Great Paella + Playa? El Xiringuito d'Escribà Is the Ticket

By Javier Castillo - May/31/2013

You like paella, right? Of course you do. Rice, saffron, veggies, meat and/or fish, sauce, some of this, and some of that. Add a little love and time and you have a national dish from Spain that many tourists have tried at some point. Yet, due to the complexity and labor that is necessary to prepare, many previously frozen or pre-packaged paellas have come to market and many restaurants settle with offering this fast-food version to appease the hunger of starving and unassuming tourists. But if you want to have the real thing, and truly appreciate quality and freshness, then El Xiringuito d'Escribà is as good as it gets. Did I mention that the location is also great? The restaurant isn’t tucked away in some seedy back-alley, its on prime beachfront real estate at Barcelona´s Bogatell beach. That’s right; you get to eat all this goodness while looking out over the Mediterranean sea. I highly recommend the Sea and Mountain Paella (which contains both seafood and meats) or the Seafood Fideuà (which is similar but uses pasta instead of rice). Both are topnotch. What about appetizers or tapas if you aren’t in the mood for such a bountiful rice or pasta dish? Go ahead and get some grilled sardines, fried baby squid or grilled clams. Everything on the menu is fresh and excellent. Seriously. The name Escribà is a well-known and respected name in Barcelona; the family opened up the first family bakery back in 1906 on the famous La Rambla street. Expanding and adding to their already famous bakeries, the family decided to venture into the restaurant business and in 1986 they opened the El Xiringuito d'Escribà which is still run by chef Joan Escribà. Watch him in action here, right at the source, as he shows us how to prepare a proper paella:

So for those paella aficionados that wonder where the best paella in Barcelona might be, look no further than this quaint and exquisite establishment that has withstood the test of time and continues to deliver on their promise of quality paellas and quality service. Bon profit!

More information:

El Xiringuito d'Escribà
Litoral Mar, 42, Barcelona, Spain (La Vila Olimpica del Poblenou).

Telephone: +34 93 221 07 29
http://www.escriba.es/base_en.html

I highly recommend calling for reservations, especially on weekends during the summer.

Hotel Casa Fuster – A Modernist Chic Sanctuary

By Javier Castillo - April/27/2013

The 5 Star Hotel Casa Fuster Barcelona is a true luxury hotel that oozes elegance, sophistication and hospitality all while preserving that old-world charm. The landmark building itself is a prime example of exquisite Catalan Modernist architecture, and sits at the top of perhaps the most prestigious of avenues, Barcelona's Passeig de Gràcia. The building dates back to the early years of the 20th century, 1908 to be exact, and the design was that of Gaudi contemporary Lluís Domènech Montaner, another famous and admired architect of his days. Mariano Fuster i Fuster, a rich Mallorcan aristocrat who made his fortune from the cava industry, had this building built for his wife. The 3-year construction process and the fine materials used - such as high quality marble, slate and glass - made it one of the most expensive buildings of that period. In 2000, the Hoteles Center chain acquired it and then spent 4 years on renovation, maintaining and preserving most of the building's original infrastructure and design, yet giving it a slight 21st century feel.

Images Courtesy of Hotel Casa Fuster

It really is breathtaking from the outside and inside and has come to be one of my favorite places to have a late afternoon coffee or early evening drink at the The Café Vienés located at lobby level. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and rest those pretty feet, this is your sanctuary. If you want to meet a client or impress a friend, again, this is the place. And, if you are a lover of Jazz, then Thursday nights are not to be missed. The Café Vienés, transforms into a first-class jazz venue that has seen the likes of Woody Allen, Eddie Davis and other well-known acts, come to play for eager guests. It is recommended to book a reservation as the place gets very packed on those nights. More info on that can be found here: http://www.hotelescenter.es/casafuster/jazzclub-en.html. Did I mention the amazing rooftop terrace with swimming pool and incredible views of the city? Come see for yourself what this place is all about, you won’t leave disappointed, that I guarantee.

More information:

Hotel Casa Fuster
Passeig Gràcia, 132 
08008 Barcelona, Spain
+34 932 55 30 00
http://www.hotelescenter.es/casafuster/default-en.html

For more information and reservations, call +34 932 553 000 or +34 902 202 345. You can also send your request by email to reservas@hotelescenter.com reservas@hotelcasafuster.com.

Cal Pep - No Menu? No Problem!

By Javier Castillo - March/13/2013

If you ever come to Barcelona as a tourist and have any travel book with you with restaurant recommendations, chances are Restaurant Cal Pep will be mentioned somewhere. After all, why wouldn’t it, it’s withstood the test of time – opened in 1977, it has repeatedly pleased many culinary patrons and foodies throughout its years of existense. And it hasn´t changed much, and really doesn’t need to either. Cal Pep is the sort of place you go to upon meeting a colleague or friend in the street and you want something quick, informal and delicious. It’s a very tapas-style environment where fresh Mediterranean seafood dishes flood the counter, drinks are always being poured and the international chatter of tourists bounces off the walls. The surprising thing – and something that I've yet to witness in any other establishment in Barcelona - is, there are NO menus in sight. You simply look at the people next to you, to see what they are eating, or the knowledgeable and multi-lingual waiter will fill you in on the day’s recommendations (which makes sense since all their food is fresh and comes daily from the Fish Market not far away).

 “Pep”, the owner. My paparazzi moment.

I recommend eating at the counter because the backroom, although quaint, can get stuffy and cluster phobic.  Plus, sitting at the counter gives you a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the work that goes into preparing your dishes as instructions and orders are shouted, the cooks and waiters interact and feed off each other, ingredients and product are passed around and things move at an intense but entertaining speed. Think Iron Chef, but a little more toned down.  And “Pep” Manubens (the owner), is charming, warm and eager to please. Here is an interview (in Spanish) he gave about how he founded the place:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2vfddY8XRM
Go ahead, be adventurous and try things you have never tried before, you won’t be disappointed. My personal favorites are the baby squid with chickpeas cooked in a skillet, or the clams with ham, both dishes are sensational. And for those who don’t like seafood, there are a lot of other varied dishes. Try the always delicious Catalan Pork Sausage (a.k.a Butifarra) with duck foie gras and white beans with a Porto wine reduction. Take a look here at their gallery of dishes to get your mouth watering: http://www.calpep.com/Ingles/gallery.html#all

Catalan Pork Sausage (a.k.a Butifarra) with duck foie gras and white beans with a Porto wine reduction.

More information:
Restaurant Cal Pep
Plaça de les Olles, 8  08003 Barcelona, Spain
+34 933 10 79 61
Website: http://www.calpep.com
Monday:
Lunch: CLOSED 
Dinner:  19:30h - 23:30h
From Tuesday to Friday:
Lunch: 13:00h - 15:45h
Dinner: 19:30h - 23:30h
Saturday:
Lunch: 13:00h - 15:45h
Dinner: CLOSED
Closed on Saturday night, every Sunday, Monday noon, festive days and the last three weeks of August.

The Arenas de Barcelona? Awesome. And That's No Bull

By Javier Castillo - Feb/24/2013

How better to shun bullfighting and incentivize commerce than the new idea behind the Arenas de Barcelona Commercial Complex located just off of Plaza España. If you're coming on the Aerobus from the Barcelona Airport you can’t miss it if you are looking out the left-side windows. The Arenas de Barcelona formally re-opened to the public on the 25th of March, 2011, after several years of construction and development. As much seen throughout Europe, in attempts to preserve historic monuments by breathing new life into them, this highly impressive structure is a perfect example of old meets new. Gone are the days of bullfighting fanaticism, this 100-year-old historic brick landmark has been re-invented and has been given a second chance - housing (you guessed it) shops, restaurants, cafes, and offices. It’s a majestic shopping complex, it really is. Eager to gobble up the limited retail and office space have been companies such as Zara, Mango, Calvin Klein Jeans, and Vogue, among others. There is even a mechanical escalator, located in the center of the complex, taking you to the rooftop terrace with stunning 360-degree panoramic views on the city. 

So back to the building, this commercial complex, which retains the entire existing Modernist façade, was designed by the famed British architect Richard Rogers in collaboration with Alonso Balaguer-Arquitectos Asociados. As Roger explains, “The approach for the bullring uses the most advanced architectural and engineering technologies in response to the brief, while respecting and celebrating the fabric of the historical bullring to re-establish the building as a visually striking landmark for the city. The most spectacular aspect of the intervention is the inclusion of a 100-metre-diameter habitable 'dish' with a 76-metre-diameter domed roof, floating over the façade of the bullring – and structurally independent from it – providing flexible, column-free spaces beneath the dome. This covered 'plaza in the sky' incorporates large terraces around the perimeter with space for cafes and restaurants, providing stunning views over the city.” (Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners LLP. “Las Arenas,” 2013. http://www.richardrogers.co.uk/work/all_projects/las_arenas/concept.)

Arenas de Barcelona has become, in the last few years, a great tourist and architectural attraction - bringing new life to that area of the city. Most recently, it housed the 2nd Annual Barcelona Beer Festival, which I attended and was a true delight. It’s definitely worth a visit if eating, drinking, shopping and sightseeing are on your agenda.

More Information:

Arenas de Barcelona

Website: http://www.arenasdebarcelona.com

Direction: Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes núm. 373-385 08015 Barcelona

Opening hours: From 10:00 am to 10:00 pm - Monday to Saturday.

Restaurant hours: From 10:00 am to 1:00 am - Sunday to Thursday. From 10:00 am to 3:00 am Fridays and Saturdays

Obama Restaurant and Bar, the Right (S)election

By Javier Castillo - Jan/21/2013

Image Courtesy of Obama Restaurant and Bar

It’s only appropriate that on this day, the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama, I write about another Obama that can be found in Barcelona. This Obama isn’t of flesh and bone but of wood, steal and stone. Obama Restaurant and Bar has been a haunt of mine since it opened its doors in 2008. On many occasions I asked staff members why this place was called “Obama”? And the answer I always got was consistent and more or less the following:  the owner, in 2008, after reading about a candidate running for the Democratic candidacy against Hillary Clinton, thought it would be amusing to name his new British bar “Obama” in homage to this aspiring politician. Shortly thereafter, Barack Obama, as we all know, became the 44^th President of the United States. The name has stuck, for obvious reasons, and it’s not uncommon to see tourists pop inside out of pure curiosity. So, what do they find? Obama Restaurant and Bar is like walking into history. The decor oozes British-colonialism with faux paintings and photography of British generals and aristocrats, African memorabilia and hunting-themed pieces of art. You would most certainly be right if

Image Courtesy of Obama Restaurant and Bar

you called it a theme restaurant. But then you would be surprised to hear that the venue serves up delicious American-style food, for example hamburgers, pizzas, and wraps; has live music ranging from rock to flamenco and has several flat screen TVs playing all sorts of sporting events from rugby to golf. More surprising still is the life-size Barack Obama statue, sitting at a bench near the entrance, smiling and greeting unexpecting customers. Obama is an intimate, fun and informal locale that caters to all sorts of customers. I recommend this place if you are looking for something easy and quick to eat and want to hear live music or catch the game on one of their large flat screen TVs. 

More information:
Obama Restaurant and Bar
Live music every day from 24:00 hours to 2.00 am. 

Address: Gran Via Corts Catalanes, 603, 08007 Barcelona, Spain

Open every day from 9:00 am - 3:00 am

Telephone: 933 01 65 24

Website: http://www.obamabcn.com

Ocaña - A True Barcelona Gem

By Javier Castillo - Dec/30/2012

Image Courtesy of Ocaña

After their opening earlier last year of the Fàbrica Moritz (which I wrote about and you can read here: Make Mine Moritz, Please!), Moritz has done it again with Ocaña, a gem of a place. Inaugurated on March of this year, this 1,200 square meters work of art sits ideally in Barcelona’s central Plaza Real. Ocaña, named after the iconic bohemian artist, José  Pérez Ocaña who used to live next door, is the sort of place where anything can happen - and upon first entering you might ask yourself what this establishment was before, a squatted house, and old broom factory, a spacious art studio, or all three at the same time? It was actually an old printing 

Image Courtesy of Ocaña

press and the building dates back to the 17^th century. More recently, this extraordinary space had been under construction and remodeled for the last 8 years, and thanks to the fine work of Albert Guilleumas and Mireia Campa, the fabulous interior has been beautifully restored. The owner has preserved the original attributes of the interior by restoring them and other features. The result: as you jump around from room to room, you are transported back through different periods in time and different cultures. For example, the Belle Époque period can be distinguised in one room through the defining furniture and gilded iron columns in place, and in the Apotheke Cocktail Bar you will find Oriental-style rugs reminiscent of late 19^th century, as well as carved wooden panels that evoke being in the luxurious interior of an Arabian palace. No expenses were spared here, and the collection of antique furniture and artistic pieces that are scattered about all the different rooms adds to this majestic and uniquely exotic atmosphere. Now you know; if you are in Barcelona and are looking for a different place to enjoy at any hour and any time, Ocaña is the ticket.

More Information:
Ocaña

Address: Plaça Reial 13-15; 08002 Barcelona

Telephone: +34 93 676 4814

Website: http://www.ocana.cat/, https://www.facebook.com/ocanabcn

Hours: Sun-Thur 10:30 pm - 2:30 pm. Fri-Sat 10:30 – 3:00 am.
Restaurant open daily from noon.

Got Milk? Barcelona's Perfect Recovery Brunch Spot

  

By Javier Castillo - Nov/30/2012

We all know the Barcelona Post Office isn't open on Sunday, but closeby Milk Bar & Bistro is. And if you are looking for something tastier than licking a stamp, then read on. I've looked long and hard for a spot that I can call upon when that much-needed, alcohol-soaking, brunch meal is my cure-all. I have explored, treading the avenues, streets and alleyways of Barcelona - always trying to find that “one” place that hits the spot just right and makes me whole again. And then one day I stumbled upon Milk. Milk is a place where the clientele and menu scream expat and the decor reminds me of any lazy Sunday brunch restaurant I could find back in my old hometown of San Francisco, California. Milk is run by an Irish couple that has been in the industry for several years. It officially opened its doors in 2005 (I've been going there since 2006), and has thrived ever since. It is a cocktail bar at night, but I go there only on Sunday mornings, and not for the drink menu – although it is enticing - but for the food menu. It’s my comfort food asylum, with a soothing and inviting ambience that offers rich and delicious food to settle any hunger you might have. In fact, and humorously, on their website the menu mentions the classic “recovery brunch” option. My “go-to” dish? That would be the Eggs Benedict. It is a perfectly prepared two poached eggs served on toasted Chapata bread with bacon and topped with homemade Hollandaise sauce. And to wash that down with, what’s better than their Very Banana Smoothie made of blackberries, Greek yoghurt, banana and orange juice? Very necessary. Or if you are craving some good old fashioned flapjacks, I recommend the Penny Lane Pancakes, two stack fluffy pancakes with fresh blueberries, served with vanilla Greek yoghurt and drizzled with maple syrup. Salivating yet? Thought so. Therefore, if you are regretting last night and are in need of help, get out of bed and head down to the Gothic area for your medicine. You will feel a whole lot better after, trust me. Get there early otherwise prepare to wait for up to 30 minutes or longer on the weekends. Bain taitneamh as do bhéile!

More Information:
Milk Bar & Bistro
Address: Carrer d'En Gignàs, 21, 08002, Barcelona, Spain
Telephone: 932 68 09 22
Website: http://www.milkbarcelona.com
Milk’s delicious brunch is ever day from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.