Holiday Gastro, Eno & Steeped in The Arts Destinations ..

[Alexandria Profile]

Tuesday Lunch at 14.30 ..

Since we are both
working and relaxing,
we decided to lunch at the Hotel Parador, which
contains three restaurants.

Our starters which we shared
were:

Coquille Saint Jacques and a
Crustacean Cocktail (Lobster
and Crab) ..

Our main course, which was made
for two was the Bouillabaisse de
Aiguablava.

Exemplary tasting, textures, flavors
and creativity of art of plating.

[Alexandria Profile]

Saturday Lunch Destination ..

Hotel Playa Sol
Cap de Creus, Cadaqués

Since it is only 11 degrees centigrade, overcast and quite windy,
we selected a venue with an indoor patio overlooking the
Cape de Creus.

There is an outdoor lunching and dining terrace, however,
the gusts are quite dis-agreeable ..

The views of the Cape are absolutely amazingly extraordinary.

The Hotel is quite a lovely Four Star for those venturing up the
northern northern Empordà on the Costa Brava.

The lunch carte offers the catches of day !

So, now for a late lunch ..

Have a lovely weekend.

[Renee Profile]

Have a lovely lunch tomorrow Member 461! What a shame you won't be able to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful views! I think I would choose the catch of the day!

[Alexandria Profile]

Renée,

Well, hopefully, it shall not be
so windy on Saturday ..

It was quite dis-agreeable
today.

Have a wonderful weekend ..

[WWordsworth Profile]

It was quite disagreeable here today as well.
The garden thermometer read 6deg this afternoon and I have lit the fire this evening.
Ridiculous in May.

This time last year it was 25deg.

[Alexandria Profile]

W. Wordsworth,

Yes, today was lovely !

Had a lovely lunch on the outdoor
terrace of the Hotel Playa Sol & enjoyed our
lunch and Cape views.

We have an old Spanish idiom:
" May has 40 days, and we have
9 months of Winter and 3 months
of Hell " ..

It is quite true !!

[Renee Profile]

9 months of winter? I thought that was just the UK! Our weather is so unpredictable. We had summer earlier in the year! I just hope that we get some more.

[Alexandria Profile]

Renée,

The seasons are not quite like when we were kids.

In February and March we had highs of 22 Centig.

In April we had 5 - 12 degrees centig.

Not very normal to say least ..

Finally, May has warmed up but it has brought its sister, Miss Windy Gusts.
Most disagreeable ..

Now, for the past two days, it has been lovely.
Mornings are chilly ( 8 - 10 degrees centig and afternoons mid 20s Centig).

Have a lovely day. It is Mother´s Day here !!

Off to take Mom and Mom in law, daughter in laws, and our grandmothers for a
bottle of Champagne or 2 !! And brunch at 13.30 with the Gents of course.

[Renee Profile]

Happy Mother's Day Member 461! What a lovely time you're going to have with your family!

So you have crazy weather too! Sunny here today, but a cool wind. If only that wind would drop a bit!

[Alexandria Profile]

Renée,

Thank you for the lovely Mother´s
Day Wishes.

Yes, we all enjoyed our Brunch.

We make an honest effort, to celebrate
all major holidays with our parents
and grand parents, twin sons, daughter
in laws and grandsons.

We polished off 3 bottles of Champagne,
amongst 6 grandparents, 2 parents each = 4,
twin sons, 2 daughter in laws and us !!

The Gents picked up the bill !!

Very enjoyable.

It was truly lovely to stroll around
The Parador Vic Sou in the north - western
región of Barcelona.

We took our own Land Rover,
as we headed home afterwards as we must
work tomorrow (the 6th).

The Hotel Parador is breathtakingly
beautiful.

The Mother´s Day Brunch was
extraordinarily wonderful and typical of
the region from which we were.

Have a lovely Mother´s Day too ..
If I am not mistaken, do you celebrate
next week, like North Americans or
have a different day ?

[Renee Profile]

I'm glad that you had such a lovely time with your family, Member 461 and wonderful too, that you take the time out for this special celebration every year.

Our Mother's Day is in March. I received two cards and just a visit from one son! Never mind! I have very good friends which is important to me.

[Alexandria Profile]

Renée,

Belated Mother´s Day.

We celebrate Father´s Day
on March 19th (Saint Joseph Day).


Have a lovely month of May and all
our best wishes to you.

[Alexandria Profile]

Friday 10th May.

Benzina
Pasaje de Pere Calders 6 ..
Barcelona.

This eclectic Antique workshop
for cars, was converted into an
Italian Bar - Bistro.

I had the spaghetti vongole
and my dear had the spaghetti frutti di mare,
we shared a large radicchio & rocket salad,
and a tiramisú for the 2 of us.

Not as amazing as Da Giuseppina, in
The Madrid Capital however,
quite wonderful.

The ambiance is eclectic and a true
haven for relaxing over lunch.

Have a nice weekend.

[DEB Profile]

The weather is bound to improve GCSE and A Level exams start on Monday. Students revision and teachers/examiners marking

[Alexandria Profile]

Deb,

Weather beautiful today, in
Barcelona ..

Have a nice weekend.

Good luck with your educational
projects.

[Alexandria Profile]

Saturday 11th May.

Today my dear and I,
went for lunch at:

PLAT ÚNIC ( Unique Plate)
Trafaglar 30
Barcelona

This new in spot is based in a one
plate theme ! The decor is white
with pale blonde wooden touches,
and a white contemporary sofá type seating
and the best part, their fascinating retail gourmet
shop.

My dear had the blonde Galician
ecological Crown of beef ..
I had a Galician fish stew dish, with
a wonderful odd flat fish from off the
Galician Coast called, "Solla", which
is a cross between a Flounder & a Plaice, from the
Pleuronectidae Family also called Flet in French,
or Platija in Southern Spain or Platixa in
Galicia. In Catalan, it is called Rémol de Riu or
Plana.

Quite lovely.

Have a fabulous weekend.

[Alexandria Profile]

14th May, Tuesday.

Today, my staff and I are going to
one of our favorite restaurants
located at:

SHÔKO
Passeig Maritim de La Barcelona 36.

The incredible ambiance, located on the
car free walk, on Passeig Maritim de La Barcelona
houses uncountable eateries, bistros, fine dining and
Discotecs, live music and a to z Cuisines.

We always order the "sashimi, nigriri boat" as this is
enough to feed four ..

SHÔKO is renowned for its cocktails and
wine carte and definitely a lively, extraordinary
experience.

Have a lovely day.

[Alexandria Profile]

15th May, Wednesday.

My mom and dad had driven down to visit us,
so we are going to a fave restaurant,
INDO CHINE ..

The top notch cuisine is Cambodian and the
restaurant is one of the most
extraordinarily amazing
restaurants in the city.

Quality, creativity, authentic
products and Cambodian Owned
and Operated.

The ambiance is spectacular.

I had written about it a few times.

Highly recommended if you are travelling
to Barcelona.

Have a lovely day.

[Alexandria Profile]

Sunday, May 19th ..

With a huge selection of options
for brunch or lunch, today, we
opted for a lovely lunch @:

WE BISTRO
Sant Pere 70
Ciudad Condal

WE Bistro is an eclectic
combination of antiques
and the contemporary in neutral tones
with stone and wood.

The carte is predominately
Sicilian with urban inspired
unique creations.

The tiramisú with Green Tea
and the chocolate ganache
are exemplary !

The "picoteos" (tapitas) are
quite amazing.

[Alexandria Profile]

25th May, Friday.

Today my dear and I had an extraordinarily
amazing lunch at an old friend´s Tapas Restaurant,
in Barceloneta:

LA BARRA DE CARLES ABELLAN
HOTEL W
Vela - Planta E
Passeig de Joan de Borgo 19
Barceloneta
www.carlesabellan.com

Known for its stunning shellfish, and
Seafood Tapas. The sea views are
quite incredible too.

The grilled fresh razor clams called
Navajas and the squid and octopus
are unforgettable.

Definitely highly recommended and
better yet, there is no touristy food here.
Carles Abellan is one of the protoges of
Ferran Adrià.

The owner has another establishment
which is incredible and the setting
is Art Deco ..

Have a wonderful weekend.