Nuclo

• Nuclo. Av. Joan Carles I, 58. 08908 l'Hospitalet de Llobregat. Tel + 3493223489. Just in between El Prat Airport and Barcelona. This is a splendid place to eat and enjoy good life. One of Helena Martinez's contributions. The space was designed specially for the restaurant and it offers both comfort and light. We had the large taster's menu and it splendid. The chef was there to explain some of the cooking details. The cellar is just great. I recommend to visit it. Make your reservations well in advance.
  

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Montjuïc "El Xalet"

The first person ever talked to about this restaurant was Isidre Busqué. I was there two days ago with Mateo Valero and other friends.

• Montjuïc "El Xalet". Av. de Miramar, 31. 08038 Barcelona. + 34933249270. A fancy restaurant with paramount view of Barcelona. The cuisine is correct and it is a little overpriced. In the terrace illumination is poor. The service is not its best characteristic.
  

Celler de Can Roca

Last Thursday I returned to El Celler de Can Roca to its new location, just nearby the previous one, I was with Manel Poch to try the taster's menu: it was just delicious. The new space is just amazingly comfortable and charming. I cannot do other than refer to my own original review, here enclosed:

• El Celler de Can Roca, Carretera de Taialà, 40. Girona. Tel + 34 972212157. No doubt. The best restaurant in the city of Girona. Creative and imaginative. You can not go wrong with your selection. A superb list of wines.

Baby Beef RUBAIYAT

I had the opportunity of closing a circle. Back in july of 2000 I visited Cabaña Las Lilas and reported it. Since then I had the opportunity to visit their Baby Beef RUBAIYAT in Madrid and now, here in Sao Paulo, I tried both Baby Beef RUBAIYAT and Figueira. All were recommendations by Helena Martínez, she just love the food and the ambiance.

• Baby Beef RUBAIYAT. Al. Santos 86. Sao Paulo. Brazil Tel +551131411188.
  
• Figueira. Rua Haddock Lobo 1738. Sao Paulo. Brazil Tel +551130871399.

SKye

• skye. Av Brigadeiro Luis Antonio, 4700. Jardim Paulista 01402-002. Sao Paulo. Brasil. Tel +55 1130554700. A definition for the place is a meal with a view. Perfectly located in a singular and expensive area of Sao Paulo. This 8th floor restaurant dominates the city. It is good to have a nice aperitive at the terrace: cahipirinha is a must. Food is good not so expensive and imaginative. You can have a nice time. We were for the Japanese fusion cuisine. Wines are really overpriced. Make your reservation and ask for a table netx to the window (for two persons).
  
  This was a recommendation by Helena Martínez.
  

Arola

• We returned yesterday (30/08/2009). Now they have two taster's menus. It keeps a high standard. Make your reservation.
  

• Arola. Hotel Arts. c/Marina 19-21. Barcelona 08005. Tel + 934838090. Sergi Arola is now offering his high cuisine in Barcelona. The Menu is short BUT extraordinay. Quality and price are in perfect consonance. The taster's menu is round 45€. I found wines very expensive but the selection unique. They have an extraordinaty Terrace. You should reserve. They have chill music and I found it noisy. This a contribution by Helena Martínez. Give it a try.

Restaurante Velázquez

In Granada I was visiting, this time, some splendid restaurants.

• Restaurante Velázquez. c/Profesor Emilio Orozco, 1. 18010 Granada. Tel + 34958280109. A traditional, elegant and magnificent place to eat. The service is just outstanding. The materials are also first class, good cellar and a very adjusted price. Traditional Granda dishes. A contribution by Alberto Prieto.
  

Restaurant de L'Ogenblik

• Restaurant de L'Ogenblik. Galerie des Princes, 1. 1000 Brusells. Tel + 32 511.61.51. Located at Saint Hubert's Galleries. One of my favourite places in Brussels. Make your reservation the place is samll. Wine is expensive.
  

El Figón de Triana

• El Figón de Triana. c/Pasaje de Recogidas 1. 18005. Granada. Tel + 34 958250355. A tradition in town. Well-served portions. Traditional cusine from Andalucía. Wines are reasonable. I recomend tapas in the bar. A contribution by Cristina Urdiales
  

Xaco

• Xaco. Av Cavall Bernat, 112. Tel +34 972816563. Platja d'Aro. Girona. A nice and cossy seafood restaurant. Fresh and high quality fish and seafood. A contribution by Manel Poch.

Klein

I was there with Alfredo Villar. It a very interesting place for Nouvelle Cuisine. It deserves the excursion. The facilities are superb. The cellar is impressive. It is better to make a reservation.

• Klein. Edifici Fòrum. Rambla Prim 24, 08019 Barcelona. Tel + 34933563088
  

Cuines Santa Caterina

I have returned several times since the first time (04/June/2007). The quality remains the same but last time, last week, I learnt that it is better to go in small parties, i.e. no more than 8, if you like to have only one table and a reasonable serving timing.

Cuines Santa Caterina. Av. Francesc Cambó, 20 , Mercado de Santa Caterina. Barcelona. + 34932689918. I was there with Manel Poch, Antonio López-Navidad, Steve Willmott and Helena Martínez (under her recommendation). The place has 4 kitchens that offer cuisine of 4 different styles: Asian, Mediterranean, Italian and vegetarian. This is this a nice idea as people can get a choice of his/her taste easily. The bad news is that the kitchens are not coordinated. Prices are still reasonable. The list of wines is not very large but enough. The offer nice magnums.

The decoration fits perfectly with the style. The serve nice portions (not tapas) at the bar. This belongs to the Tragaluz group

Can Solé

I was there with Esteve Almirall. It is a nice and traditional place where fish and seefood are a must. I tried the extra CARRIL clams and the Can Solé's fishermen's stew. The cellar is not very large but the prices are appropriate. You need to make your reservation

• Can Solé. c/Sant Carles 4. Barcelona 08003. Tel + 34932215012
  

Ca l'Isidre

After some years I was back to Ca L'Isidre, one of the catalan classics, I was with Manel Poch and Helena Martínez. We had really a very good night. We had Block of foie gras 'Ca l'Isidre', and Grilled mushrooms with white truffle. Also, I tried Steak Tartare with whisky (the traditional of house)
Most of the original entry still true.

• Ca l'Isidre, c/Les Flors 12. Barcelona 08001. Tel.+ 34 934411139. It is an elegant and small place. They keep on making traditional Catalan cusine but eager to introduce some fancy dishes. They have first quality materials and an elegant presentation. The wine is very expensive as the deserts are. Booking is essential. I waas here with M. Poch and I. R.-Roda.

Antica Locanda lo Specchio di Diana

In june of this year I returned to this great place to eat. We discovered the pizza tartufata that is a must. I also recommend the Fragoline di bosco al naturale. This is the original post.

• Antica Locanda lo Specchio di Diana, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 13 Nemi Roma. Tel + 39 06 9368805. Traditional italian cuisine with magnificent views. It deserves the tour. A Fabio Campana's contribution.

El Bajío

El Bajío. c/Alejandro Dumas 7. Colonia Polanco. Tel +525552818245. México D.F. This one of the new locations of a very famous and claimed Mexican Restaurant. I tried the Empanadas de plátano y frijol, Quesadillas and Mole. Just superb, like in the old times. The experience brought back to me the flavours of my childhood. Prices are correct.

This is a contribution by Isaac Rudomin. It is a MUST

Kursaal jatetxea

Kursaal jatetxea, Zurriola, 1 . Donostia 20002. Gipuzkoa. Tel + 34 943003162 Fax + 943003164. In a magnificent location. A renewed traditional basque cuisine. I was there with Helena Martínez the first time and I just returned with Roberta, Fabio, and other friends. I have to say I had a splendid surprise. The list of wines is well-balanced.

Porto Rubaiyat

Porto Rubaiyat. c/ Juan Ramón Jimenéz, 37. Madrid. Tel. +343591000. Yesterday, I visited a splendid place for eat and wine. Beef is a must in this place. Still, they have a very interesting list of dishes. The wine cellar is just amazing more than 200 entries and the prices are just right. The service is perfect. Make your reservation well in advance. This was a recommendation by Helena Martínez

I visited, in July of 2000, Las Lilas, in Buenos Aires, this is owned by the same group.

Sol y Sombra

Sol y Sombra. c/Castilla 151. Sevilla 41010. Tel +34954333935. In Triana, a place to discover with friends. Good wine, excellent raw materials. I was there last May 2007. A recommendation by Maria José Martínez.

Cúcara Macara

Cúcara Macara, Mexico City Airport. This cantina now belongs to La Mansión. This is my favorite place to have the last tequila before leaving México but yesterday I have a very nice lunch with Gustavo Núñez and Matías Alvarado. The meat is a specialty, excellent tequilas --we had Los Cazadores reserva-- and alos we had one the most appreciated Mexican delicacies: escamloles: are the larvae of ants of the genus Liometopum, harvested from the roots of the agave (tequila) or maguey (mezcal) plant in Mexico. In some forms of Mexican cuisine, escamoles are considered a delicacy and are sometimes referred to as "insect caviar" (from Wikipedia).

I really recommend it. I will be there today, again.