Tapas go trendy

You know I often take people on a Tapas Tour. Well I'm so sorry this place won't make it for any of them because that's not the kind of bar where you stop for just a couple of bites and then leave... You HAVE TO stay for a whole meal, and it's not an obligation: you just won't want to leave after you've tried the first course!

I'm talking about Tickets, the Tapas bar owned by Ferran Adrià and his brother Albert. After checking their website for a couple of weeks, I finally managed to get a reservation for july 29th, my Name's Day (a catholic tradition at a similar level of a birhtday). Table for two: me and Oriol, my boyfriend.

I have no words to descrive the experience, so I'll leave it up to you to judge the pics! Good appetite!

Interested in my Tapas tours? Check them out!
**** To know more about my tours, visit Foreverbarcelona.

Should travellers coming to Spain worry about the E.Coli break?

And my answer is there is no need to worry. In Spain everyone feels safe eating as usual. Here is how the situation is going:

Evidences are being found that healthy and safe cucumbers travelled from the South of Spain to Germany. During the trip, and already in German lands, one of the boxes got broken and the vegetables must have touched the ground at some point and got infected. The party should have been destroyed as it's stipulated, but for some reason it wasn't and it got into the market chain, intoxicating people as a result.

So far, all the people intoxicated are German or had been in Germany recently. Only one Spanish man has been affected... and he had been in Germany aswell.

Spanish agricultors are very angry at the German authorities who immediately blamed the Spanish cucumbers without checking first where the infection had started. And everyone in Spain keeps eating as usual, no panic and no fear. Even the European-Level alert set at the beginning of the emergency has already been removed.

However, it's understandable that you don't want to incur in any risk: you are on vacation!
So if you wish to feel totally safe when you are in Spain here are some tips for you:

First of all, avoid to order Gazpacho (a vegetable soup that usually contains cucumber) and any salad with cucumber on it. Not many other Spanish dishes are likely to include cucumber as an ingredient.

Next, cucumber is a vegetable that is only eaten raw, as far as I know. Washing them throughouly should be enough to get rid of any bacteria or virus in its skin. Peeling them is another way to add extra safety. I trust the local restaurants to be strict with these rules. But if you still need more precautions, just stick to cooked vegetables in general: fried, steamed, grilled... Heat also destroys bacteria.

No infection has been found in other vegetables, so eating everything else but cucumber could make you feel more reassured aswell.

These are just a few recomendations that make sense to me, and that you might want to follow if the cucumber news are making you nervous. After all, vacations are about relaxing, right?
But I can tell you that I totally trust the local produce and the cleanliness of our restaurants and cafés. I'm not changing at all my eating habits because of the E. Coli news. And that's how everyone is feeling around here aswell.

I hope to have been of help!

One more post in PromptGuides

I continue to collaborate with the PromptGuides.com travel blog.
Here is a screen shot of my new article, on how to order coffee in Barcelona.

To read the rest, click here.

Celler de Can Roca, 2nd top restaurant in the world!

We all were sad to learn that the top-most restaurant in the world for so many years, the superfamous El Bulli by Ferran Adrià is closing next summer.
But this is not at all the end of the top-notch cuisine in the Catalan Land. Adrià leaves many followers here ready to take over... earlier than you might think!

The Roca brothers waited for many years to be granted their 3rd Michelin Star (see my older post), but now they are sky-rocketing! The Restaurant Magazine has designed their their venue El Celler de Can Roca as the 2nd best restaurant in the world!

Would you like to eat there? I can organize you a memorable daytrip to Girona, starting with a stroll around its charming Old Town (not to miss its Cathedral and the Jewish section), followed by a degustation menu lunch.

By the way, the woman-chef Carme Ruscalleda and her gorgeous Sant Pau is now ranked 93 in the same list!

My first real post for PromptGuides

Hi again!

So after my interview has been published, now my first post in the Promptguides TravelBlog is up!
It's on Calçots, the delicious green onions we devour this time of the year.
Some of the information had already been posted in this blog, but some interesting facts are new.
Check the Blog link above to read it!

Michelin Guide 2011

Gourmets from all over the world await expectanctly every year the release of the new Michelin Guide to see which restaurants have been awarded their famous stars outlining the very best food experiences in every country.
Spain's issue has just been presented, and although in Catalonia 5 of our restaurants lost stars (for a change in their management or even because the owners asked to be removed from the starred-list for some reason), 5 have winned their first one and the restaurant Miramar in Llançà has been given a second one.
Congratulations to all of you!

** Miramar (Llançà, Girona)
* Dos Cielos (Barcelona - Me Hotel)
* Caelis (Barcelona - Palace Hotel)
* Moments (Barcelona - Mandarin Hotel)
* Hisop (Barcelona)
* Capritx (Terrassa, Barcelona)

Find here the Michelin Star Restaurants in Barcelona plus many more recomendations!

And check out here where are the other Michelin Star Restaurants in Catalonia!
And remember I can organize an unforgettable daytrip for you scheduling the visit of some tourist site in the morning followed by lunch in the Michelin Star restaurant of your choice!

Beautiful food at Fonda Gaig... and we met the chef!

Today I'm writing so many posts! But these last weeks have been so busy I had no time for the blog, sorry about that!

Well last month I showed the city to a delightful couple from Singapore, the Kraipun, and their lovely friend from London, Ms. House. They were clients of one agency specialised in wine and food travel that relies in my whenever they need a guide in Barcelona: Cellar Tours.

On our first day we visited the Gaudí sites, then had lunch in a great modern bistrot: Fonda Gaig, second restaurant of the Michelin-Starred chef Carles Gaig. We ate a delicious selection of Catalan cooking, and had the pleasure to meet the chef at the end of the meal. Can't wait to go there again!



Are you a foody? Take one of my Gourmet Tours!

7 more Michelin Star Restaurants for 2010!

As every year, the prestigious Michelin Guide issues their new book with their restaurant recomendations and there have been many good news!

First of all, the most awaited one: Celler de Can Roca, in Girona has finally received their 3rd star (top award) and joins the other 3 restaurants in our region with the highest qualification.
Then two more restaurants have been given 2 stars: Lasarte, in Barcelona, and Mas Les Cols near Olot in the Garrotxa County. Finally, 4 more were given their first star (one of them in Barcelona: Enoteca, at the Arts Hotel).

To see the 2010 list go here, or visit my Googlemap for Top Restaurants.

Here is a picture of an "appetizer" I had a couple of months ago at Celler de Can Roca during a tour: They brought us an olive tree bonsai from which hung delicious stuffed olives:

Marta on Jamie's Magazine!

As I had announced last February in this blog, I gave a few tapas tours to two journalists from the Jamie Magazine, by the famous British chef Jamie Oliver.

The number with their story has just been released, and they mention me. I'm even in one of the pics!

Congratulations to Paul Dring, journalist, and William Meppem, photographer, for their beautiful story!

Spanish restaurants in the international elite!

Every year the Restaurant Magazine (UK) publishes S. Pellegrino list of the 50 best restaurants in the world.

For the 4th time in a row, the Catalan restaurant El Bulli and its chef Ferran Adrià come first in the list! And this year, El Celler de Can Roca by the Roca brothers moves from 26th to the 5th place after they just moved to their new and larger venue.

The Basq Country chefs are also present in the list with Andoni Luis Aduriz and his restaurant Mugaritz in the 4th position, and Juan Mari Arzak and his Arzak restaurant in the 8th place.

If you are one of the lucky ones that got a table this year in El Bulli (or one of those patient ones who waited 2 years in their waiting list...), since the trip to the restaurant is 3h drive, you should also take the opportunity to visit the area. My reccomendations are the Dalí Museum or the fishermen village of Cadaqués.




Booking a table in El Celler de Can Roca is easier (at least, it was so far!), and it's a great idea to explore the medieval town of Girona before visiting the restaurant.
Let me organize this special day for you!

Saint George's day in Barcelona - April 23rd

Well, a bit late, but I finally managed to find some time to write my article on this very special day.

In April 23rd Catalonia celebrates the day of our patron saint, Saint George. According to the story, he was a knight that killed a dragon to save a princess. From the blood of the dead dragon, a rose was born and Saint George offered it to the princess as a symbol of love. This is way on his day, Catalan men give a rose (preferably red) to their spouse or girlfriend. It is common that fathers will also buy one for their daughters, and some stores, theaters etc., might be offering roses as well.

Also, Cervantes and Shakespeare, two great writters who made history with their works, were born in April 23rd, that is why women buy their man a book (again, parents will often buy books to their kids, and it isn't strange that friends, colleagues or relatives offer books aswell).


The best area to check out the great athmosphere of Saint George day in Barcelona are Rambla Catalunya and La Rambla. It's packed with stalls of people selling roses and books. Bookstores and flower shops will of course set up tables in the street to make their largest sales in the year. But it's also a great occasion for teens to rise up money for their school trip or camp, associations to get funds for their projects... I also love to see the creativity of the floral compositions, that are more delightful every year.

As for the books, it is great to have a day when everyone is offering and buying books! Bookstores will make on April 23rd upto a 10% of their yearly sales. It's a great day for publishers and authors, who will often be signing their books.

Everyone takes the chance to go out for a walk to enjoy the ambiance: even many schools take the little ones out. And many buildings sport the Senyera, the Catalan Flag, hanging in their balconies.

The day is even remarked in pastryshops and bakeries, who create special cakes and bread for the occasion. And even other stores will join the party with their own customized suggestions.

Special Tapas Tours for the Jamie Magazine journalists

Paul Dring, journalist, and William Meppem, photographer, came to Barcelona to prepare a story for the brand new Jamie Magazine, by the famous British chef Jamie Oliver.

I gave them 4 different Tapas Tours where we discovered all kind of venues and specialties in different areas:

On our first tour we explored the Tapas Bars of the Eixample district (around Passeig de Gràcia and Rambla Catalunya). The next day during lunch time we did the areas of Poblesec, Raval and Barceloneta, and for dinner we went to my favorite area: the Born section. Finally, on the morning of the last day we did the bars of the Boqueria Market and some other places in the Gothic Quarter.

By the end of their stay we were so full we couldn't eat anything else! And Paul and William had plenty of material for a great story. But we still felt we would had needed at least another 4 extra hours to cover a few more places (less centric, more out-of-the-beaten-track) that we couldn't fit in our itineraries...

Can't wait to see the next issue of the Magazine, where their story will be published. That'll be by the end of April or beggining of May. I'll keep you posted!

Special Winter Tuesday Nights

A new interesting activity will be going on in the Hill of Montjuic every Tuesday night until April 28th.

The cafe Caseta del Migdia, at the lookout Mirador del Migdia, organizes fondue dinner in their terrace.

You'll have first a wonderful ride on horse carriage around the Montjuic Castle and the forrest around it, and then you'll enjoy a fondue (cheese, meat & chocolate) dinner with amazing views over the city and port.

Starts at 8pm. 60€/person.
Information and bookings, call: 93 339 10 07 or 93 423 54 34.
Organized by Moritz Beer and Time Out Magazine.

Catalan restaurants in the 2009 Michelin Guidebook

The prestigious Michelin Guidebook has issued its new listings of best restaurants of Spain for their 2009 edition.

Check out my googlemap with their locations.
If you are interested in a day trip to any restaurant with Michelin stars in Catalonia, let me know and I'll organize a trip to discover some local monument or site of interest during the morning, followed by a nice lunch at your chosen restaurant!


Ver mapa más grande

What a gelato!

 

 

My last discovery: the Amorino gelati! They serve them in a flower shape!

You can find this artisan natural ice cream in 53, Gran de Gràcia street.
A great idea after visiting the Pedrera or after a nice stroll around the squares of the Gracia quarter.

Have a great summer!

Picnic in the sky

Are you looking for a special dinner with views? Here is the most original choice this summer!

"Picnic al Cel" is a 1h dinner in the Port cable car while the cabin moves gently from Montjuic to the Barceloneta quarter.

Privacy is ensured: upto 6 people in the cabin (40€/person) or just the two of you for 80€/person.

The menu is set and includes an elegant selection of vegetables, meat and desert.

Buy your tickets in the gourmet store Goulaffres (103, Londres st. T. 93 414 67 88) or calling the Moritz brewery (93 423 54 34).

Good appetite!