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The key ingredients of Catalan
cuisine are fresh fish, vegetables, specific meats
and two sauce enhancers, sofregit and picada.
The fish is fresh in Barcelona,
very fresh! Cod, hake, sardines, anchovies, tuna,
octopus, squid, prawns and langoustines are the most
commonly found.
Fresh vegetables are similar to
other Spanish cuisines. Tomatoes, garlic, sweet
peppers, artichokes and mushrooms are most
frequently used. Mushrooms especially are harvested
fresh and taste delicious. |
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Pork is by far the commonest meat in Catalan
cuisine. But hare, guinea fowl and rabbit are also
frequently used meats.
Sauces are made from a variety of ingredients but
almost always feature a base of sofregit.
This is a combination of onions and tomatoes,
sometimes with garlic and sugar also added. A good
sofregit begins with frying onions in olive
oil on a low heat until they begin to caramelise
(turn brown). This part of the process takes about
30 minutes. Then add the tomatoes and continue
cooking, again on a low heat, for another 30
minutes. Garlic and sugar are then sometimes added.
Because of the time it takes to cook a good sofregit,
it is frequently prepared in advance and then either
stored in the fridge or frozen. In our experience
sofregit freezes very well. |
| If sofregit is the base of most Catalan
sauces then picada is added towards the end
of cooking, combining and highlighting the flavours
of a sauce without over-powering it. The basic
ingredients of garlic, parsley, nuts, fried bread
and wine. These are ground together to form a thick
liquid which is stirred into the main sauce towards
the end of cooking. No description of Catalan
cuisine would be complete without a mention of
tapas or pinchos. These are small
portions of food often eaten with a drink. The
origin of tapas is uncertain but it seems likely
that they first appeared in the Andalucía area of
Spain many hundreds of years ago. |
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Tapas have spread around the world and are
now popular in Western and Eastern cultures. As far as
Catalan cuisine is concerned tapas are based on their local
produce. So in Barcelona you will find many tapas based on
seafood. Tapas bars are in all parts of Barcelona and the
best way to eat well is to walk into the bar and see the
tapas for yourself. They are most often displayed in a glass
cabinet. If you like what you see then eat there, if not
move onto the next bar, there are hundreds of them! The
Boqueria Market area of las Ramblas is an excellent area for
good quality and cheap tapas.
RECOMMENDED CATALAN CUISINE RESTAURANTS
CASA DELFIN
Recently refurbished and modernised, Casa Delfin serves good
quality Catalan food as well as some distinctly non-Catalan
dishes. Top dish has to be the fried sardines which are
divine. The lamb stew is also highly recommended as are the
daily specials which offer very good value for money. The
locals eat here which is always a good recommendation. The
atmosphere is cosy and busy but the service is excellent
with very helpful waiters.
A meal here in the evening, including a
bottle of wine is likely to be in the €35 price range. Good
value for quality Catalan food.
Located at Passeig del Born 36 with
nearest metros being Jaume I or Barceloneta.
PATXCOA
Excellent Catalan cuisine with locally sourced produce. We
sampled the cap i pota which is a stew of calves head
and feet with lots of vegetables. Delicious! Under €40 will
buy you a two course evening meal from the extensive a la
carte menu plus a half bottle of wine. The service is
reasonable rather than top quality but you will always be
made welcome in this bistro. Another good sign of good food
is the open kitchen.
C. Mercarders 28 with the nearest
metro Jaume I.
CINC SENTITS
More expensive compared to the two restaurants above but
well worth it at about €85 a head. Give the Sensation taster
menu (with wine) a miss, it is pretentious and expensive.
Opt instead for the Suckling Iberic Pig which really is a
sensation. The Duck Marget was also a dish to remember.
The restaurant has been awarded one Michelin
start and may well a second one soon. Modern, smal and
intimate this is an excellent choice for modern
Catalan cuisine.
C. Aribau, nearest metro is
Universitat. Website is
http://www.cincsentits.com/en/.
OTHER BARCELONA ATTRACTIONS
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