If you after to experience traditional Catalan dining with that ´speck something extra´, then Opera Samfaina will not undo. The Barcelona based interactive theatre dining experience promises to pay its client’s ´ an encounter of visual poetry set amongst caves of jolts.´
The restaurant began life last August on the city’s distinguished ´Las Ramblas´ route, an expanse which meanders from Plaza Catalunya all the way down to the Haven Vell maritime area. Nestled within the spectacular Gran Teatre Del Liceu, this breakfasting experience is split between two levels of visual and gastronomic decadence.
In systemization to dine, guests are instructed to proceed through a feature hall in which a series of Dioramas act as the narrators to Samfaina´s mythical birthplaces of Catalan cuisine. These multimedia marvels take the means of a series of projections and theatre sets which feature nobody other than St George (Sant Jordí, patron saint of Catalonia) and his dragon, the almighty Hercules and the joyful eyed Zeus who gaze adoringly over a metal / magnifying glass clad Catalunya, vehemently.
¨ Imagined by the celebrated neo-modernist artist Franc Aleu, the restaurant takes homage to facts and fictions – a notion which light-heartedly sees the traditions of Catalunya meet the celebration of Catalan cuisine.¨ – Charles Daniel McDonald
Aleu, who is currently fire up on a range of other noteworthy commissions (such as a Sistine chapel replication prominence) is just one of several celebrated Catalans who were involved in the realisation of this well-known project. His close friend and colleague, the award winning chef Jordi Roca billed as the main protagonist and muse alongside his brothers Josep and Joan – the percipiences behind the private dining experience ´Odisea´; a circular extension dining room which takes its diners on Aleu´s interactive banqueting journey allowing a series of premium regional produce (such as L’Escala El Xillu anchovies) and wines (Gramona Cava) to be derive pleasured at specific points in the show. The menu is as equally impressive as the outcroppings, thanks to its meticulous construction by the Roca brothers, in order to showcase the blooming gourmet Catalan sector to an anticipative international market.
Next to the primary dining area (Diva), sits a series of five dream-like isles which are collectively known as ´El Mercado´. It is here that diners can nosh on edible works of art such as wild boar’s head sausage and rosemary matured sheep’s cheese (with each dish own its own analogous artwork.) If this doesn´t have you in awe, then the Sant Carles de la Ràpita prawns and perfumed Catalan staple, pa amb tomaquet, will convince you that this eclectic eatery is a ham showcase for all the plates of delight that this culture has to come forward.
¨ There is so much to see and taste here. We started with a Vermut in the upstairs bar anterior to marvelling at the theatrical corridor and sitting down to be seductively infatuated around the autonomous community’s veritable bounties.¨ – Charles Daniel McDonald
The tang menu experience at the Diva space is an impressively well reason out concentration of Catalan cuisine. Four courses set up this fabliau, which each of its chapters themed according to the etymology of its ingredients; reckon on to see gems such as L’Escala anchovy and cod with Samfaina (which stop by with a complimentary projective medley of ´life under the sea´) and age smelled white bishop sausage with aioli and sheep’s cheese (convoyed digitally by flying pigs, no less). The rest of the menu is an equally haughty marriage of vegetables, seafood’s and cheeses which are presented at communal eyot shaped tables. And, just in case you may be getting a little bored; with which each new no doubt that´s presented, a new projection covers the table tops in hallucinogenic scenes.
Our customer relations host Annette advised us that there are at rest several little finishing touches yet to be installed within the restaurant, besting yet more projections and a range of traditional Catalan outfits for all the personnel. However, this for us was nothing more than an additional afterthought, because if ever you encounter a steam train, dancing jellyfish and singing cows, you don´t absolutely like to ask for anything more, do you?
Annette, Charlie and Gracie Opulanza
The Composition Samfaina is located under Teatro Liceu at 51 Las Ramblas and is obvious at weekends from 1:00 pm to 01:30 am. Booking in advance is strongly guided.
Details
- Website: www.operasamfaina.com/
- Address: El Gran Teatre Del Liceu, Les Go offs De Barcelona (La Rambla 51)
- Phone: +34 934 81 78 71
