Boqueria breakfasts.

Our usual stop in Barcelona for a morning coffee Bar Pinotxo in the La Boquria also ran a mighty fine line of lunchy items. One morning after a little run in with a Dry Martini we felt the need for a little more than just a coffee and croissant. We still started off with the usual caputxi's and pastry's, but then it was on to the substance.



A plate of the famed garbanzos, this little plate of legumes has sparked intense discussion on what gives this dish the intense robustness and depth. Some intense interwebs trawling brought forth many theories and recipes but this one from the Salty Olive looks the winner. Well be giving that a go shortly.



How bout a plate of pigs cheek braised with tomatoes,pine nuts and raisins? Oh hell yeah!!
The meat apologetically layered with unctuous pieces of fat, so rich and so hard to share. One of the stand out dishs of the trip.



A delicious omlette with eggplant and pan con tomate rounds us off. I think you could eat anything at Bar Pinotxo and it would be delicious.



We get the trademark thumbs up from the charismatic Juanito and reassure him we'll be back next time we're in Barcelona.



Bar Pinotxo
La Boqueria 466-467
Barcelona, Spain

The dawn raid.

Suffering the plague of globe crossers everywhere, we were still wired to Japan time and were springing wide awake with the birds each morning.



Still at times like this you know there's one place that always has a seat, a coffee and a smile for you. Bar Pinotxo (pinocho-pinocchio) in La Boqueria is open as the providors arrive to start setting up for the day, which is very early am.



Run by the very friendly Juanito (a fantastic character), it's the best place to pull up a stool, grab a coffee and see the markets blooming into life, as well as the chefs at Pinotxo preparing the days food.



We enjoyed this morning show so much that even after we had time adjusted we still made the morning walk up the empty Ramblas to sit, drink, snack on a tasty crossiant, and watch life.



Maybe once or twice we sat for so long that breakfast became lunch and we were able to enjoy the delicios tapas offered at Pinotxos, such as braised garbanzos or rich unctious pork cheek. It's easy to see why Pinotxos is a favourite of many of Spains top chefs.

Maybe after coffee we'd swing by the bakery in the center of the market and pick up a couple of euros worth of Bunyols, a small sugary Spanish doughnut. The freshly cooked bunyols seem to round off the early morning coffee so perfectly.



Bar Pinotxos
La Boqueria markets
Barcelona