explored and there’s no better way to explore and discover the culture than through its distinctive cuisine.
LOCAL CUISINE
Barcelona is a foodies’ paradise and food is taken very seriously. You’ll find an endless variety of great restaurants from 5-star eateries, molecular experimental to traditional Catalan and Basque. The many food markets offer everything from fresh fruits and vegetables, breads, and olive oil. The popular Catalan cuisine, an ancient Mediterranean style, is characterized by local herbs, meats, and seafood. Food is number one and people often plan supper while eating lunch or scheduling their day around what they’re going to eat. Spanish food is delicious and quite healthy. The town is literally a buffet offering a variety of cuisine, including tapas (there are tapas bars everywhere) and paella – a rich dish that’s very popular although it comes from Valencia. The best paella is served in the Barceloneta area.
In Barcelona, as you will quickly see on your very first night here, time means nothing and locals eat late, drink late and party all night long. Some clubs open as some people are getting up and going to work. Barcelona’s bar scene thrived in the 1980s and has continued with a wealth of trendy lounges and cocktail bars. There’s certainly a bar to suit every mood and cocktail preference, whether you’re strictly a beer and ale drinker or prefer a vintage-style bar that serves the classic Dry Martini.
EAT LIKE A LOCAL
Locals generally begin their day with a café con leche (coffee with milk) and a piece of toast. The real breakfast comes much later (around 11a.m.) and is more substantial, like a sandwich or croissant. Lunch is late, so if you eat lunch at noon you’ll be dining with tourists. Around 4 or 5 p.m., locals will have a real meal – appetizer, main course and dessert. Dinner, often lasting several hours, is usually around 9 or 10 p.m. or even later. Of course, if you’re on a different schedule, grab some tapas, everyone’s favorite. Tapas bars are everywhere in Barcelona.
When visiting the local restaurants always check the reviews and look for the “Menú del día” (Menu of the day), daily specials usually at a better value. Sometimes you can get 3 courses (first, main and dessert) with bread and beverage (wine, beer, or water) for one price. Coffee is rarely included.
English-speaking tourists fill the restaurants in Barcelona so the local eateries are accommodating. Many restaurants will have menus in three languages: English, Castellano and Catalan. Please note: you might want to compare the Spanish side of the menu with the English side. Translations can be confusing but often the waiters, if they speak English, will try to explain.
Barcelona restaurants run the gamut from barrios to Michelin restaurants (Barcelona boasts a handful of two-star Michelin restaurants and almost 2 dozen one-star restaurants.) Some of these places are expensive, but not all of them.
EXPLORING THE CITY
Don’t miss a stroll on La Rambla, the most famous street in Barcelona, which is actually 5 boulevards joined to make one long promenade, that starts at Placa Catalunya and ends at the Columbus statue by the waterfront. Thousands of people wander down La Rambla every day and evening. You can enjoy performing artists, shop, or sit at one of the many outdoor cafes. Another street not to miss, Portal de l’Angel Avenue, possibly the busiest street in Barcelona because of its many shops and cafes; however, it’s also known as the most expensive street in Spain.
CULTURE AND MUSEUMS
Barcelona is rich in history and culture and the City History Museum, set in a medieval building (once a royal residence), offers a unique opportunity to explore the historical heritage of the city. The museum’s headquarters can be found on Placa del Rei in the Gothic Quarter but the museum governs a number of historic buildings around the city, many archaeological sites displaying the ruins of the ancient city. Others include old industrial buildings and sites – many related to architect Antoni Gaudi and the Spanish Civil War.
The National Museum of Art of Catalonia, located in the Palau Nacional of Montjulic, houses a collection of Romanesque art – with the best collection of Romanesque mural painting in the world – and some of the greats of Catalan Modernism such as Gaudi and Casas. The building itself is a marvel to view, constructed for the International Exposition of 1929, the façade is topped with a large dome and two lesser domes on either side and four towers inspired by the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostella. Located on the hill of Montjulic, the museum offers incredible views of Barcelona. (On my last trip I got lost trying to find the restaurant on the upper level and ended up on top of the whole massive structure—on the roof—what a view! I take first time visitors to this restaurant so they can enjoy the view.) The museum holds over 290,000 works of art including Catalan Modernism, Gothic art, and great European Renaissance and Baroque painters like Tiziano and Velazquez.
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The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, known as MACBA, located in the Plaça del Àngels, in El Raval, Ciutat Vella, features a permanent collection of approximately 5,000 works. The periods of modern art represented include: ‘40s to ‘60s, ‘60s to ‘70s, and contemporary. Primarily Catalan and Spanish art is exhibited with representation by some International artists. The museum hosts revolving temporary exhibitions, a cinema, concerts and other cultural events.
Barcelona has many museums celebrating the artists of Spain. The museum of the Fundació Joan Miró exhibits works of the artist Joan Miró but also features guest exhibitions from other museums from around the globe. The Picasso Museum houses early works by Pablo Picasso and his Las Meninas series. The Fundació Antoni Tàpies holds a collection of Tàpies works.
The Museu Marítim de Barcelona, located in the historical Barcelona’Royal Shipyard complex, is a nautical museum celebrating the Catalan seafaring culture and maritime history. CosmoCaixa, formerly the Science Museum, is one of the most exciting and largest museums in Barcelona with the exhibits arranged in levels around a huge tree and includes a rain forest, aquarium, geological and biological exhibits and a planetarium.
