Barcelona - 4 Restaurants

Eventually all Beeby Blogs default to restaurants!

After our Parc Guell visit, the 4 of us (George and Josie; Liz and Dick) went to a charming restuarant for lunch near the Picasso Museum - Neu Celler.  The conversation flowed and we forgot to take pictures of the meal.  We did however get a snap of Liz at the door.  It has traditional tapas, very friendly service and reasonable main dishes (including a delicious seafood paella Liz reports)




The previous day Liz enlisted the help of a cyber buddy (Kirsten) to take our English guests on a tour of the Boqueria.  We had a great time there and eventually ended up with Kirsten leading us to a favourite restaurant of hers called Mam i Teca (an old Catalan expression meaning Food and Drink).  Very unassuming street appearance disguised some wonderful food (from a tiny kitchen), an incredible scotch collection and a Dutch owner who made us very welcome










We ordered one of everything and shared.  Much fun was had by all - and we've been back!

We have become quite infatuated with the Barcelona lifestyle - stroll around, have a few tapas, stroll some more, more tapas, more strolling....it works for us!  And the Catalans eat dinner so late that we're in bed before the Maitre D's are cracking open the reservations book!

Paco Meralgo

Paco Meralgo is a high end tapas bar (often compared to Cal Pep) - businessmen customers, knowledgeable staff and some refined tapas served in a modern setting - much like a good sushi bar

Started with deep fried eggplant and Catalan tomato bread

Followed up with superb razor clams, sardines with peppers and garlic shrimps

Then some croquettes and regional preserved meats

The real delight was foie gras.  The Spanish cook it a little more than the French - much to our taste.  We were so intent on eating we forgot to take a picture!

We closed with the perfect dessert. The couple sitting next to us at the bar suggested that the one thing we had missed was the tuna carpaccio.  It was the perfect ending to an excellent meal



Les Quatro Gats - the Four Cats

There's a very old restaurant in our neighbourhood - famous as a place where Picasso used to hang out.  It's traditional, charming, relaxes and not too touristy in February although we can't vouch for that in July



We started with a selection of vegetable pates and a potato/salt cod pancake





Mains were fish with garlic and a brochette of beef.





Good solid traditional food nicely prepared in a historic location - set menu only - above (2 courses including wine and water - so they lost money on us) was 19E

Comments

[Bill Curley]

You guys are amazing. I am starving by the time I finish reading. Thanks for taking me along.

Bill