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Cooking without fuss

Catalina Restaurante

By Brian Gallagher 08.09.14

A restaurant and demonstration cookery service are combined at the newly re-opened Catalina Restaurant within Barcelona’s Sarrià neighbourhood. The cooking process is demystified by the joint owners Anna Montoliu and Cuca Montoliu, aunt and niece respectively, who started collaborating originally through a catering service dos AM Cooking (both are named Anna Montoliu). Catalina is opened from Monday through Friday for lunch to the general public and by appointment during the evenings and at the weekends.

The Catalina Restaurant culinary philosophy is based on tried and tested principles, offering a laid back gastronomic approach inspired by its premise of traditional Catalan recipes with an added contemporary touch. The emphasis here is on home cooking, using fresh ingredients with a Mediterranean spirit. The house specialities are the risottos and fish dishes which are normally present on the reduced but carefully put together menu which is changed weekly, all made using the best produce form local markets.

  • Catalina Restaurant

    Ana Montoliu and Cuca Montoliu

  • Catalina Restaurant

    View of the restaurant interior

    Hands-on cooking classes where diners can enjoy their creative output subsequently in the surroundings of this small and intimate restaurant together with the chefs themselves. The idea here is to take the mystery out of cooking, mother of seven Cuca Montoliu explains, “when I got married and started a family I was forced into the unknown (at least for me till then) world of cooking. I was pleasantly surprised to discover a paradise where I could relax at the end of the working day looking after the kids and doing the daily chores”. It’s not so much about experimental techniques as about engendering the confidence to be able to create tasty, healthy dishes following not particularly complicated recipes. A common sense approach to cooking that reflects the backgrounds of both founders, Anna Montoliu is a qualified architect while Cuca is a solicitor, their life long interest in food brought them together to found this multidisciplinary business that reflects passion and practicality in equal measure.  

  • Catalina Restaurant

    Anna Montoliu and Cuca Montoliu

  • Catalina Restaurant

    Hake with Saffron Sauce

    The dining area consists of two separate spaces, the larger of which can cater to groups of up to 10, the cooking workshops are organised periodically or by prior booking.

  • Catalina Restaurant

     

    Reservations - Tel:  932 06 17 91
    Email:reservas@restaurantcatalina.com

     

    Monday through Friday from 1 PM - 4 PM / Evenings and weekends by appointment