Confusion averted!

I figured out what was going on with my "duck" at MUSSOL Restaurante!

The title of the dish said "magrete de pato" but since the description only said "pechuga de pato" (breast of duck), I brushed aside the word "magrete" because I assumed it was a Catalan word that I did not know. The truth is, I did not know the word, but it's not just a Catalan one.

Thanks to a few sites, I now know that a duck magret is indeed a duck breast, but that of a duck that has been fattened for foie gras. Since the duck is force-fed a diet that is high in corn, the pectoral muscles become stronger and the flesh has a less-tender texture, but the taste as well is decidedly different than traditional duck breast. Hence, the confusion in my taste buds.

Check out my sources here and here.

MUSSOL Restaurante

On the prowl for Catalán cuisine, we sought out the flagship of MUSSOL Restaurante's four locations: the restaurant on Carrer Casp, 19, in Barcelona's Centro district (Metro: Passeig De Gràcia‎ or Full-screenUrquinaona‎).

We started out with the traditional Catalán coca (toasted bread with olive oil, garlic, and tomato). For the main dishes, I ordered pato (which means duck in Castellano), but my "duck" was decidedly beefy tasting, so I was a bit confused to say the least. It came paired with some lovely roasted apples.

Overall, MUSSOL has a reputation for serving traditional farmhouse food in a big city setting. Prices per person average 15,00€. It's worth a try!

For more information on MUSSOL, check out their site in English, Castellano or Català...
OR click here for a more thorough description of their menu and decor.

Pep Restaurante

My favorite part of Spain cuisine is the existence of the "menu of the day". Most places will offer a midday selection of dishes (menu is usually posted outside of the restaurant): you choose a first course (primer plato), and a second course (segundo). Standard menus also include bread (pan), wine (vino) or a soft drink (refresco), and a dessert (postre).

On our second day (I think) in Barcelona, we set out looking for Casa Amalia (Passatge Mercat, 4-6 -- rumored to have a menu of the day for only 7,81€), only to find out that it was closed on Mondays. We went, instead, next door to Pep Restaurante (Passatge Pla, 11) to sample their Catalan cuisine.

The second courses (segundos) we chose were decidedly non-memorable, but the primer plato was to-die-for. Both of us got shellfish soup (sopa de mariscos) -- a tomato-based puree laced with bits of whitefish and tiny prawns. Overall the soup was a perfect balance of savory aromatics and sweet tomatoes and seafood. My only wish was that I had had two bowls. =)

The dessert (postre) we chose was crema catalana (catalan cream), a close relative of France's crème brûlée. Click here for a recipe.

きいりん (Kirin) Barcelona

If you find yourself in the need of some quick sushi, look no further than Kirin Japanese Restaurant in Barcelona, Spain.

Located on Carrer Aragó, 231, Kirin sells moving sushi -- that is, sushi that comes right to you on a conveyer belt. All you have to do is sit and wait while numerous tiny plates ride by, each holding a few bites of either rolled sushi, panfried noodles, seeweed salad, or even dessert.

It's all-you-can-eat for only 9,90€ mid-day and 14,90€ for nights and holidays.

The buffet even includes a create-your-own-meal option. Go to the raw bar and choose your seafood, meats, and veggies, and they grill it for you hibachi-style. Delicious!

For more information, check out their website here.

Tapas in Barcelona

28-Dec-2008

We got into Barcelona a little before 8 am on a Sunday... Not the prime time to get the true feel of a Spanish city. =)

After dropping our bags at the hostal, we set out to find some coffee and warm food. We settled on a small restaurant near Las Ramblas that serves both tapas and classic Spanish fare.

We started off with café con leche (coffee with milk) and a bocadillo (cold sandwich) of chorizo (garlicky pork sausage seasoned with paprika), cheese and tomato. Then we moved onto tapas: patatas bravas (fried potatoes served with a spicy sauce), warm marinated mushrooms, and txistorra (or chistorra -- chili and paprika seasoned pork sausage).