What’s Hot Barcelona – Summer / Autumn 2014

Barcelona is truly a gastrophile’s dream with a trend for specialised restaurants developing rapidly. Niche concepts flourishing in Barcelona are focusing on local ingredients and creating an array of dishes allowing the local produce to shine. 

A Pork Only restaurant concept:
The appropriately named PORK, located in the Born near França train station and only 5 minutes from Hotel Arts Barcelona, showcases every cut of its namesake in all its glory. Salted, cured, dried or barbequed with wood charcoal or in the “l-rational” clay oven are just a few of the ways this locally sourced meat are prepared by the expert hands of head chef Oriol Rovira and his team.  Other unusual methods of cooking are used at By13, which serves street food style Spanish and Oriental “tapas” without fire and instead opting for grill and steam machines. By13 again steps away from the traditional in the way food is served, with guests following a route of 13 street food stops.

Ceviche with a contemporary twist:
Seafood lovers are not forgotten, with the newly opened Ceviche 103 serving up this Peruvian delicacy by fusing modern and traditional flavours and techniques. Tanta offers modern ceviche dishes which diners can wash down with a traditional Pisco Sour cocktail, a perfect summer drink fusing sour citrus flavours and bitters with sweet sugar syrup and egg white. 

L’EGGS, a new culinary project from Michelin starred Paco Perez:
Vegetarians can get their protein hit at L’EGGS, the new concept by Paco Perez with almost every variation of eggs imaginable available on this tantalising and unusual menu. Perez is the acclaimed chef behind Enoteca, the two Michelin starred restaurant of Hotel Arts Barcelona, and his newest venture does not disappoint. Fried, scrambled or baked, eggs are the hero in a large number of dishes on the menu, however there are plenty of options where eggs are not the protagonist, including Mediterranean inspired dishes such as grilled market fish with seasonal vegetables. 

The hot new brunch spot:
Starting this summer, Hotel Arts Barcelona’s Arola is re-inventing Sunday brunch, pairing a tantalizing menu of traditional brunch classics with a Catalan twist. A party atmosphere will be guaranteed with a live DJ and a specially created Gin & Tonic menu infused with flavours hand picked from the terrace garden. Diners can enjoy their brunch from Arola’s chic outdoor terrace adjacent to Frank Gehry’s iconic ‘Peix’ fish sculpture with spectacular views of the sea, before working off their meal with a game of ‘mini-soccer’ in the sunshine. Guests can cool down by the ice-cream cart, with a delicious array of ice cream and refreshing sorbets in seasonal Mediterranean flavours, or opt for a waffle or crêpe cooked before their eyes at the dessert station. 

Fast food with a difference:
If in need of a quick bite rather than a sit down meal Butifarring offers gourmet sandwiches in place of traditional fast food. The newest creation of entrepreneur Eric Camps and Chef Albert Gómez and located in the Gotic area of Barcelona, Butifarring’s menu offers it’s namesake, a Catalan sausage, grilled on a barbeque and served with high quality local produce. 

Create your own sweet treats:
Those after more than just a meal will find plenty on offer in Barcelona. Chök – the chocolate kitchen – is a sanctuary for chocoholics where in addition to purchasing amazing sweet chocolate creations, patrons can learn to make delicious savory tapas that utilise chocolate as an ingredient. Another interesting new concept, Beriestain began life as a vintage store and has grown to include a bohemian style restaurant as well. Beriestain sells vintage furniture, records and clothes in addition to vintage-inspired cards and stationary and an in-store florist with fresh blooms available on a daily basis.