Barcelona Foodies - Take 1

Immediately upon arrival in Barcelona we headed out for our first meal, lunch, at Bar Pinotxo in La Boqueria market. It is a small lunch counter near the entrance of the market that is frequented by the likes of uber Catalonian chef Ferran Adria.

I have to say Juanito Bayen (a.k.a. Pinotxo), is quite a character and makes it well worth the visit.

I was sort of coerced by Juanito into having the baby squid with garbanzo beans - definitely the wrong choice after a red-eye flight with no sleep, a mild hangover and an empty stomach.

It was really good - just not what I wanted. But who cares? Really there just there to be there and be entertained!


After an extended siesta we headed out for dinner at Comerc 24, home of noted Catalonian chef (and a disciple of Adria), Carles Abellan (who was indeed at the helm of the kitchen that night). We decided to be brave and go with the 8 course festival tasting menu. Some of it we liked, some we didn't. But really it's all about individual taste. It was all quality for sure. The first course was a bunch of mini-tapas including green olives stuffed with anchovies, gold guilded macadamias, pork rinds, parmesan balls, fried mini-fish and bread sticks with a pesto paste. I think the pork rinds were our favorite.

Subsequent courses included: an orchata, ficoide glaciale and scallop soup-salad (scary, the scallop was a bit undercooked for my tastes), cuttlefish and morel ravioli (delish!), duck and foie rice (very rich), beef entrecot with potatoes and wasabi (the beef was too chewy for me), a mackrel dish and tuna tartare with yolk vinagrette:

All of the food was paired with a 2004 Hacienda Monasterio Ribera Del Duero which was out of this world and one of the best bottles of wine I've ever had. Finally, desert came which consisted of about 5 different items with a side shot of apple-celery juice.

Overall I really enjoyed Comerc and would recommend it to the adventurous. The main dining room is small and quiet (a HUGE change over NY dining) with dark rich colors and comfortable seating. Service was good, although even with a Spanish speaking dinner companion, some of the dishes were lost in translation.