Thu 5 Jun 2008
from 1st June to 6th July
Barcelona Flamenco Festival De Cajón! offers an excellent program with some of the very best flamenco artists. Diego El Cigala at the Palau de Palau de la Música opens the festival and Enrique Morente with his daughter Estrella close it at the Gran Teatre del Liceu.
José Mercé, Tomatito, and the young singer Argentina, are also in the festival.
Thu 5 Jun 2008
19th, 20th and 21st June
In its fifteenth year, the Sónar festival continues its commitment to advanced music projects and the most innovative art. The concerts (around 140 performances in total, both live sets and DJ sessions) and three multimedia exhibition areas are complemented by a professional section that includes a recording and publishing industry trade fair, and a section for discussion and debate. SonarMàtica, the main exhibition section, includes installations, net art and other projects. Sonarama focuses on the latest new media developments: audiovisual concerts, software and medialab presentations. SonarCinema, the festival’s film and video program, screens the latest audiovisual works in all formats.
Sun 30 Mar 2008
www.herboristeriadelrei.com/
Carrer del Vidre 1
Tel. 93 318 05 12
Open from Tuesdays to Saturdays 10.00-14.00 and 17.00-20.00
Hidden in the heart of the city, at the plaça Reial there is a historic jewel: the Herboristería del Rei is one the oldest establishments in Barcelona. This herbalist’s shop founded in 1823, with its rich isabelino interior decor, transport us right into the 19th century: The marble statue in the middle is dedicated to the Swedish naturalist Carlos Linneo, father of the Taxonomy, and it was also a fountain where the leeches were kept. There is a collection of watercolours on the small drawers round the shop, some interesting oil paintings, a glass ceiling and lots of other charming details, all of them survivals of the times when the shop supplied the Royal Spanish House. Just the sight is worth a visit, but you can also find there excellent natural medicine and hygiene products for gifts or for your own pleasure: herbs, soaps, essential oils, scented candles, a beauty line… and biologic wine, oil and marmalades….They also send their products abroad.
Tue 12 Feb 2008
La caseta del Migdia ha sido en los últimos años “el secreto de Barcelona”. Te voy a contar el secreto: En la cima del Montjuic, la montaña que asoma sobre el mar y sobre la ciudad, hay, en lo más alto de su vertiente suroeste, un mirador: es el mirador del Migdia. Allí cerquita, un poco más arriba, hay una caseta.
Era una antigua caseta de telecomunicaciones, que quedó en desuso cuando las Olimpiadas. Hace 7 años, coincidiendo con el Forum, Marc Ros recibió el encargo del ayuntamiento de dinamizar la zona. Recicló la caseta para instalar allí cocina y aseos de un bar-terraza al aire libre tipo chiringuito, y a su vez lugar de eventos musicales. El lugar es tranquilo, rodeado del pinar del Montjuic y se respira el aire del mar que tenemos a nuestros pies. Además es el único lugar de Barcelona donde se puede contemplar la puesta de sol, puesto que Montjuic oculta el oeste a la ciudad. No se puede pedir nada más idilico: mar, puesta de sol, pinos, música tranquila…….
A partir de junio, la caseta abre de jueves a domingo, los jueves y viernes de 20.00 pm a 2.00 am, los sábados y domingos, abre a las 12.00 del mediodía y cierra a las 2.00 am . Siempre hay un DJ poniendo musica tranqui, y en verano, además, hay música en vivo. Los jueves, con la puesta de sol de fondo, hay conciertos de todo tipo de músicas, incluso clásica. Y los domingos a veces también. El bar tiene una gran barbacoa que sirve butifarras y otros bocados asados, también hacen auténticos crèpes bretones. En invierno sólo abren sábados y domingos de 12.00 hasta el ocaso.
Lo único que protege el lugar de su masificación es su “dificil” acceso: se puede llegar en coche siguiendo las indicaciones por la carretera de Montjuic hasta el “Mirador del Migdia”, también hay un autobús que lleva casi hasta allí, es el autobús del parque de Montjuic (PM) que sale de Plaza de España. No es recomendable ir andando de noche por Montjuic, es una zona solitaria y puede haber personajes extraños.
Sun 10 Feb 2008
QUE BO!
c/ Conde de Santa Clara nº 30, esqu. Almirall Aixada
A veces, cuando vamos a la Barceloneta, a pasar el día en la playa o a pasear, nos entra el hambre. Los que disponen de presupuestos generosos irán seguramente a comer una paella o una fideuá en alguno de los restaurantes de cocina marinera, pero para los de presupuestos más ajustados, o sencillamente para quienes quieran comerse el bocata mirando al mar hay una nueva y excelente bocadillería: Que Bó, en la calle Conde de Santa clara nº 30, muy cerca de la esquina con Almirall Aixada.
En Que Bo! encontrarás deliciosos bocadillos de diferentes tipos: de carne picada, de ternera, de pollo, de salchicha árabes (merguez)… Hay 2 tipos de pan: la clásica baggete y un pan parecido a un crêpe árabe llamado msaman, delicioso tanto con dulce como con salado. Los bocadillos son muy jugosos puesto que vienen aderezados con ensaladas variadas y salsas caseras. Todo está fresco y limpio como una patena. También hacen deliciosos batidos de frutas frescas en el momento, y puedes degustar pastelitos árabes y aromático té a la menta.
Latif, el artífice de Que Bo! y originario de Casablanca, en Marruecos, nos comenta que además de restaurador es diseñador de joyas, y que pronto tendrá un plato del día, cada día uno diferente.
Thu 24 Jan 2008
MOMO
Arc de Sant Ramón del Call 6
Tel 93 412 29 37
In the heart of what once was the jewish quarter of Barcelona, el Call, very near plaça de Sant Jaume there is an exquisite shop of Japanese and Eastern objects. It’s Momo, which means peach in japanese. Kaori, japonesa afincada en Barcelona, trae de su tierra cosas maravillosas: cerámicas, telas, cajitas, kimonos, teteras, álbumes, lámparas, incensarios, fundas de móvil, horquillas para el pelo….. Artesanías de una delicadeza y perfección como sólo en el extremo oriente saben hacelo. Cada cosa ha sido elegida con cariño y rigor en sus viajes a Japón y a Vietnam.
Kaori, ha sabido crear, con la ayuda de Fede, su marido argentino, un espacio que nos transporta a Japón: la linterna roja de la puerta, la desnudez exquisita del local y la fascinación de los objetos le dan al lugar un aire a tiendita de la esquina de un película de Oshima.
Thu 10 Jan 2008
In the street Pintor Fortuny, just off the Ramblas on the right, as you walk down from Plaza Catalunya towards the sea, there are some good restaurants with something in common: Freshly made dayly menus. Having the Boqueria market at hand helps.
Biocenter, at Pintor Fortuny 25, is a classic in terms of serious vegy restaurants in Barcelona. They have a salads buffet and four or five main courses to choose from. There is also a smaller cheaper option if you are not so hungry, and they are open in the evening. They have managed to keep up the quality throughout the years and a lot of their products are organic.
L´Hortet at Pintor Fortuny 32, is another vegy, they offer very homely food with a luch time menu.
La Bodega Fortuny, at pintor Fortuny 31, is not a vegy, but vegetarians will find plenty of thing to choose from. Set in what used to be a bodega, the wine barrels are still there. Every day a different “straight from the market” offer. Their cuisine is a melting pot of Mediterranean dishes with an international approach. All managed with care by French and Valencia owners.
Finally Mamacafe, in Doctor Dhou 10, is another good option: a friendly, alternative style restaurant with a 3 course menu at midday. It is not a vegy , but it has plenty of good Mediterranean dishes to choose from.
Fri 30 Nov 2007
Passatge del Credit (close to Plaza Sant Jaume)
abierto de miercoles a sábado de 19 a 24 hrs.
93 301 8510
El Passatge del Credit es una de esas galerías decimonónicas, una calle cubierta con comercios a ambos lados que tanto éxito tuvieron en 1800 y que luego cayeron en desuso. En Barcelona hay varias y hoy se están recuperando. La más centrica de todas es el Passatge del Credit, al que se accede desde la calle Ferrán -la que lleva a la plaza de Sant Jaume- en el barrio Gótico barcelonés. Al fondo de este Passatge esta el café-restaurante la Cerería, que como su nombre indica fue una cerería (tienda de cirios) y hoy además de restaurante también tienen venta de artículos musicales.
Tiene algunas mesitas en el pasaje mismo, un lugar tranquilo, encantador y supercéntrico, con una iluminación tenue. El interior es cálido y sobrio, conserva un cierto aire decimonónico con sus grandes mesas antiguas de madera, contrastadas con tonos naranjas.
La especialidad de la cerería son sus pizzas y sus galettes — crepes salados– hechas con harinas y levaduras biológicas, con harina de espelta y que ellos mismos muelen en un molino de piedra. Además tienen deliciosas ensaladas, bocadillos y chapatas y zumos de frutas y pasteles caseros. Una buena selección de vinos para acompañar y la iluminación tenue y colorista crean una atmósfera muy relajante y refinada.
La Cerería
Passatge del Credit
Barcelona
,
Catalunya
,
Spain
GEO:
41.381478,
2.176602
Yahoo Map - Live Map
Fri 9 Nov 2007
Most visitors in Barcelona do probably go into the Boquería market, at the Ramblas, to enjoy the beautifully laid stalls: fruit, vegetables and all kinds of eatable products however rare. But maybe not so many do stay at the market to have a bite. You should. The Boquería market -in and around- is a great place for lunch in Barcelona. First thing, you have the guarantee that products are fresh, and second, there are very good cooks around. The eating stalls, were always there, but for many years, only the market workers and some night-life crowd went there. Now they’re full. The local style is to get there and ask (or read on the board): “What is it today?” Each day a number of dishes are cooked, depending on the season and the market’s supply. The kitchen is there, at view, across the bar, all in a reduced space. Miraculously, the barmen manage not to bump into each other at rush hour. If you go at Spanish lunch time (14.30 - 15.00), you’ll probably have to wait, just tell the barman and he’ll set your turn. The star dishes are grills: fish, meats, vegetables…
We’ll try now to explain the location of some of the eating stalls in and around the market: our directions take a viewpoint as if we were entering the Boquería from the Ramblas entrance, taking the central aisle as the axis. Just before entering into the market, on the right, there is the historic Pinocho—probably the oldest, the most publicized and even literary of all— its owner, nicknamed Pinocho (guess why) has become, after 40 years there, a living icon of the market. If you turn left once you are in, and go right to the end of the side aisles (where the columns are) you’ll get to the Universal, one of our favorites, served by friendly barmen and with an excellent quality, always full though. Right next to it there are some charming restaurants with tables under the 1866 porticoes. They serve mostly fish grills. The Petit is small, and it serves delicious fish, shellfish and tapas. The Cochinillo Loco also has big mixed platters.
Back to the central aisle, let’s now go to the very bottom end of the market: right on the plaza de la Garduña, is the restaurant Garduña, a classic with tables outside, which offers lunchtime menus and Catalan cuisine. Still at the bottom end, inside the market, there are two more eating stalls with excellent food: bar Central, right in the middle, and bar Boquería, a little to the right with a bar all round it. Everything fresh and grilled in front of the customer.
THE TAKEAWAYS
Other interesting aspect of the Boquería are the takeaways: Most of them are also at the bottom end of the market –near plaza de la Garduña—and they are a very good option to eat cheap and tasty: The Masitta is a small Korean food stall: They have excellent chapché and other specialties -Chinese and Japanese too- all cooked with care and good taste and they also sell Asian cooking products. The pizzas sold by Mario and Bruno at Eslice –behind the fish area, to the right—are renown: A thin crusty pastry made fresh everyday, and the fresh market products for toppings ensure the reputation; the good looks of Bruno and friendliness of Mario, –as Bruno himself said– make the rest”. At the very bottom, on the right is the Organic: organic vegetarian takeaway, with a wide variety of ready meals: burritos, lasagnas, filled egg plant, rice, rolls, juices…. All very tempting and reasonably priced. If you feel like having some fruit, you can buy a fruit box at the stalls at the entrance, or a fruit juice at the Rincón Latino, on the very right, almost on the plaza Sant Galdric, where they also have Peruvian specialties, like ceviche.
RIGHT BY THE MARKET
Back to the bars and restaurants chapter….In the little secluded square of Sant Galdric, on the right side of the Boquería, where some peasants put up their stalls to sell their vegetables in the morning, there are a couple of nice bars. The friendly Papitu, with some tables on the square is a perfect place for a Spanish “aperitivo”: a great choice of tasty tapas –from Argentinean empanadas to marinated anchovies– and a wine or a beer. Next to it there is French restaurant with a lunch time menu and French products on sale.
The plaza de la Garduña is actually an ugly parking lot, but in some way this ugliness preserves both the tranquility of the place and the shabby glamorous charm of the Raval. In this area there are some restaurants wich are utterly Raval: A wide attractive terrace with tables is shared by the Ra and the Rita Rouge. Both with a lunchtime menu. The Ra has made a name with its international cuisine with an exotic touch and always options for veggies. Go inside to see the kitsch mural with a Hindu goddess. Round the corner is another historic of the district: the small Iposa, friendly and with some tables on the Dr. Fleming square, they have a convenient lunch time formula: one dish to choose, plus drink and coffee. A varied and refined cuisine, honors their French and Argentinean owners.
The Boqueria Food Market
Plaça de la Boqueria
Barcelona
,
,
08001
Spain
+34 93 318 25 84
GEO:
41.382057,
2.172096
Yahoo Map - Live Map
Sun 4 Nov 2007
tel. 93 319 9866
street Flassaders 30 bis
Wed. to Fridays 19.00 to 24.00
Saturdays 13.00 to 24.00
At the street Flassaders 30 bis, off Passeig del Borne, there is a friendly café with some special features: one is that you can park your bike inside. This is specially handy in an ultranarrow street like Flassaders, where there’s no space to leave the bike outside.
La Báscula (The Scale) has an early-industrial look: it used to be the a chocolate factory, the Spain-renown Mauri chocolates, and the plattform under our feet at the entrance hall is a huge scale which was used to weigh the raw materials on arrival.
At the Báscula they serve salads, freshly made pasta, some dishes-of-the-day to choose from, crêpes, sandwiches, cakes, juices, shakes, etc…All home-made and at reasonable prices. It is only open evenings from Wednesday to Friday, and on Saturdays you can also go for lunch. Being as it is so far inside such a thin street, the Báscula is never as busy as other cafés in the area, so it is a good place to enjoy a little more peace, still being in the core of bohemian Barcelona.