Despite Barcelona’s multitude of restaurants and general reputation for culinary excellence, I haven’t completely immersed myself in the restaurant scene. Since we eat toast for breakfast each morning, dinner with our host family in the evenings and generally make lunches at home, I haven’t tried as many new places as I’d like to. This past weekend in Barcelona offered ample time to sample a few delicious offerings around the city.
Friday lunch: Da Greco
My cousin’s wife, Katie, was in town for the Mobile World Congress this past week and we decided to meet up for lunch. Several students had recommended Da Greco, just off Diagonal, for its excellent Italian food. She didn’t seem to mind swapping paella for pasta, so we made our way there after a visit to Sagrada Familia. Behind two elegant wooden doors was a boutique-like restaurant with large menus and a plethora of delicious offerings. We had red wine to drink, grilled vegetables in olive oil as an appetizer, and a selection of pastas, including one extraordinarily creamy risotto, as our entrees. We finished the meal with a small scoop of chocolate gelato and a photo to remember our dining experience.
Saturday brunch: Brunch & Cake
The name alone sounded too enticing to resist. After sleeping in, my roommates and I walked from our flat to this corner restaurant with a white exterior and outdoor seating. We saved time by forgoing the wait and eating under the tented area outside, and the result was a delicious taste of some of the foods we’d missed from back home: scrambled eggs with vegetables, bagels with bacon and cream cheese and one warm bowl of cinnamon oatmeal.
Weekend Treat: Gelat
After my international business teacher informed us that the best “gelat” (the Catalan word for gelato) is in the Gracia neighborhood, I was determined to try it for myself. After meandering down Gracia’s narrow streets with two friends, we found Gelateria Italiana in a small square. I tried the stracciatella, a creamy combination of vanilla with bits of chocolate mixed in. While I’m reasonably certain we went to the wrong place with a similar name, it was an adventure nonetheless.
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Rachel Thompson
<p><span style="color: rgb(29, 29, 29); font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; background-color: rgb(237, 237, 237);">Hi there! I'm a California native studying journalism in one of the coolest cities in the world, at The University of Texas at Austin. I'm a fan of chocolate, watching sports (go Giants), nice people, anything vintage and pretty much all music. I write as much as I can, whether it's a news article, a blog, or just a journal entry. When I'm not writing, I love to run, try new recipes in my little kitchen, take dance classes and catch up with friends. My goal is to see every continent someday. I'm getting there!</span></p>
