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Just read the news after lunch and I'm shocked!! He was one of the greatest, whose cuisine was underrated in Spain.

Now I'm worried. Months ago, I put an order win Amazon Canada and I hope they don't do the same. I cancelled today the open order I had with Amazon US --also months old-- since I assumed it won't go cheaper than CA, but it was significantly cheaper than the current price. Anyone who ordered to Amazon UK has got in touch with them? Any explanation?

Were asadores the dozen or so restaurants you ate in Barcelona? ;-)

Nathan, include me in the bunch of those who are really, really excited about this book. One question, though. I understand that a fully fledged ebook is a long way down the road, but is there any digital companion to the book planned? Either a usb stick, cd or dvd, or perhaps a private web site... PS: Thanks guys for the heads up, just cancelled at Amazon.com and reorder at Amazon.ca. Way cheaper.

Hispania, Can Fabes, Can Jubany, Els Casals? The last two, slightly farther from BCN.

Currently writing from our room at Ferrero. The feast, in a couple of hours. Tomorrow, El Poblet.

Hater is probably too strong a word, but let just say that I'm not a Cal Pep lover either.

The first clams are berberechos. 'Cockle', I believe is the English term.

I ate several times at Villa Mas last summer. Same wonderful Burgundy wine list, food improving every year. I plan to return, also several times, in less than a month. Nearby, you also have Els Tinars, traditional catalonian cook or more adventurous cooking depending on how you feel. More adventurous without resorting to avantgarde, I mean. All in all, leaving Can Roca aside which is slightly farther, La Xicra, Villa Mas and Els Tinars probably are my favorite places in the area, to which I paid several visits when I'm around.

Mostly casual and smart casual. No jacket required or advised for men at any of them.

When you cut it, better than with a cloth, use its own fat. You should get a nice layer in the first cut. Then it's up to you whether to cover it with a cloth or not. Regarding slicing, you may want to take a look at: How to cut a ham I've seen a few videos come up at YouTube, don't know if they're reliable or not. If the ham it's any good, don't worry, you'll eat it well before November.

If you're driving, Mugaritz for lunch.

Have you considered Zuberoa? They lost one of their two stars this year, but I can assure you that they're as solid and consistent as ever.

Smoking is definitely an issue in almost every restaurant in Spain, top or not. Very few have chosen to ban smoking in their premises and many try and succeed in circumventing the law and make smoking even easier for their customers. Even at the expense of non-smoking space in the dining room. I would insist on being seated at the non-smoking section at Arzak, asking them to watch for cancellations that may open seats there. If smoke is really an issue for you, I'd probably have a second reservation just in case --giving ample notice when can celling to the other restaurant, of course--, keep in mind that cigars is a common scenario at the end of meals.

You're right, guys, it's open. According to the always reliable and knowledgeable Raimundo García del Moral, who covers Andalusian restaurants for El Mundo´s Metropoli and Lo Mejor de la Gastronomía, it opened its doors along with the hotel on April 1. The former chef, Rafa Morales, who had been always running the kitchen, left his post and has been replaced by Rafael Zafra, who was his second for many years. The offer hasn't changed, they feature old --classic, if you prefer-- dishes from elBulli.

Not 100% sure, but I believe Benazuza is closed for good.

You should probably cancel your reservation at La Broche and get one at Sergi Arola Gastro. Sergi Arola left La Broche for good in January 2008 to open his own restaurant, receiving two Michelin stars in November 2008: Sergi Arola Gastro

My main advice would be to make reservations for an early lunch at Can Roca on your way back to Barcelona. You won't regret it and probably end up enjoying it as much as elBulli, perhaps even more. Rafa's in Roses is a no brainer, but it's as casual as it gets. No fancy anything but the seafood and his skill with the grill. Roses is not the prettiest town in the Costa Brava, check the Hotel Almadraba if you haven't booked anything yet. In BCN, depends on how you feel. More seafood, Rías de Galicia. Refined Catalonian cooking, Fonda Gaig or even Gaig. If you still have a car, Hispania at Arenys de Mar, a unique experience. Quimet i Quimet should be a must, be there early. Majorca without a car is a mistake, I'd say. The island is wonderful and not crowded when you plan to be there, consider renting a car. And, of course, congratulations and enjoy it!!

It is quite too close. Unless there's a lot of people crawling from bar to bar on Thursday night because of Easter and bars extend their opening times, it's very likely that many of them will be closed when you try to hit them. I've been there during long weekends and I've found a sheer contrast between Fri and Sat nights and Thu nights, much more pronounced than in Madrid, for instance. Pintxos, except at a handful of places, are way too overrated. The experience is great, but the food not that much. The exceptions, to me, are Ganbara, Bergara, Aloña Berri and Cuchara de San Telmo. The latter is the more 'cuisine oriented', that is, there's real cooking in what they serve you. Of course, probably others will have more recs. I would suggest making plans to have dinner at some place really close to the airport.

Here go my picks: Catalonian traditional cuisine: Fonda Gaig, Can Pineda. You wouldn't regret going to the Hispania either, but you'd need a car or a train ride. Contemporary catalonian cuisine: Comerç 24, Abac. Bistronomy: Gresca, Coure. Seafood: Rías de Galicia. Tapas: Quimet i Quimet.

Glad you enjoyed Madrid. Barcelona is a terrific city too. Sure, you posted your list here: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=121658 No Xentes, no Casa Valencia, no Donostiarra. Nonetheless, point taken. Next time I'll try to answer when you post before the trip. And perhaps you'd leave barbershop and shirtmakers aside.

First time I hear about Xentes. Good luck and glad you're enjoying your stay after all.

David, what I'm sorry for is your leaving with a poor and wrong impression due to a, if I may say, questionable choice of restaurants. And leading others who may read this thread to the same conclusion. No one is going to expel you from Spain, though. At least not this time around. Your concierge very likely steered you to the Donostiarra because he gets a commission from the restaurant for sending customers over there. Rafa is a great place for seafood. I don't know if you have more days in Spain ahead of you. If you do and trust our judgment, we'll be more than happy to see what your plans are and perhaps identify better options. And now don't tell us you went to any of the Museo del Jamón haunts...

I'm sorry, really. But I'd say you now recognize the beef style of two run of the mill --at the very best-- places. Go to Gold Gourmet --that's a store-- and ask Eugenio to show you the oxen he has. Or go to Imanol, Ansorena, Iñaki Ongay or even Frontón or Casa Julián. Or some place worth going. Or read Steingarten's piece about beef in Spain. I really don't understand how you came up with the list of places you've chosen to visit, except for Combarro, which deserves a visit. If you want to visit another marisquería, go to O'Pazo.

Not going there? Unless, of course, you want to write a book on tourist traps. Not because of Combarro, surely. And to be fair, the Donostiarra is a trap for locals too, but a trap none the less.