Barcelona-at night

Last night (Thursday) we arrived in Barcelona. The captain took on a pilot to guide him into the docking area and we parallel parked right behind the Crystal Harmony cruise ship. We disembarked and headed into town around 7:00 pm that night to stroll about in preparation for our gourmet dinner at Con Gracia restaurant. The ship provided shuttle buses from the port area to an area more central to the "happening" part of town. We strolled up La Rambla, a walking street that extends from the port area (and the big statue of Cristobal Colon-better known as Christopher Columbus). Anyway from the statue of Chris, we took a slight right and strolled with hordes of tourists and locals alike up the street. Feeling a little hungry we decided to stop for a drink and a tapa or two. Greg and I had sangria and Katy had a coke. We also had croquettas, calimari, patatas con salsa brava and olives stuffed with anchovy paste. Continuing our stroll we pressed on watching the people and the side shows of aspiring actors painted up to look like everything from Captain Jack to the Phantom of the Opera (think Hollywood Boulevard). The architecture is reminiscent of Mexico City with balconies and big wooden shutters. Becky said it also looked like the nicer parts of Cairo. We reached the main plaza, Plaza Catalunya and took a cab from their to the restaurant which was down a tiny side street about 10 minutes away.

Con Gracia was very welcoming, they greeted us by name and ushered us into a tiny restaurant with only 8 tables. The chef offers two menus-"surprise" which means he sends out plates and you are not sure what you will get, and "traditional" which you know what you will have.

We opted for "surprise" (yes, even niece Katy was game for this). She and Aunt Becky had a glass of a crisp white Spanish wine, whilst brother Greg had a drier Chardonnay. We started with croquettas of spanish sausage and wasabi peas as a little appetizer. Our first course appeared, foie gras with an onion and apple jam and a drop of a balsamic vinegar reduction (almost like syrup) along with a basket of crostini. We also had good bread served to us as well with olive oil, olive oil with herbs and a salt/pepper combination. Even Katy ate the delicate slices of foie gras.

Our next course was a cold soup, with tiny pearls of canteloupe with a cold clear tomato essence enhanced with a few drops of basil oil. It was the purity of tomato with sweet melon, just delicious. The fish course came next with 2 perfectly seared ahi tuna cubes in an anchovy sauce with a port wine reduction. This one Katy didn't like (anchovy sauce was too strong) so Greg and Becky slurped it up for her. Next was the meat course: four slices of duck breast (rare) with a tiny apricot on top and eggplant creme. Katy and Greg thought it was beef. We are now stuffed, but there is dessert to go. Before the dessert a palate cleanser of watermelon granita with coconut foam on top. Then dessert...a panna cotta with raspberry foam with black licorice syrup stripes on top. We are done! Ooops, not quite yet, a small thank you from the chef, a plate with 3 rows of 3 each chocolate truffle, raspberry gelees, and tiny chocolate and almond cookies. NOW we are done! After paying the not insubstantial bill we waddle out to the cab so charmingly called by our maitre d' and head back to the ship and bed. It was a memorable meal and one of the best we have all every had.