Jonathan and I went for a pre-dinner drink at one of the city's cocktail bars, Dry Martini on Aribau. Dry Martini is James Bond, it's Dean Martin, it's Cary Grant. You can never be too overdressed at Dry Martini. It is that sophisticated!!!!
The bar is like a smoke house, every single one is puffing away, but who cares when you are in a cocktail bar that has reached cult status. There is a secret restaurant hidden inside the Dry Martini bar - again one has to go through the kitchen to get to the restaurant. It has a menu that follows the four seasons...
After our mid-morning meal at Pinotxo in the Boqueria Market, we were soon hungry for another meal. We booked a table at Mantequeria Ravell, where downstairs was one of the most incredible delicatessens in Barcelona, but with its upstairs secret! This place is a paradise and is crowned the most glorious of delicatessens in Barcelona.
Mantequeria Ravell
Contrada Aragó, 313
08001 Barcelona
Catalonia
Spain
tel:
fax: +34-93-459-3956
Food is very important to me, and whether a place is worth visiting really depends on the food they serve. I do not like sightseeing, and am ashamed to admit that after touring the first gorgeous Gaudi house with its extravagant facade, and when I got to Gaudi's building with its crazy chimneypots, I refused to pay the 10 euro to gain admission into the building. Boss and I decided to sit outside the building and wait for Jonathan to take his tour. However Jonathan paid the 20 euro and dragged us into the building. But when it comes to food, it is entirely a different matter, money suddenly seems not to be a concern.
Our first dinner was at Bar Mut (phone: 932 174 338), and it was absolutely out of this world. They do not give an address on their business card, just the phone number. The concierge at Hotel Arts' club lounge recommended this place.
The place was bustling with locals, and the service was easy and friendly. The menu was written on the blackboard at the bar, and we were absolutely clueless. I can, however, remember a particularly delicious duck liver served on toast.
The prawns (gambas) were truly amazing, and I did sort of register that this would be the most costly item on the menu. (But, who cares?!) Prawns from the surrounding sea were very sweet and flavourful. Jonathan could not get enough of the prawns, but I, of course, refused to repeat the order.
We left Bar Mut, very satisfied, happy and contented - admittedly the wallet was a lot lighter, too.
I have fallen in love with Barcelona, and the Catalan cuisine. Barcelona is not only about Gaudi............
Basics (8)
