On the table this month: Barcelona edition
Out of Wales and a 2-hour flight later, I venture to Spain and scope out the veggie scene in Barcelona
TIP OF THE MONTH:
Eat good food with your best friends
THE VEGGIE SCENE
Going to European countries in the past, I felt isolated surrounded with only margarita pizza and salad. Fast forward 5 or so years, I travel to Barcelona for the first time and notice that the access to veggie meals has skyrocketed. I felt overwhelmed with choice. Not only did the busiest places have vegetarian options, but there were whole restaurants dedicated to plant-based food. I was spoilt for choice!
On a girl’s trip to Barcelona this past week, I tried probably the best selection of affordable vegetarian Spanish cuisine. We had tapas – including a range of ‘patatas bravas’, tomato bread, croquettes, fried asparagus, nachos, sweet potato, burrata salad, and more. Additionally, it would be criminal to visit Spain without trying paella, and we certainly did it right.
Packed with veg and flavour, Barcelona served up the finest of dishes constantly leading me into a food coma that I found myself not wanting to get out of.
THE OUTINGS
L' Ambos Mundos Restaurant – tapas
Visiting this restaurant on the first day right on the doorstep of our hostel, we didn’t expect too much. Hungry and tired from travelling, anything would do. However, patatas bravas paired with an Aperol spritz started the holiday off right. Along with mushroom croquettes and tomato bread, this lunchtime tapas saw me dive straight into Spanish cuisine eager for more.
Honest Greens – veggie plate
A chain we came across a few times in Barcelona I wish they had in the UK. With restaurants in Madrid, Lisbon, Porto and Barcelona, Honest Greens plates up a spectacular array of dishes. You choose your protein, your salad with an option of sides. I opted for the veggie plate, which meant two sides plus a basic salad and sourdough bread. For a very affordable price of 7.50 euros, the marinated seasonal veg and courgette with lentil bolognaise were delicious. A rustic, wooden interior decorate with heaps of plants was a perfect break from the Spring heat.
Salts - Terrassa Bar Montjuïc - tapas
Located above the public swimming pool ‘Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc’, this quirky bar served pizza, toasties, and a bucket-load of tapas. A light bite for lunch, I went for the spinach and pine nut croquettes and of course – patatas bravas. Creamy potato mixed with a pesto-like filling fried into a gorgeous crispy croquette was unmatched in the sun paired with crispy potatoes smothered in the iconic spicy, creamy sauce.
Bar lobo – tapas
This place was by far the highlight of my trip. With almost 3,000 reviews on TripAdvisor, the 5-star ratings say it all. Starting off with a Hugo cocktail, I was eager to try the much-loved tapas by tourists and locals alike. Ordering as a table, I kept to the veggie plates. There was fried aubergine with a balsamic glaze, fried asparagus paired with a creamy spicy tomato dip, patatas bravas (of course), tomato bread, nachos and guacamole, sweet potato with burrata, and perfectly seasoned padron green peppers. Eaten with a Hugo by my side, this dining experience is not go a-miss.
Restaurante Tobogan – paella
Served in a piping-hot pan, this delicious paella was filled with vegetables such as asparagus, peppers, mushrooms, onions, and beans. The yellow rice was marinated perfectly in a sweet sauce with just enough kick that a squeeze of lemon mellowed out. Eaten in the sun on in the busy Placa Reial square, watching numerous entertainers perform dance and song. Â
Gelaaati Di Marco – gelato
The best gelato in Barcelona. Surely. Served in a waffle cone, or a waffle tub. Yes, a tub made of waffle cone. After being given the option to try a few of the gelatos, I ordered a scoop of the peanut and a scoop of the Biscoff in a cone. Sweet, creamy, and incredibly refreshing. Worth the 5 euros.
Maybe it broke the bank, maybe it swelled my stomach, but the food in Barcelona is more than I could’ve hoped. If you get the chance to go, any of these places will be more than worth it.
A friend went to Barcelona and he told me he had a vegan tiramisu croissant. I was pretty much booking my ticket as soon as he said it.
Fab article, makes me want to go right now!