I was reading Inside Out magazine; ripping out pages for my ‘buy or build’ scrapbook, when I came across Martin Steininger and his concrete kitchens.
Yet another chunky, heavy piece of ‘I will get it one day’ that adds to the need for me to go to Europe with lots of money and return with a container load of unnecessary necessities.
Pearl Cafe in Wooloongabba is a holiday.
You could be in Barcelona, or London or Paris…beautiful European food with an ‘attention to detail’ that takes you to another place.
The details began for me with the 2 flat whites…each with its own delicately created latte art.
We ordered some bread that came with a butter, lightly dusted with sea salt.
The toilets are even a treat – a gorgeous Aesop hand wash and hand balm, sat upon a metal plynth inscribed with a tiny quote..”one eye sees, the other feels” Paul Klee.
Now for the food…roasted lamb sausage with a light creamed mash with a wild mushroom gravy; so rich that it tasted more meaty than the sausage. A side of buttered brussel sprouts with roasted horse chestnuts. There is no photo because I just ate it.
My other half had a sandwhich, for want of a more appropriate term – smoked wagyu silverside, scaramoza (similar to a mozzarella cheese), a strong picalilli (a relish of chopped pickled vegetables and spices) and watercress.
Consider me sated.
La China is an oriental restaurant next door to Bar Lobo.
I only walked past but tried to get a photo of the amazing light sculpture inside.
This paper dragon is about 10m long and runs the length of the restaurant facade…if you look closely, you can see a lady on the left to help understand the beauty in the sheer scale.
Bar Lobo is just off La Ramblas.
Great breakfast, great design and really comfortable (pompous waitress aside).
The menus hang on a great Seles coat rack, pendant lights swarm alongside feature lights made from old atlases. The condiments are stacked in wooden crates against a curved wall covered in gig posters. The placemat and menus are raw screenprinted affairs.
Apparently there is art and Japanese food upstairs and DJ’s after hours in the main.
The Café de L’Academia lived up to expectation…simple, tasty, nice looking and in a beautiful spot – Plaça Sant Just.
We had sunlight casting shadows on the 15th century medeival walls, which helped!
We had a tuna salad and a rocket and pear salad for entree. Standard fare but beautifully presented.
Then came calamari rings drizzled in oils and ink alongside beef patties with heady toppings….the duck liver pate was intense alone but unstoppable paired with the juicy mince.
Mam-i-Teca is a Catalan restaurant right underneath the apartment. Full of good wines that match the daily specials.
I had the Catalan goulash and was handed a scrumptious red wine to match.
El Cami Mexican Grill in ladbroke Grove/Nottinhill Gate isn’t fantastic but it’s good to be there.
Basic and filling….Mexican kebabs.
However; the poster in the toilet is very funny!
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