Ahh Restaurant 2254, how I have missed you so! Neal and I have reconciled ourselves with the fact that anytime we come to Barna, we must visit this place. Why? Because the food is just THAT good! Our relationship with this place began 2 years ago when Gustavo did us a huge favour by not only starting service earlier that day but also indulging our request for a taster menu for the gods! How can we not keep going back eh? I said to Neal, what if this time it’s not the same? And all the people we met first time round have moved on? I mean, people evolve, move on and all that right? And Neal responds *insert Northern accent* ‘yes, hunny this is a possibility but, that is necessarily not a bad thing, right’? So, off we went, and I am glad we did.
You all will be pleased to learn that Gustavo is still as charming and gracious as ever – (pictured below, the team 2 years before, and my man 2 years later!) He was pleased to see us as we were to see him. Knowing we wanted a taster menu, he speaks to the head chef and organises a menu that was created from what was available in the kitchen! This is why I can never get enough of this place. In the words of the late Maya Angelou ‘people will never forget how you make them feel’. I loved how Gustavo and the team welcomed us like old friends and served us mouth-watering tapas!
We did things a little different this time. We had no menu! yikes!!! The chef made us dishes from his kitchen with ingredients that may or may not have been part of the menu that day. Gustavo recommended 3 wines to go with the nine dishes. These wines accompanied the starters, mains and dessert, so, we decided to have 2 of each of the recommendations, ha ha! basically, we both had 6 different wines! because why not? We kicked off with 2 kinds of bubbly aka Cava – Neal’s was called ANNA – a Blanc De Balancs Brut Reserva (White bubbly) while I had Josep Foraster a rose Cava (pink bubbly) both of which were delicious and even more so with the cold oyster soup served in oyster shell. As far as tapas goes, aint no tapas without cuts of meat aka charcuterie board.
On our last visit, the whole menu was just mind blowing, especially the tuna and the foie gras. As we sat there enjoying the dishes, I was silently hoping (like crossing my fingers & toes, people!) that chef would serve at least serve either of these dishes. The gods were on my side, can I get an AMEN?! We got served both and boi! It still was / is still the BUSINESS!!! The tuna as was made with garlic, pine nuts, caviar and olive oil. Different from the tuna 2 years ago, but still the same great taste. The foie gras was pan fried and served on a bed of seasonal vegetables. Listen, the oil / sauce pooled at the bottom of the plate, you know I had to get some bread and mop it up. Yep, ain’t no shame in my game! waste not, want not! My tuna dish was accompanied with white wine – Zarate Albarino. This white wine is rather acidic with honey and citrus notes – the ideal duo with the tuna and foie gras.
Pudding was special, chef presented us with 2 desserts – a cake that was a cross between tart / cheese cake with strawberries and strawberry sorbet, and hazel nut with chocolate ice cream. I don’t need to emphasise how totally scrumptious it was. But, the dessert wine? – COME ON somebody! Gustavo presented us with Moscato d’asti. Now this dessert wine is truly one of a kind. The vine yard only makes 500 bottles, talk about premium eh? It was frizzy and full of bubbles, like champagne but had the sweetness you come to expect from dessert wines. Plus, it is low in alcohol making it even easier to drink lol! If you are ever in Barcelona and want to enjoy truly unique Tapas, visiting restaurant 2254 is a MUST!
p.s. say hi to Gustavo for us
Salud
Ndidi
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