I Am A Dork
I have a spreadsheet going on up in here right now. Of what, you ask? Well, sir, this'n here spreadsheet is a restaurant spreadsheet (created on Google spreadsheets, 'natch). I'm making a list of where I want to eat on my Europe trip (which is still about a month away) and right now, the section on Paris is a little obscene. Like 87 restaurants long obscene. I'm guessing that's not going to be so possible in 4.5 days. But fuck that -- it's good to have goals.
It's so pretty, though! I have cities and restaurant names and addresses and phone numbers and neighborhoods and who recommended it and meals it serves and hours of operation and type of restaurant and metro stops and a little check for whether I have a reservation or not.
Now my question, that I pose to you all, is why the fuck don't these restaurants publish their goddamn hours? I mean, some of them I can't find anywhere. And I'm sure as hell not going to waste precious Parisian time trekking to a place that will be fermé.
As for Barcelona, my only day there will be a Sunday, where it seems, everything (especially Cal Pep) is closed. There are a few heathens around, though, I just know it, and I will trudge on and find a place that will feed me. Well.
Now if someone could lift the "no liquids" ban on the airlines, I'll be all set.
xoxo
Joy
"To eat is a necessity. To eat intelligently is an art."
-- La Rochefoucauld
posted by Joy @ 9:48 AM
8 Comments:
I'm a total spreadsheet dork when traveling. I got it from my husband who lives on Excel.
It may be that not all of those restaurants HAVE opening and closing hours. When I was recently in Italy there were some places that didn't, and one restaurant we had to just go check every day if they were open. But it was a small village. In Paris it's not so much worth the hassle.
The great thing about Paris though, is that if the place you want is closed, you could just go around the corner and chances are you'll find someplace else good to eat.
It is great to have way too many really good options - and best wishes for your ability to just choose and not regret the places you'll have to put off til your next trip.
Clotilde just did a write-up on El Bulli....not sure if you would consider it an appetizer or a spoiler... it has pictures of each course....looking forward to your more colorful review!
http://chocolateandzucchini.com/
Psssst. I know one place I would add to my Paris list, if I were going.
Les Magnolias
Of course you have a spreadsheet, but now as some sort of ironic curse after all the prep work... stomach virus. Or mono.
*knock on wood*
Make sure you eat enough for the rest of us who aren't in Europe.
>^.^<
Sunday in BCN is difficult, but not impossible. The Barcelona equivalent of Sunday brunch (or in SF dim sum) seems to be to head to the seaside restaurants in Barceloneta at around 2 or 3. I've been to 2 places, Can Majò and El Suquet de l'Almirall, and liked them both. Request to sit on the terraza. You can order paella, but you might want to consider the "arroz cremosa al bogavante" (soupier local version of paella, with lobster), "suquet de peix," or "zarzuela" (2 local seafood stews), with maybe some berberechos (cockles) or chiperones (baby squid) to start.
The pickin's are slimmer for dinner. A Spanish friend of mine recommends the newish tapas bar Paco Meralgo. He tends to know what he's talking about, so I'd probably head there. Time Out's Barcelona guide lists hours of places. Of the ones open on Sunday, I've heard good (or at least mixed) things about these: Va de Vi (a wine bar with cool goth decor - the name, at least, inspired the restaurant in Walnut Creek), Taxidermista, Los Caracoles (both serve classic Catalan fare), and Mosquito (a cute Indian-Spanish tapas joint in El Born at which, if I'm not mistaken, Amy ate). Botafumeiro, a highly regarded Galician seafood restaurant in a posh neighborhood, is also open.
Also, try to make it to Rafa's in Roses!
There's also a possibility that Gaig is open. Ask Pim about her meal there (she has photos on her FlickR page that would certainly inspire me to attempt a reservation).
Time permitting, check out Flora - it is excellent!
And for late night drinking in a very, very cool atmosphere (with stiff drinks) check out Le Bar (in the latin quarter).
The El Quim de Boqueria [Spanish spelling questionable] is a must stop in Barcelona in the market [boqueria] off the Ramblas--breakfast or lunch--there is another little lunch bar--one of the ones with a x or 2 in its name that gets good notices too.
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