I recently went on a very quick jaunt to Barcelona, Spain with a group of great friends. Mary, Helena, Rita and I spent 4 days relaxing, eating, cocktailing, and soaking up all the wonderful offerings of this Spanish Mediterranean city.
Having had a little notice of this trip (it served as Helena’s 30th birthday party), I promptly set out to learn as much as possible about the city and its culinary prowess. Imagine my delight upon discovering that Barcelona claimed some of the best tapas in Spain. I am not surprised by this claim; the city sits at the edge of the Western Mediterranean and has thousands of years of history to draw upon.
Barcelona research started with a review through my collection of back-dated Food + Wine magazines. I love Food + Wine for this reason; so many articles and little tidbits covering such a wide array of topics and fascinating, expert advice for lands yet unvisited.
I quickly had my heart set on finding Quimet y Quimet, a tiny tapas bar in a hillside neighborhood in Barcelona best reached by taxi. I excitedly piled the girls into a little taxi (everything is smaller in Europe -- I love it) and set off towards adventure.
From the Hotel Majestic in the heart of Barcelona, we arrived at Quimet y Quimet quickly. A tiny shop in a working class neighborhood, locals lined the walls and the sidewalk outside, engrossed in rapid conversations in espanol, sipping cava, a yummie Spanish sparkling wine.
The shop walls were lined with Spanish wines and ales, preserved and pickled delicacies (my favorite white anchovy was not lonely here), oils and vinegars -- it was a foodie mecca! To my delight, we settled into a standing table just next to the bar, where shiny red peppers, rich manchego cheeses, spicy sausages and toasted breads sat ready for my enjoyment.
A kindly older gentleman was ponied up at the bar next to us, enjoying his cava and chatting with the staff. He was clearly a local and a regular to Quimet y Quimet, and my first thought was, jackpot! Especially in non-English speaking countries, this type of patron can become your best friend during the meal. He can offer off-the-menu suggestions that you could have never known about and pick out an obscure wine or ale to wash down the meal if you offer a smile and friendly conversation.
This gentleman did not speak English, but my limited Spanish sufficed to communicate all my wants and desires from Quimet y Quimet. He ordered a lovely array for the four American girls in the shop that day, all kinds of cured meats, cheeses, vegetables, pate, a basket of breads, and cava all around.
If you have the opportunity to visit the lovely city of Barcelona, I recommend seeking out Quimet y Quimet. It may be a little off the beaten track, and you may have to try foods outside your comfort zone, but that’s the life of a foodie, right?
Cheers,
Josie
No comments:
Post a Comment