Restaurants

As previously stated, dining is a serious avocation in Spain, Barcelona especially. They have not been marked leaders in world gastronomy for nothing. But their gastronomic time zones slightly differ from the rest of the world: breakfast (esmorzar/desayuno) is generally a no-nonsense affair, taken at a bar on the way to work; lunch (dinar/comida) is the day’s main meal that happens from 2pm to 4pm; dinner (sopar/cena) is never before 9pm. Restaurants stay open until 1AM-ish, but their kitchens close by 11.30pm.

Catalan cuisine rests heavy in its sauces of five main types: sofregit (fried onion, tomato and garlic); samfaina or chanfaina (sofregit plus red pepper, and aubergine or courgette); picada (ground almonds base usually with garlic, parsley, pine or hazel nuts, and sometimes breadcrumbs); allioli (a mayonnaise lookalike of pounded garlic with olive oil, often with egg yolk); and romesco (an almond, tomato, olive oil, garlic and vinegar sauce, also used as a salad dressing). Wild mushroom passion is marked in their cuisine. Catalans go deep into the forests in autumn to pick all kinds of succulent mushrooms.

The dining list would simply be endless. Here are just a few curious experiences:

Formatgeria La Seu (tel 93 412 65 48; Carrer de la Dagueria 16), for cheese!

El Magnifico (tel 93 319 60 81; Carrer de l'Argenteria 64), all sorts of coffee, since the turn of this century.

Casa Gispert (tel 93 319 75 35; Carrer dels Sombrerers 23), for toasted almonds and all kinds of dried fruit, since 1851.

L'Ametller (tel 93 319 64 91; Carrer dels Banys Veils 7), all sorts of interesting local food and drink products, lots of sweets.

Xocolateria Valor (tel 93 487 62 46; Rambla de Catalunya 46) for sinfully sweet tooth decay, since over 100 years ago.

Links

http://www.red2000.com/spain/barcelon/gastro.html
http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/restaurants/barcelona-restaura...
http://www.justspain.org/spain/barcelona/barcelona-eating.asp
http://www.bcn.es/turisme/english/turisme/welcome.htm
http://www.aboutbarcelona.com/barcelona/food-drink.asp