Barcelona and bravas are an indissoluble marriage, one of those that withstand crises and toasted avocado fashions. But, as in any marriage, there are days of wine and roses and others of poorly executed dishes. Marc Ribas has set out to find the best ration of the city in an installment of Joc de Cartes that has had everything from cooks on the verge of a nervous breakdown to lessons on how (not) to treat a customer with intolerances.
If you are looking for where to dip your fork this weekend without gambling, here is the summary of a gastronomic battle that has set the social networks on fire and has reminded us that, when it comes to sauces, balance is an art that not everyone masters.
Bar Bauma: the classic that never fails
The big winner of the night was Bar Bauma, a corner of the Eixample that breathes that much-needed Barcelona tradition. Àlex Mitats has achieved what seemed impossible: to bring together rivals who came with a knife between their teeth. With an impeccable cuisine and a service that bordered on outstanding (a 7.7 grade), Bauma was crowned thanks to crispy potatoes that, although they generated debate due to their “baker’s” cut, ended up conquering the palate of the jury and Marc Ribas, also winning the prize for the star dish. It is, officially, the obligatory stop on this route.
Between Gràcia, Ciutat Vella and Esplugues
In Gràcia, Atabalats Gastro Burgers defended a modern and pet-friendly proposal. Alba Martínez presented a cozy place, but the reality of the kitchen, described by the rivals as “claustrophobic”, and some bravas that did not end up crunching, left the restaurant with a scratched pass. They do, however, take the positive point for their varied vegan offer, something that always adds up in such an eclectic neighborhood.
The real tension, however, was in Ciutat Vella.Tapes La Bona Sort had the advantage of 40 years of family experience, but the service was marred by the attitude of its head chef. Between shouting and an absolute lack of tact towards the contestant with celiac disease, the restaurant took a blow in networks and a fail in the category of bravas (4.7).
The most bitter point of the program occurred in Esplugues de Llobregat. Raúl Ferrera, from La Mari Ollero, who throughout the episode was the fiercest critic, could not hold his own bar. Seeing precooked potatoes in the fridge of a restaurant that aspires to be the best in Barcelona is, to say the least, a cardinal sin for tapeo purists.