Cal Pep Plaça de les olles 8, 08003 Barcelona

This is the 3rd episode of my Spanish telenovela titled Gluten-Free Croissants: Dream The Impossible Gluten-Free Dream. Last week in the 2nd episode we toured the Condes de Barcelona Hotel.

After a good night’s sleep, I woke up feeling refreshed and recovered from jet lag. Joan picked me up and took me to the famous Cal Pep for lunch. He explained that usually there is a line out the door and you have to wait, so it is best to get there about a half hour before it opens. It’s always nice to get tips from a local!

Cal Pep isn’t a fancy restaurant. Oh, there are some really cute tables in a room in the back, but it is easier to arrive before the crowd and get a spot at the counter. Plus this way you get to watch them cook your food, which is always fun.

Please note: I had a Catalonian with me that could communicate clearly to our waiter/cook what I could and could not eat. The food we ate was naturally gluten-free and would be fine for someone that isn’t super reactive to potential cross-contamination. The cooking space is small here and the counter service is fast paced. That said, if you are extremely sensitive to cross-contamination, Cal Pep may not be the best place for you to eat. Just sayin’.

Cal Pep Tortilla de Patata

As I was about to take my first bite of the tortilla de patata Joan said, “When you taste this you will see angels.”  How’s that for some dramatic food themed telenovela dialogue? And yes, it was true!!

For those of you who are not familiar with tortilla de patata (or in Catalan truita de patates), it is often described as a potato omelette. I’m not really an omelette person though, so, in my opinion, this description doesn’t do it justice.

Tortilla de Patata

Cal Pep’s tortilla de patata is super melt in your mouth moist with onion and tiny bits of chorizo and then topped with garlic aioli that’s like buttah. Seriously, this dish alone is enough to make me want to book the next plane to Spain.

Cal Pep Clams with what else? Chorizo!

  Squid

  Steak Melts In Your Mouth

I’ve had some seriously good East Coast and West Coast US of A fancypants dry aged steak and wet aged steak in my life, and this plate rivaled them all!

  Shrimp Crusty With Salt And Garlic…10 More, Please! These translate to Gambes a L’Allet

Joan taught me a trick: dip the shrimp meat into the brown juice that comes out of its head. It’s ugly, but it tastes good!

Strawberries in Muscat Wine

This coming summer, this is going to be my easy, yet crowd pleasing dessert! Who needs pastry?! Pfft. “More wine, please!”

Are you full yet?

This was possibly the most delicious meal I’ve ever eaten. No joke. No drama. OK, maybe a teeny weeny bit of drama, but seriously.

As you can see… fresh, simple, and quality are the key ingredients to the beyond delicious food at Cal Pep.

Have you been there?

Next Friday I’ll take you to the Museu de la Xocolata….

Have a fab weekend!!!