Costa Barcelona – a culinary phenomenon

Take sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, a dose of culture, sporting activities beautiful natural parks, oh and shopping. Add to the mix great wine and food and you soon discover why Costa Barcelona is a dream destination.

View from the Hotel Restaurant Sol i Vi

Catalonia has a reputation for its excellent gastronomy so when you go for a trip to the Costa Barcelona, you have high expectations of great wine and dining, after all we are constantly told how good the Mediterranean diet is for us. I love simple food. Good quality and quantity are my essential ingredients. Costa Barcelona’s treats surpassed anything that I could have imagined and that is truly an accolade.

The secret of Costa Barcelona’s success has to be the exceptional quality of the produce that comes from both the land and the sea. So whether you prefer lamb and pork or fish or vegetables, or want to try a little of everything, the flavours will stimulate your taste buds in such a way that it seems as if you are savouring food afresh. 

What is clever about its dishes that it allows the chefs to be creative and to put a modern spin on classic recipes resulting in a rich and varied cuisine. It does not matter if you choose to eat at a Michelin starred-restaurant or a local rustic eaterie  the food will be sensational.

Salmon starter at Hotel Restaurant Sol i Vi

Tapas make great starters and allow you to try a little of everything. The staple  “Pan Catalan” (thick toasted crusty bread rubbed with fresh tomatoes and garlic, drizzled with olive oil, and sprinkled with a little salt) washed down with a glass of chilled Catalonian white wine is one of life’s pleasures.

I ate at an array of gourmet spots during my trip. Each offered a tempting menu. Even when I thought I had a big lunch and would not want dinner, I was always enticed  to indulge once again.

One that I was really impressed with was the Hotel Restaurant Sol i Vi, a traditional farmhouse in the Alt Penedès region. The good-sized portion dishes were outstanding. The amazing mix of starters would set any taste buds alight. A favourite was marinated salmon. The huge turbot that I had for my main course was sublime. It was so fresh, it was if it had jumped straight from the sea to my plate.

The restaurant also has an extensive wine list – well it is surrounded by vineyards. Costa Barcelona has a wine culture that dates back thousands of years, so you are going to find some superb wines here. Cava may be the star of the show, but try some local whites and reds, you will be impressed.

Another great place was Lasal del Varador in Mataró. Right on the beach looking right out on to the alluring blue sea. It serves deliciously large portions of organic food and has great eco credentials. Built, I was told, according to the criteria of bioclimatic architecture, it has solar panels so it generates its own electricity as well  having as a solar thermal energy system to obtain hot water and run the heating.

I had fresh anchovies followed by hake. For dessert I had the strawberries from Maresme, which are renowned for their excellence.  

While on the Costa Barcelona you should try Crema Catalana, a rather scrumptious version of crème brûlée.

The Porta d’Alella is not only a charming and serene hotel to rest your weary head at the end of a long day travelling around the area, but its restaurant "Les Terrasses" serves up an enjoyable meal. I happen to like grilled squid with a little salt and pepper and this was pretty memorable.

Blue-legged chickens from El Prat de Llobregat served at  Ona Nuit Restaurante,

At Vilanova i la Geltrú, seafood was once again the choice at Restaurante El Marejol. Fresh fish straight from the fisherman, washed down with delicious wines, what more could you ask for? The Vilanova prawns served on ornate-trimmed plates (a tribute to Gaudi, I think) were rather good.

One of the best goat’s cheese salads I have had in a long while has to be the one that I had at the Café del Mar, also in Vilanova i la Geltrú.  

I could not leave the Costa Barcelona without trying the blue-legged chickens from El Prat de Llobregat. The place to go is the stylish Ona Nuit Restaurante, not too far from Barcelona Airport. It has a lovely ambience and dishes up an innovative menu. Good wine list too. It is full of locals so you know it has to be good.

If you hate holidays where the days evolve into set patterns and prefer them to be a whirlwind mix of gastronomy, lazy days at the beach topped off with a little culture, it’s time to head for the Costa Barcelona. 

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

Vueling airlines offers direct flights from London Gatwick to El Prat airport, Barcelona, For the best fares and more information visit www.vueling.com 

Hotels

Hotel Solvi Passeig Ribes Roges 1 Vilanova i la Geltrú  Barcelona

Hostal Cal Pla (www.hostalcalpla.com) Avinguda Catalunya 56 (Sant Llorenç Savall)

Hotel Porta d’Alella (www.hotelportadalella.es)  Av Sant Mateu, 5-9 Alella

Tourist information

Barcelona is much more (www.barcelonaismuchmore.com) and (www.barcelonaesmoltmes.cat/en/costabarcelona)

Barcelona Province Council (promocio@diba.cat) Tel: 00 34 93 402 22 60

For more information about wine tours and other activities at Alta Alella, visit www.altaalella.cat