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A Frommer's gourmet Barcelona tour, fully illustrated
Barcelona has one of the liveliest food scenes in Europe right now, with celebrity chefs, sprawling outdoor markets, and gourmet dishes of all sizes and prices -- which is why when I toured through the city in April I decided I would spend my days stuffing my face with tapas. I wanted to try the squid, the croquettes, the chocolate, the cava, the works.I'm a Frommer's editor by day (read more about that here), so I somehow cooked up the idea that the best way to do this would be to eat my way through the entire "Gourmet Barcelona" tour from Frommer's Barcelona Day by Day, written by Neil Schlecht. This would be no small feat as the tour has 14 stops and is spread throughout the city. The tour's introduction notes "this isn't a day-long tasting menu unless you choose to make it one," which I took to mean this is more of a list to explore at leisure rather than a typical one-day itinerary.
Still, I was determined to nosh my way through Neil's list, testing out both the tour and the limits of my stomach. I had 2 days to do this before I left Barcelona to reconvene with my sister in Madrid (she was off touring the Costa Brava).
I gave myself a few ground rules: I would visit every stop but didn't have to stick to the tour's order; I would consume or at least buy something at each stop; I would allow myself the full two days (there was no point in running around and getting sick along La Rambla); I would roll with whatever punches Murphy's law sent my way; and I would report all my findings, warts and all.
Did I finish the tour? and still fit into my pants at the end? Click below for a gallery with the answers. Be sure to start with the first photo, a map of the itinerary.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fresh Airfare Oct 8th 2009 2:55PM
Just returned on October 5th from 8 days in Barcelona. We sampled many different cuisines throughout L'Eixample, Barri Gotic and La Ribera. The restaurant, Taller de Tapas in El Born really stood out. We drank a delicious small-sized bottle of white wine for only 7 Euro. Also had steamed mussles, arugula salad and chicken kabob. All the tapas were the in the 5 - 10 Euro range. Excellent outdoor dining area in a historic square near Santa Maria Del Mar.
Street performers entertained us and would literally scatter when the police would come near. Only to run around buildings and resume their routines once the cops has passed. Que cerca!
http://www.icheapairfares.com/blog
thiefhunter Oct 8th 2009 8:36PM
I second the recommendation of Taller de Tapas in El Born—with enthusiasm! Also, Cal Pep, yes, even though it's in all the guide books. Everyone knows about all the pickpockets in Barcelona, so beware. Especially when dining outdoors. Handbags are at serious risk no matter where you put them. See how bags are stolen right off people's laps! http://bit.ly/1pBE6C
Fresh Airfare Oct 9th 2009 10:47PM
Glad you liked Taller de Tapas as well!
Speaking of the pickpockets in Barcelona, they need to watch out for tourists like me. With all the cigarette smoking done by the locals, I would easily run down a pickpocket. If they shine a weapon, they can keep my bag, but if they're unarmed, I'm taking it back. In all seriousness, I was aware of them, and would loop my handbag strap around the table or chair leg, or my arm or leg, just in case.
I think Barcelona is actually a reasonably safe city for property. I was impressed by their public bicycle system, www.Bicing.com. Those bikes would probably be MIA after several months here in Los Angeles, and many other US cities.
That's pure cowardice, stealing a purse off a woman’s lap, that's too bad. :( FYI, I had no problems during my 8 days in Barcelona.
nzm Oct 10th 2009 7:45AM
Fresh Airfare:
Barcelona has just been nominated #1 city in the world in which to be pick-pocketed!
http://www.barcelonareporter.com/index.php?/news/comments/barcelona_pickpockets/
Although our observations over the past 9 months have certainly led us to believe that the activity has certainly decreased from January's high levels. We don't see them standing on every street corner and in every metro station like we used to!
It's great that you had a crime-free visit to Barcelona - a lot of people don't. But then again, judging from their general lack of awareness and preparation against being robbed, it's almost like a lot of people are asking to be pick-pocketed.
Unfortunately, Bicing does have its vandals and abusers, but on the whole most residents are respectful of the bikes and thankful to have this service.
caga tio Oct 9th 2009 10:33AM
I have some issues with how the food is described in this piece. If someone is to write a piece about a city, shouldn't the local terminology be used? If a tourist is going to go to a city looking for something specific, they should be aware of the local language.
Tomato bread is known as pa amb tomaquet in Barcelona, not pan con tomate.
Chocolat is made with corn starch, not flour.
Cocas are not open faced sandwiches. They more closely resemble pizzas, but without sauce and a much smaller amount of cheese or none at all. Cocas can also be sweet - either filled, usually with chocolate or custard, or covered with nuts or dried fruits, or both. The only real requirement is that it is a flat pastry, not a sandwich of any kind.
I would hope that if an editor is writing about a city and its food, that they would research the food more thoroughly.
nzm Oct 9th 2009 6:10PM
Great tour of my resident city!
My favourite place out of all that you visited, apart from the obvious La Boqueria, is E & A Gispert's. I love walking in there and smelling the freshly roasted nuts. I bought a half kilo of just roasted almonds for my partner and it only cost me €3.50. They were still warm when I arrived home a couple of hours later. Delicious!