Gastronomy.....is all about the food

Andrew arrived a week ago and I don't think that I can imagine another time where I have consumed more good food in such a short period of time. 
In first place, 41 degrees, which is just the cocktail lounge attached to the hottest restaurant in Barcelona, Tickets.  The dimly lit space with the latest of creative tasty concoctions was second to the food that we ate. The two brothers Albert Adria and Ferran (from the best restaurant in the world - El Bulli) created a masterpiece.  We started off with a thick liquid olive encased in thin membranes.  Don't ask!  Let me just say that every bit we had with our snacks was a surprise.  And a great surprise.

Did I say that 41 degress was first.  Well, maybe I lied.  Breakfast at El Quim de la Boqueria cannot be erased from my pallet.  Huevos with baby squid with squid ink was delicious.  Imagine perfectly fried egg with runny yolk and chewy little baby squids.  Well don't imagine just try it. 

 Maybe the Foie gras on a bed of mushrooms is the real ticket at El Quims.  Nothing beats this little restaurant set in the bustling Mercat La Boqueria amid the bustling stalls of fresh fruit, fish and bread.

Next up, Dos Cielos.  Located on the 24th floor of the Hotel Me, Dos Cielos was awarded a Michelin star.  The interesting cuisine that comes from the brothers Javier and Sergio Torres, stems from their approach to some of the best cuisine in the world.  The ambiance was magnificient.  We started out with a glass of cava on the terrace and then was escorted to the open kitchen where we sat for our 8 course meal with wine pairing.  The wait staff was impeccable.  I think I had 3 servers just to myself.

Ok...now I have truly lied.  The best meal that we had and I think maybe we have ever had was at a  restaurant called Dos Palillos.  No photos to go along with our evening.  We were joined by our friends Carmen and Jordi.  This is their favorite restaurant.  And as he used to be a big food critic for many years in Barcelona, the restaurant came highly recommended.  The best thing about going with a local and to one of the hottest places around is that we could just sit back and enjoy while we got the best service and food handed to us.  So not your typical Barcelona tapas restaurant.  This place was special.  Asian-Spanish Fusion.  OK, what does that mean. Well, you will just have to go and find out for yourself from   Albert Raurich (owner, creater, mastermind) of El Bulli.