La Granja and Xurreria, Barcelona Spain

Our first visit to Barcelona we had some trouble finding authentic churros. We had read a great little piece on Barcelona Food Girl but after wandering up and down the little Banys Nous several times, it was clear both places were taking an Easter break. On our return, we are eager to hunt them down ... The Banys Nous was then alive, and all the shops were open. We first spotted the Xurreria with piles of fried goodness in the window.



So the deal is, you buy a paper bag full of churros, which are sold by weight. A few euros gets us enough for 2. Then you head next door into La Granja, or the Milk Bar, where they are more-than happy for you to bring in your churros and open on the table. They have an extensive drink menu, so there is bound to be something for everyone. Coffees, liquers, tisanes, tea and of course the hot chocolates.



We both choose a Xocolata Picant. It is thick, rich and spiced with chili and cinamon. We dip the churros into our cups, the sugar that has been sprinkled on the giving a beautiful contrast against the lick of heat from the chili's...

The tiled walls, bright paint, marble tabletops and friendly staff make this a place we could easily spend a lot of time. It might just be a good thing they were closed for the Easter holidays...



Banys Nous
Carrer dels Banys Nous, 3
08002 Barcelona, Spain
933 437 994


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Cal Pep, Barcelona Spain

Cal Pep the ultra popular restaurant on the edge of Barri Gotic is highly spoken of, so highly spoken of that the twenty seats in front of the open kitchen fill up within an instant of the doors opening.



One night we joined the que of people that wound it's way out the door, it was not long before we were half way through the line and the line was twice as long as when we had started. Soon we are seated right behind Pep in his trademark purple glasses.



Quickly we have a few snacks on the go and get a couple of cerveza y limón (beer with lemon) which is on draft.



The staple of pan con tomate is probably the most disappointing example we've had in Spain. Soft and under flavored it just wasn't all it could be.



Deep fried llengeta, a tiny inch long fish are deftly dusted with flour before a flash in the fryer and into a basket to drain, then onto a plate before a soft fried egg is slid on top, the last step is to smash the egg through the fish coating them in yolky goodness. Delicious.







Crumbed and deep fried calamari are ok, neither here nor there and a tad oily.



Padron peppers deep fried and served with Spanish flake salt are awesome as always.



Our tuna tartar tastes fine it's just a little gray suggesting that is was cut a while before serving.



With the miss rate higher than the hit we decide not to order any more and take our leave. It's not that anything was bad just not great either especially for the price which is not cheap, maybe the hype has outgrown Cal pep or perhaps we were just there on a off night.
I'm glad we went to see for ourselves though.

Cal Pep
Placa de les olles,
number 8
08003 BARCELONA


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El Tropezón, Barri Gotic, Barcelona

After a few drinks over at Dry Martini bar, we quickly realize just how hungry we all are ... We wanted to eat at the little restaurant/bar our the back, aptly named Speakeasy, but being that it's Easter Weekend we have no such luck. The chefs are enjoying a little break. We have another place on the radar, so cab back to the port where we all don some warmer clothes and head off in hopes .... It to is closed, shame.

We start wandering aimlessly around Barri Gotic and discover there is very little open. We stumble across a little 2 storey, homely looking place on a corner. It is absolutely packed to the rafters. Initially we weren't sure whether this was because they were any good, or simply the fact that not much else was open.



We head on in and are ushered up to the last remaining vacant table on the 2nd floor. Our young waiter sorts us out with drinks in no time and we work our way through the giant Spanish menu placed on the table.



First up, potatas bravas - little chunks of potato are fried and blanketed by a garlic mayonnaise and a good sprinkle of paprika.



Grilled sardines are just that, lightly grilled with salt & fresh herbs with some crisp ice-berg lettuce and a wedge of lemon on the side.



The smell of garlic wafting through the place was intoxicating, so spotting Gambas al Ajillo - garlic prawns - on the menu was a no-brainer. They come out in a sizzling terracotta pot with thick slices of garlic sitting in a pool of olive oil. The prawns still have their heads and tail on, but their body's have been peeled for easy eating ...



Next up, our vegetable intake for the evening, which comes in the form of mushrooms fried in oil with garlic, and battered and deep-fried eggplant fritters. Oh-so-healthy, oh-so-delicious!



Flamin chorizo was a visual spectacle. Slices of chorizo in a terracotta pot that was doused with some sort of sherry and set on fire. We all sat there for a while in awe, as the blue flames just kept on burning. Occasionally one of us would dive in for a piece of sausage, but it was just so hot! Our young waiter walks by minutes later, with blue flame still burning, and laughs at us. Apparantly we were supposed to blow it out hahaha he does that for us, and after a few minutes of cooling down, we all chow down on our slightly charred chorizo. Still yummy!



Various other goodies hit the table throughout the night, including tortilla, salad, boqerones, pork with potato & an empanada.



It was just like being invited into a locals home. A loud, dingy locals home with the feel of family & friends sharing good times over good food. I think this place would have been busy even if everything else around town was open had it not been Easter weekend. A good find indeed.


El Tropezón
Carrer del Regomir, 26
Barrio Gótico
Barcelona - Spain
Open every day except Wenesday from 12noon - 2am
T: +34 93 310 18 64