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This year, I am studying in Barcelona. Every now and then, when circumstances align themselves, for example when I am extremely bored, or have work due in that have to avoid doing at all costs, I procras-tinate wildly and like to go on an eating tour of Barcelona. I am not a fat girl by any means, indeed I am often complemented on my figure by random Spanish men, who find my bottom all too tempting and pinch it when I am not expecting it, but on a rare occasion I like to gorge myself; consume to the point of gluttony. And in Barcelona, here’s how I do it…

Coffee: Gluttonous day or not, I must begin each day with a cup of coffee. Before I came here I never fully understood the complaints from foreign students about the quality of coffee in London, now I fully sympathize with them. In Barcelona the quality of the coffee speaks for itself, and one does not need disguise the bland bitterness by add-ing flavoured syrups, whipped cream or chocolate - Starbucks take note! I like to order a simple, black coffee in ‘Café del Born’, a modern cafe located in the Born area of Barcelo-na. It plays an eclectic choice of music, has a selection of books, newspapers and maga-zines, and has some of the best free wi-fi connection I have come across, something

that I constantly struggle to find in this city. I recommend starting the day there, sipping some coffee, checking some emails, and researching where my indulgent day will take me next...

Brunch: Sometimes you find a place that is so understated, but turns out to be so brilliant, that you never want to try anywhere else. I have found that in ‘Picnic’, on Carrer de Commerç. Thoughtfully located 2 minutes from my doorstep, it is the perfect place to drag yourself to when you’re still feeling a little fuzzy from the night before. The brunch menu offers eggs bene-dict, French toast, yoghurt and granola, pancakes, different types of sausages and much more. I recommend the eggs benedict as it is a dish that is hard to find in Barcelona. Their orange juice is freshly squeezed and if you order tea, your milk comes in a cool little cow-shaped milk jug, in which the cow’s mouth is the spout. It doesn’t make much sense, but is very amusing. Brunch is served Thursday - Sunday, 12-4.

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January is a cold month in the UK, and when it’s cold we like to eat to keep warm. If you

fancy a weekend break to warmer climes, but can’t manage to reduce your appetite (and why would you want to?), then the travel section has the answer. Thanks to our anonymous Spanish correspondent for this taste bud teaser of a guide to eating your way around Barcelona.

“

”AN EATING

FESTIVAL OF BARCELONA

by Anonymous

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PROSE

Lunch: Almost every restaurant you come across between 2-5pm will have a menu del dia, 10-15 euros for a three course meal, a glass of wine and bread. But I find them very indistin-guishable. I prefer to hit ‘Mosquito’ a small dim sum restaurant on Carrer dels Carders. It is the most authentic, cheap oriental food that I have found in Barcelona and I like to fill my belly with dumplings and cup of wine. I never spend more than 12 euros and always leave feeling full. (Note: this place is awesome in the evenings too, but can get ridiculously crowded with slow service. Great for atmosphere, but if you just want to eat, go at lunch.) It is closed on Tuesdays - the day when I always find myself craving these steamed parcels of deliciousness.

Afternoon snack: Chocolate con churros. Needs no further explanation, head to ‘Valor’, off of Via Laietana, for lots of different varieties of chocolate and the option of swapping the chur-ros for fruit.... Like that is going to happen.

Dinner: I love seafood. ‘La Paradeta’ is one of the best places I have found since living here. The informal restaurant doesn’t open until 9pm, as with most restaurants in Barcelona, so there is plenty of time to let the rest of your food digest. As you walk in you are faced with a fish counter, just like in a supermarket. You pick what seafood you want, you tell them how much you want and how to cook it. You then shuffle further round the counter to choose your wine and pay. As your dishes are cooked your number is shouted out and you go and collect them from the kitchen counter. This place is not very English-friendly, so brush up on the Spanish vocabulary before you go. You must try my favourite little fried squids, ‘Chiperones’.

So there you go, I have either disgusted you by my immense appetite or excited your taste buds and tempted you to take a little trip to Barcelona yourself. Unsurprisingly, I do like to end the evening with a drink, but there are so many bars to choose from I can’t possibly decide. Strolling around the Born area you can find anything you want, be it a bar with 50 combinations of gin and tonic, an art deco cocktail bar or a traditional Spanish bar to sip a ‘clara’, (beer and Fanta lemon.)

Note: Being an eating tour of Barcelona, the reader may have noticed a large exception from the Spanish eating experience - tapas. Well, I presumed that those of you planning a trip to this fair city, would see, when inspecting the distinguished eateries recommended by guide books and sites, endless reams of lists of tapas restaurants. There are more than enough to choose from, so I thought I’d provide suitable alternatives.