Centrum Kitchen and Bar
Where? Centrum Kitchen and Bar (Akureyri, Iceland) Map Menu
When? Saturday March 23, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Icelandic
Akureyri is a small town in North Iceland, and though it has been difficult logistically to get here, I’m well settled at my hostel and I’ve been out walking around town. It’s been slightly warmer here than in Toronto (lol) and now I’m ready to grab some food on the main street of the city. Food here is very expensive - mains are usually 4,000 to 7,000 Icelandic krona, which equates to $40 - $70 Canadian dollars.
Today I’m at the Centrum Kitchen and Bar, which is attached to the hotel of the same name. My drink is a local ginger beer with lots of kick and not much sugar. It’s perfect and has that spiciness with every sip. 
Mains
Langoustine Pasta: Black linguini pasta with langoustine, cream langoustine sauce, cherry tomatoes, basil pesto and parmesan
Langoustine is one of the most important seafoods commercially in Europe and while it is related to the lobster, it only grows up to about 20cm in length. It’s abundant in Iceland waters and so I’ve decided to have some today in an octopus ink pasta. When it comes out - wow. It smells fantastic, rich, creamy, cheesy and seafoody at the same time. There’s lots of sauce, which is a must for a dish like this, since the pasta is merely a vessel to soak up all that delicious langoustine sauce. There’s some nice chunks of the protein strewn through and this is extremely delicious. I don’t think the spring onion is quite the right garnish for this, but I’m at a loss to provide an alternative. It does give a bit of crunch and freshness though, and the tomato provides that sweetness to balance out all the flavours on the plate. Not a single drop of that sauce is going to be wasted on my watch.
Posted by Jeremy at 5:13pm on Wednesday October 22, 2025 :: 0 comments :: 
Lanto Restaurant
Where? Lanto Restaurant (Sant Marti, Barcelona, Spain) Map Menu
When? Thursday March 21, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Catalan
My time in Barcelona is coming to a close, and this restaurant has always been on my radar for its menu del dia - menu of the day. Unfortunately they were all booked out on the day I went, so I tried to get a reservation for the next day, and here I am. It’s full of old Catalan people having lunch so you just know this is authentic and legit. They’ve recognised me as the loser who came yesterday, and they have two questions, which I have to ask for in English. Meat or fish, and what drink?
I’m watching as the other tables are served and trying to pick up what’s in them. I can catch a few keywords…I think… but what I do know is that the food looks great. Thankfully my explanation of the appetisers and mains is in English, but the dessert is in Spanish. Let's see whether my four months of Duolingo has paid off.
Appetisers
Beetroot carpaccio with sausage and beetroot sauce / Onion with pickled dill / Roasted tomato puree with roasted cauliflower and smoked cheese
Beetroot: Vibrant and sweet, this is excellent and refreshing.
Onions: The onions are delicious and the sauce has a wonderful hint of sweetness to give it some balance. This one is my favourite. The breadcrumbs give it some nice crunchy texture.
Cauliflower: Lots of umami here from the cheese, balanced out with acidity from the tomato puree. The cauliflower still has a bit of bite and isn’t too soft.
Mains
Beef and sweet potato puree
Originally I had thought it was pumpkin puree, but the waiter tells me it's sweet potato. At least I got the protein correct, though I would have failed Gordon Ramsay’s Taste It Now Make It. It’s delicious, the protein is juicy and so tender, but still a bit pink, and the puree is sweet and creamy. For something that looks so simple, it packs a lot of flavour and elegance.
Dessert
Madeline with chocolate crema and banana compote
This explanation is in Spanish but I’ve managed to pick up the key ingredients. That crema is so smooth and impeccable. The butter crumb has a bit of salt to balance out all the sweet elements and it’s delicious. I will say though, other people’s plates have strawberries on them but I’m too noob to complain. Actually some plates are completely different, with a brown Swiss roll base instead. Oh well. I’m very satisfied though. €18.50 for that meal is pretty damn good!
Posted by Jeremy at 8:18am on Saturday December 28, 2024 :: 0 comments ::
Gusto Restaurant
Where? Gusto Restaurant (Eixample, Barcelona, Spain) Map Menu
When? Wednesday March 20, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Italian
Today has been stressful for the sole reason that my Reykjavik accommodation got cancelled at the last minute - literally less than a week before I’m supposed to arrive - because the bloody hotel went out of business. I would later find out that the police shut it down because they were human trafficking. This trip has not been good for things going to plan and I'm deeply upset, cumulatively, at the state of everything that has happened during the past three months. Anyway, to soothe my anger, I’ve gone for some classic Italian again, because I could use more salad in my diet.
Amuse Bouche
It’s a dough ball with onion and basil. It’s soft and springy, and doesn’t feel too dense.
Appetiser
House salad: Lamb's lettuce with red onion, fennel, avocado and tomato
The description for this in Italian is "canonigo, finocchio, cipolla rossa, avocado e pomodori", and while I can recognise the last three ingredients - red onion, avocado and tomato - quite easily, the first two are a bit more difficult. Google translates "Canonigo" to "lamb's lettuce", whose scientific name is Valeriana locusta, a leafy vegetable native to Europe and northern Africa. "Finocchio", despite its similarities to the name of the puppet boy, actually just means fennel. It’s light and refreshing, and simple with an olive oil and balsamic dressing. Some nuts or some citrus fruit would have really elevated this but it tastes healthy and not heavy.
Mains
Lasagna: Typical Neapolitan lasagna gratinated in a wood-fired oven
I love how bright and appetising this looks. The sauce is delicious and definitely has that homemade feel to it, and I’m so glad there’s tons of it. It’s cheesy and meaty and everything that you’d want a lasagna to be. That crust is baked perfectly and it’s got that tasty crispiness. That fresh basil leaf lifts the dish and helps to cut through the richness of the Parmesan and tomato sauce.
I’m finishing the meal off the traditional way - with limoncello! I’m feeling better at least.
Posted by Jeremy at 8:01am on Saturday December 28, 2024 :: 0 comments ::
La Cova Fumada
Where? La Cova Fumada (Ciutat Vella, Barcelona, Spain) Map
When? Wednesday March 20, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Tapas
My original choice, Lanto, was fully booked, so here I am in Barceloneta for some tapas. There’s a queue outside but single diner privilege means I can get a quick seat if I’m okay with being at the bar. The restaurant is absolutely packed and the busy sounds of people enjoying their food fill the interior. La Cova Fumada is Catalan for “The Smokey Cove”, and sure enough, even standing outside, the aromas of the kitchen are wafting through the air and it smells wonderful. I’m in the mood for seafood today. No dessert this time, I’ve already got something in mind! After standing awkwardly for a good ten minutes, my order finally gets taken.
Tapas #1
Pa amb tomaquet
The Catalan classic, bread with tomato mushed into it, seasoned with salt, garlic and olive oil. This is such a staple in the region, and I can't help but wonder what perfect alignment of bread type and tomato type is required to replicate this exactly back in Toronto.
Tapas #2
Octopus
The waitress tells me something and points to a plate in the bar counter. I don’t know what she said so I just nod. This is dumb because she speaks English and I could have easily found out but sure whatever. It’s hearty and a bit over seasoned, but the bread helps to balance it out.
Tapas #3
Squid
This one I used the OBLAT strategy: order by looking at other tables. It looks damn impressive and when it arrives, I'm over the moon. Oh my goodness it's fantastic. That charred exterior is so crispy and tasty, with the meat itself being soft and tender. The Catalans have it so good with all this fresh seafood at their doorstep.
I pay and leave. As I turn to exit the restaurant, my legs complain, having been completely upright and motionless for the past 30 minutes. I need to sit down for a bit.
Posted by Jeremy at 7:40am on Saturday December 28, 2024 :: 0 comments ::
Fenícia Restaurant
Where? Fenícia Restaurant (Sants-Montjuic, Barcelona, Spain) Map Menu
When? Tuesday March 19, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Lebanese
I’ve spent the day walking the southern end of the hills where Tibidabo sits. I had a small and early lunch, so now I’m famished for dinner. I feel like something fresh, delicious and meaty, and there’s no better cuisine that delivers on all three than Lebanese. Fenicia is not too far from my Airbnb, and a stone’s throw from Placa de Sants, which is where I stayed in 2017. Their name of course is Phoenicia in Spanish, and the menu outside is only in Catalan and Español, but inside they’ve given me an English and French one.
Appetiser
Babaganoush: peeled grilled eggplant mixed with red and green bell pepper, mint, onion, tomato and parsley
This has a wonderful acidity and a hint of smokiness at the tail end. It’s refreshing and tastes delicious. The peppers add a nice crunchiness to the soft eggplant.
Mains
Fenician Shawarma Platter: shawarma meat served with grilled onion and tomato slices
I love home made hummus. You can really tell the difference, it doesn’t have the weird taste from preservatives like lemon juice and sugar. I’m not normally a fan of falafel, I find them too dry, but this one is okay, especially with a healthy helping of hummus. The outside is nice and crispy. The salad needs a bit of dressing but thankfully I’ve got some sauce from the babaganoush leftover so I just pour that on top. Perfect. I’m a big fan of the fried onions and the meat is well seasoned. I don’t know why but my greedy mouth involuntarily says “yes” when the waiter asked me if I wanted more pita bread, but I’ve managed to finish everything on the plate, save a few splotches of yogurt sauce and hummus. There’s no way I can handle dessert tonight, so it’ll be a leisurely stroll back in the cool Barcelona evening.
Posted by Jeremy at 7:32am on Saturday December 28, 2024 :: 0 comments ::