Petit Comitè

I had never heard of Petit Comitè before planning my trip to Spain but it kept coming up on blogs and such internet traffic that I thought I would try it. This was one of the best that I have visited in Europe or anywhere.

Reservations in hand [after waiting until 59 days before the date needed], we found the unassuming entrance on the Passatge de lo Concepció a little passageway off the Passeig de Graciá. This was just a short walk from our Hotel Catalonia Berna. We were greeted and seated with drink orders taken right away. From there on it was heaven. The table had an open kitchen view but was secluded enough for conversation. Service was impeccable. The meal took just over three hours to complete.

Our first course was a Coca de Foie which turned out to be some artist's idea of how intricate you could make a foie gras appetizer. This is the picture on the top of the home page. I had the special salad with fresh sardines. There was Garri Rostit, a heavy serving of roast pork and pork belly. I had the Gamba a la brasa with seven huge shrimp simply grilled in olive oil. In between each course there was a little surprise such as the watermelon cubes minus the water and infused with Sangría. There was Vodka, Campari, white wine and Port. There was cherry soup, potato puffs beribboned with Iberian ham. And for dessert there was Pijama explained to be what you might find in the refrigerator on a Sunday night, an assortment of the best from the kitchen. However, my dessert was the most unique: bread, chocolate, olive oil and salt; so delicious I can taste it now.

The rumor is that Chef Nandu Jubany has just received a Michelin star for his other restaurant and will rename this one with just his name. He is a genius and I will be sure to follow his success, hopefully by eating there again.

Breakfast in BCN

Every morning in Barcelona [BCN airport code] without fail I had either tostado or croissant and always a café con leche at DCafé. This little café opened at 7:30 every weekday morning, 9 on Saturdays and closed on Sunday. It was only open until 2 in the afternoon. It was strategically located three doors from my apartment. Camila was always the waitress whether we ate at a sidewalk table, inside table or at the bar [the cost decreasing in order of seating]. She was young and wild and charming and entranced all who came into her magic circle.

BCN Two Special Meals

The first special meal was my birthday party at Can Solé in the Barceloneta section on the water in Barcelona. It is at c/Sant Carles 4 and is not so easy to find. It is not one of the many seafood touristy restaurants lining the boardwalk. It is tucked into the neighborhood on a side street and well worth the search. It has been open since 1903 and the new 'jefa de la casa' at first a little intimidating is charming when you get to know her. Our meal consisted of, of course, paella as that is what the restaurant is famous for. The rice is crunchy and a little less cooked than what you usually find and the saffron taste a little stronger. We started with Chipirones, Croquettas and Escalivada [roasted eggplant and pepppers]. The wine my host chose was not available so waiter suggest a Tres Campanas which was delightful. The paella was overflowing with seafood goodies. For desssert we had the famous Crema Catalana [much creamier than a Crême Brulée] and coffees.


The second meal was the despedida [farewell party] for the first set of visitors. We had seen the restaurants at the Plaça Miquel off of c/Ferran [our shortcut from the Jaume I metro stop to the Ramblas]. They were very busy and no tables were available and they don't take reservations; so we opted to sit at the bar, drink wine and eat olives [not a bad way to pass time]. We did get the table here at Mi Burrito y Yo [sounds Mexican to me] and were very happy. The plaza is like something out of a movie with the lighting and guitar music. We had the Mixed Grill which was the speciality of the house and as we had watched the meat being cooked in an open fire oven while waiting for a table, we knew the quality [and quantity] of what we were about to eat. The bottle of red wine was from Casa Torres, a winery we had visited during the week. Great memory!

La Hormiguita en Figueras

We took the Renfe [train] from the Passeig de Grácia station near the apartment to Figueras, a two hour ride north of the city for 9 Euro on a regional. It was a nice trip but as we were tired we returned on a BCE [semi-express], the upgrade cost us 1.10 Euro.

We found a Caféteria Gourmet on our walk up to the museum and stopped for a great lunch. We sat outside on the sidewalk and for 11.95 Euro [a little pricey for menú del día] had a very surprisingly great meal. We strarted with a Fresh Tomato Cocktail, I had the Ensalada con Salmon and the others had Pimientos Piquillos stuffed with salad [see pix] for first course, for second course we all had the Albondigas [see pix]. Dessert was a choice of a Pera natural [sliced pear] or Pastel de Almendres [almond cake - very good]. The meal came with bottled water [or wine] AND coffee. So it was a great bargain after all. The cutlery and china were very modern and the service was perfect.

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.