Barcelona Food Tour

This morning we took a taxi from the hotel to meet our tour guide.  A family of four from London plus the son’s girlfriend from Germany were also in the group.  Everyone was very congenial, thank goodness!  The tour, sponsored by Culinary Backstreet, was led by Pam (in the red coat below), originally from Italy.  

First, we went to La Pubilla for a hearty traditional breakfast.  We enjoyed the tortilla (potato and egg casserole), traditional white beans, pork, pan con tomate, and a fried egg mixed with sausage.

Coffee with milk was enjoyed after the meal.

From there, we walked across the street to a huge market located in the same location for hundreds of years.  The displays were beautiful!

We got to sample three kinds of cheese and two types of sausage there.

Next, we visited a granary, which has been in the same location since 1885. Originally it focused more on providing seeds for the farmers, but also flours, nuts, and all kinds of dried beans.  There Pam bought Marcona almonds and dried fruit for us to try at the next stop. 

Our next stop was at a shop specializing in olive oil. We tasted three different kinds, and also had the almonds and dried apricots from the granary.  Here are some of the products on display.

Then we walked to the Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia, the center of the area we toured.  Long-time residents identify themselves as Gràcians, not residents of Spain. As recently as the mid-2010s, revolutionaries were jailed for seeking independence from Spain. 

Clock and bell tower in the center plaza

City Hall for Vila de Gràcia

Then we visited a pastisseria with beautiful cakes that are traditionally given by godparents on Easter Monday. These monas de Pascua are decorated with chocolate eggs, chicks and feathers, which can also be purchased separately if you want to make your own cakes.

Here we got to sample three treats:  a sweet made from almonds and honey, one similar to a mini flan (the orange-topped ones below, and an almond croissant.

Note chicks wearing Barcelona football scarves 

The tempting window displays 

A beautiful spring display 

Next, we stopped for an apertif, sampling vermouth over ice and garnished with olives and orange slices. I had never tried vermouth, but it was quite tasty —and potent. It was served with potato chips topped with a pepper sauce and pickled anchovies.

Finally it was time for lunch (about 1:00, four hours into the tour!).  We went to a place we would never have noticed from the outside, but everything was delicious. Most items were grilled over wood.

Here we failed utterly to take photos, but we ate several kinds of grilled vegetables, four kinds of sausages, more pan con tomate, a wonderful aioli, and cod-stuffed grilled peppers. We also had some wine.

Then we walked to a 24-hour churro place for dessert. The warm churros were delicious dipped in warm chocolate.

We finally said our goodbyes and walked about ten minutes back to our hotel at 3:00.  We shouldn’t need any more food today! We would highly recommend this food tour!  We have one with the same company scheduled in Athens next week.