Many guiris balk at the idea of eating anything from a can when dining out, thinking that canned goods are a cheap alternative to the "real deal" but what you may not know is that canning mellows seafood and tenderizes it, giving it a surprising and unexpected lusciousness—as long as it's quality stuff.
While you'll find that most bars in Barcelona have tapas with conservas in their offerings, there are some that put these prized delicacies center stage. In these establishments you can discover the delicate tasting Galician zamburiñas, aged navajas de Finisterre (which are harvested by hand by divers during five-hour stints underwater), mildly salty, purple-tinged Cantabrian anchovies and octopus, which takes on a meltingly tender texture as it ages in the can.
If you are uninitiated in the many creative ways that these prizes preserves are served up, we have a few suggestions on where to go. From the classic establishments that have been around for generations to newcomers on the scene, here is our pick of places that have turned the aperitivo tradition into a gastronomic experience.
Quimet i Quimet, photo by Kent Wang (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Flickr.
Quimet i Quimet
Quimet i Quimet is probably the crème de la crème when it comes to conserva consumption. It’s orders at the bar and standing room only in this tiny place which has been run by four generations of the Quimet family since it opened in 1914. Originally a wine cellar, there is an excellent selection of wines to accompany a wide variety of tapas and mouth-watering montaditos which go from the classic to the very creative. Go with at least €20 in your pocket.
Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes, 25
La Mini Pepita
Right next door to local favorite La Pepita is La Mini Pepita (also known as Le Cava). Run by the same crew, this space is a smaller, informal bar dedicated to the glory of vermouth, quality preserves and salads served up in their own style.
Carrer de Còrsega, 339.
El Xampanyet.
El Xampanyet
El Xampanyet is a city classic, serving a good range of conservas as well as their vegetable counterparts, which usually come in a glass jar. Attack these with the house cava for optimum effect.
Carrer de Montcada, 22.
Image courtesy of Barra de Cervezas y Conservas.
Barra de Cervezas y Conservas
Barra de Cervezas y Conservas in El Nacional was created with the aperitivo in mind. True to its name, there is a wide range of draught and bottled beer and an assortment of olives, cold cuts, cheeses, anchovies, mussels, razor clams, boquerones en vinagre, berberechos, almejas, chipirones... the list goes on!
Passeig de Gràcia, 24 Bis.
Morro Fi.
Morro Fi
Morro Fi is a small, lively vermuteria in the Eixample started by a group of friends that used to bar hop and blog about neighborhood bars and vermuterias back in the day. Their passion for aperitivos is clear; not only do they have their own label of vermouth, they also have their own line of quality conservas.
Three locations:
- Consell del Consell de Cent, 171.
- Avinguda Diagonal, 557.
- Passeigde la Bonanova, 105.
4 Latas Muntaner.
4 Latas
4 Latas is just as dedicated to the aperitivo ritual offering up a wide selection of salads, pickles, sausages, cheeses and a variety of conservas.
Seven Locations:
- Carrer d'Enric Granados, 6.
- Tuset, Carrer de Tuset, 10.
- Granados, Carrer d'Enric Granados, 56.
- Muntaner, Carrer d'Enric Granados, 211.
- Diagonal, Carrer de Tuset, 3.
- Poblenou, Rambla del Poblenou, 125.
- Mandri, Carrer de Mandri, 58.
Image courtesy of Tablafina.
Tablafina
Tablafina in the NH Collection Gran Hotel Calderón is a tapas bar with a focus on traditional Catalan fare including tapa-sized portions of cannelloni with truffle cream, veal fricandó and oxtail meatballs as well as an excellent selection of local cheeses, sausages and conservas.
Rambla de Catalunya, 26.