BCN Restaurants

Tapas and Cava, the mainstays of life in Barcelona. [pix 1 and 2]

Els 4 Gats [the four cats] started in 1897 on c/Montsió 5 where Picasso and Miró frequented and Picasso did the sketch for the menu. We had the Supreme de Salmó [salmon] with a salsa crema de cava; Solomillo de Ibérico [pork] with apples and raisins; and my Confitado de Pato [confit of duck] with pears and goat cheese. Crema Catalana and Mousse Mandarina for desserts but I just had a Café Cortado. The room was beautiful and service was great; our waitress was Filipina and we reminisced about life in the Philippines. [pix 3]

Set Portes [yes, it does have seven doors] passeig de Isabel II 14 built in 1836. I had bread and olives to start, a 1/2 bottle of the Vino blanco, a medium bottle of Aqua con gaz, Pan con Tomate [the Barcelonin famous tomato bread], Crema de Langosta [lobster bisque], and Xato [a salad of chopped escarole with tuna and a Romesco sauce], a Pastel con Mandarinos and a Café Cortado. I was going to order the Veal cooked in Cava but the waitress said I had already ordered too much. 39 Euro. [pix 4]

Can Culleretes, the oldest restaurant in Barcelona, 1786. I ate here after Mass and was the only tourist in a restaurant filled with Catalan families. The best Gazpacho ever followed by Lechon Catalana [roast suckling pig with stewed dates, apricots prunes and piñoles]. My beverage of choice was a half bottle of Juvi y Camps Cava [yes, there is a big difference in cava qualities] with a Café Cortado to finish. [pix 5] 30.10 Euro

La Taberna del Cobre, c/Argenteria 53 in el Born between the Picasso Museum and the Sta. Ma. del Mar church. A beautiful outside café in a small plaza. We had a table full of tapas: Tostados con Bacalao [little sandwiches topped with sweet salt cod], Chistorras [spicy little fried sausages], Croquettes de Jamon, Patatas Bravas [Spanish version of french fries with spicy tomato sauce and garlicy aioli], Ensalada con Atún with a honey almond dressing and a pitcher of Sangria de Cava [white]. [pix 6]

Chipirones on the Moll @Maremagnum. The first time we had tapas: surtido of Jamones [ham plate], Manchego Cheese platter, Chipirones [fried 'popcorn' octopus] and the second time we had Paella [pix 7] both the rice and noodle types and both were excellent. This restaurant overlooks the Mediterranean and we watched the ferry leave for parts unknown.