LASARTE (BARCELONA)

Food: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Once a year, my better half and I take a trip without our little ones. This year, we were lucky enough to wind up in Barcelona. When a food lover goes to a city where several restaurants have Michelin stars, a happy dance ensues. We had our first amazing meal at Chef Martin Berasategui's Lasarte (3 Michelin stars strong). A caveat: we opted for the Lasarte tasting menu which was pricey, but completely worth every penny.

Our experience began with a three part appetizer: celery tempura (I didn’t think I liked celery until this plate came into my life); beet crackers (I KNEW I didn’t like beets until this plate came into my life); and some kind of cracked out cracker with tomato and avocado “dots.” Wow.

Next up, caramelized foie gras with Lord knows what else. Sweet, and salty, and amazing,

They brought bread next and, wouldn’t you know, bread at this place is not any old bread. Four types of scrumptious bread paired with five types of butter (plain, mushroom, tomato, spinach, and beet) and some amazing olive oil. I had to stop myself lest I spoil my appetite.

Silly us, we thought the meal had already begun. It had not. A palate cleanser to help us prepare: cucumber, jalapeño, and an herb ice cream. The sweetness of the cucumber, with the spice of the jalapeño and the freshness of the herbs... this was fabulous.

First up from the ACTUAL menu, cauliflower foam with quail egg, truffle oil, and crispy, black garlic. Insane.

When the server informed us of the salad plate, I for one was less than excited. I kept wondering if I could swap it out. I’m so glad I didn’t. A blend of microherbs, flower petals, and LETTUCE AND TOMATO GELATIN. Wtf. Perhaps one of the most spectacular salads of my life. Mind blowing.

Next, wagyu carpaccio, with something called smoked salmonette, and a frozen cheese dust. I mean, what can I even say.

Lubina (apparently a fish) paired with a truffle “mayo” was next. Perfectly cooked, this firm white fish was a perfect pairing for the creamy sauce. My husband had to stop me from licking the plate.

Finally, a perfectly cooked medium rare steak with foie gras purée and spinach purée and cheese “bonbons” (little balls of liquid cheese that exploded in our happy mouths). Dear Lord. Just ridiculous.

Last but certainly not least, desserts. First up a ginger and passion fruit ice cream, paired with carrot and papaya cream and a coconut sorbet. I’m not hugely into fruity desserts, and I can still recognize that this was an amazing dessert plate.

I am, however, hugely into chocolate desserts. Cacao cake, topped with raspberry sorbet, with coffee cream and crunchy black garlic. Amazingly, the garlic was perfect in this dessert and the dessert itself was stunning.

Finally, petit fours. One made with cassis, the other was poppy seeds and white chocolate, and lastly milk chocolate two ways. The poppyseed petit fours may have been my favorite. So strange yet so amazing.

I had been saving my 5/5 review for something really special. Lasarte was really special. Not only was the food unbelievable, but the ambiance was pristine, with every piece of decor appearing to be carefully hand picked. And then there was the service. After each plate, a swarm of servers descended upon us, making sure everything was perfect every time. Simply amazing. All in all, mind blown. What a privilege to dine at Lasarte.

Address: Carrer de Mallorca, 259, Barcelona, Spain

#barcelona #Lasarte #Michelin #Foodart