Summer is just around the corner, and with the “caloret” we feel like sitting in the sun, drinking a cold beer and tasting a good paella while enjoying looking at the infinite horizon that gives us the appetizing sea. Undoubtedly, one of the best options is La Barraca, a restaurant specializing in rice and fish belonging to the Woki Tribe.
As its name indicates, they are the testimony of a relationship between the human being and the sea. The barracks were small fishing houses, cultural heritage of a fishing village as is the neighborhood of Barceloneta. These constructions raised by the sea were the favorite shelter of fishermen, who used it as a pantry to store all the fishing utensils, even as a resting abode before returning to the sea.
La Barraca, with a little more than four years of life, has become the cradle of ecological products and high quality. A philosophy that defines the whole company, they rely on healthy food and proximity by not using synthetic products in the process of elaboration.
The chef, Marcos Bautista welcomes us with a master class of how to cook an octopus of Barceloneta rock; with which we are surprised shortly afterwards in an exquisite octopus paella.
While we wait to be served, Ezequiel Trigos, manager of the restaurant and unconditional advocate of organic food, tells us a little about the wine list and the wide variety of references that include it; where more than ten are natural wines.
To enliven the waiting of our rice, they have a wide variety of tapas and dishes to share. You cannot miss that sea flavor in a plate of mussels, cockles and clams sautéed with garlic and chili in a reduction of white wine or a burrata salad with organic dried tomatoes and arugula. And to continue with the tradition, they offer homemade bombs, the typical dish that the maiars used to eat at sea. Stuffed minced meat, Bolognese sauce and potato, covered with striped bread and fried, served with a touch of hot spicy sauce and aioli.
We have the desire to taste all their variety of paellas but what stands out is the paella marinara, the fish paella of the market and squid and the paella of ecological vegetables.
To finish, after enjoying a paella of tasty and perfectly cooked octopus; we taste a selection of desserts from which we chose the melon soup, the chocolate croissant and ecological vanilla ice cream.
Arroceria Barraca is a restaurant rich in history and tradition that bets for healthy food with ecological products and proximity. It is the ideal place to enjoy a good paella and fresh seasonal fish.
Hours: Every day from 1:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. (From 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm only service on the terrace of the lower floor)
Lunchtime menu: Monday to Friday € 19.90. Includes first, second, dessert and drink.
Text: Alejandro Moneva
Photos: Anel González