On our first night in Barcelona we ventured into Qu Qu, a colorful tapas restaurant located on the emblematic Passeig de Gràssia in the city's bustling and upscale Eixample District. 
Short for Quasi Queviures which in Catalan means "almost provisions" - part of the concept is reminiscent of the typical grocery stores that existed at the turn of the century, where dishes and fresh products (meats, cheese and more) for sale are displayed behind a glass counter.
The other half remains a visually captivating, bright and cheerful restaurant and bar serving standard Catalan and Spanish fare at a reasonable price. 
A globe chandelier with phrases painted in bold primary colors and an artisan wine bottle tree command attention as you enter the bar, which is backed by a grand multi-tiered shelf of red wine bottles in repetition. 
A traditional Catalan tile floor underfoot changes to hardwood as you enter the comfy dining room, defined by clean white surfaces, maroon banquettes and a striking wraparound vintage poster collage. Delicate barware sparkles in glass lined and encased shelving along the back wall.
The indoor space was fairly empty so I had a field day photographing the décor I was so enamored by. The patio and bar were bustling!
The quintessential Pa amb tomàquet which is bread smeared with tomato, olive oil and garlic to begin the meal was a must.
I had this entire plate of bread all to myself; no matter how many times Adam tries tomato (nearly impossible to avoid in Spain) he just can't seem to enjoy them. I relished the juicy vine ripened fruits as much as possible. Spreading them onto crusty bread is so simple, so ironically Catalan, and oh so good. 
I also got my tomato fix with some Gazpacho. Smooth and velvety, perfectly seasoned, this bowl of cold soup dotted with mini croutons hit the spot. 
We also enjoyed an order of Chopitos, thick flat strands of baby squid lightly battered and fried were crispy and chewy, just excellent.
The Patatas amb queso y chorizo were also a solid choice. 
We had a few other tapas, but none were particularly standout. The salmon nor the avocado over a bite of crusty bread were all that fresh and I didn't care for the crab (although Adam liked it.) 
The menu is fairly large, and hit or miss, it seems. Dessert was a hit, another Crema Catalan for me! That rich custard base flavored with lemon zest and cinnamon, topped with a layer of caramelized sugar can positively do no wrong. 
I'm officially suffering from a serious case of food nostalgia. This country's beloved collection of small plates makes me so, so very happy. And we still have two more days of Barcelona cuisine week to go!
We interrupt this regularly scheduled blogging to dedicate an entire week to the food consumed while on vacation in Barcelona! This first meal coincides with an afternoon spent at Poble Espanyol, an open-air architectural museum village constructed in 1929 for the International Exhibition.
Inside the walled community lies a full scale reproduction of Spain's symbolic buildings and places fused with artisan workshops and boutiques, restaurants and tapas bars. 
El Poble is a fantastic attraction. There is a a €9,50 entrance fee and audio guided tours are offered for an additional €3.
I had a feeling the restaurants "inside" would be slightly more touristy than traditional, but it was later in the afternoon and we were starving.
The spacious patio at Albi which offered reasonably priced Catalan fare felt like the perfect fit.
We started the lunch festivities with a pitcher of Sangria.
No matter how much Sangria we consumed on an almost daily basis (lots!) I never seemed to tire of this luscious fruit infused red wine libation. 
After a basket of bread and bowl of potato chips the starter courses were delivered. I ordered a Queso Fresco y Chorizo. 
A pottery ramekin full of delicately torched melted queso contained rolled slices of ham. While the thick melted cheese was tasty, it became overwhelming after about 5 bites.
My entree of Tortilla de Patatas was Spanish comfort food at its very finest. 
A thick wedge of fluffy eggs is loaded with fried potatoes, onions, and topped with a spicy chili pepper. 
Alongside was a substantial salad of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and shredded carrots and a serving of white rice. This dish was very satisfying.
For dessert there was no going wrong with the Crema Catalana, essentially the Spanish/Catalan version of crème brulee. The base of a rich egg yolk custard is super creamy with a substantial layer of burnt caramelized sugar on top. This was an awesome finale.
We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon on the airy Albi terrace and exploring the narrow winding streets of Poble Espanyol. Warm weather and sangria pitchers at lunch seems a distant memory; so it's nice to reminisce on those intensely hot and sunny, blue skied, carefree days in Barcelona. 
Stay tuned this week for more of what we ate. The food only gets better!!
P.S. Happy Halloween!
Short for Quasi Queviures which in Catalan means "almost provisions" - part of the concept is reminiscent of the typical grocery stores that existed at the turn of the century, where dishes and fresh products (meats, cheese and more) for sale are displayed behind a glass counter.
The other half remains a visually captivating, bright and cheerful restaurant and bar serving standard Catalan and Spanish fare at a reasonable price. 
A globe chandelier with phrases painted in bold primary colors and an artisan wine bottle tree command attention as you enter the bar, which is backed by a grand multi-tiered shelf of red wine bottles in repetition. 
A traditional Catalan tile floor underfoot changes to hardwood as you enter the comfy dining room, defined by clean white surfaces, maroon banquettes and a striking wraparound vintage poster collage. Delicate barware sparkles in glass lined and encased shelving along the back wall.
The indoor space was fairly empty so I had a field day photographing the décor I was so enamored by. The patio and bar were bustling!
The quintessential Pa amb tomàquet which is bread smeared with tomato, olive oil and garlic to begin the meal was a must.
I had this entire plate of bread all to myself; no matter how many times Adam tries tomato (nearly impossible to avoid in Spain) he just can't seem to enjoy them. I relished the juicy vine ripened fruits as much as possible. Spreading them onto crusty bread is so simple, so ironically Catalan, and oh so good. 
I also got my tomato fix with some Gazpacho. Smooth and velvety, perfectly seasoned, this bowl of cold soup dotted with mini croutons hit the spot. 
We also enjoyed an order of Chopitos, thick flat strands of baby squid lightly battered and fried were crispy and chewy, just excellent. 
The Patatas amb queso y chorizo were also a solid choice. 
We had a few other tapas, but none were particularly standout. The salmon nor the avocado over a bite of crusty bread were all that fresh and I didn't care for the crab (although Adam liked it.) 
The menu is fairly large, and hit or miss, it seems. Dessert was a hit, another Crema Catalan for me! That rich custard base flavored with lemon zest and cinnamon, topped with a layer of caramelized sugar can positively do no wrong. 
I'm officially suffering from a serious case of food nostalgia. This country's beloved collection of small plates makes me so, so very happy. And we still have two more days of Barcelona cuisine week to go!
