b-served Gastronomy
(Savoir) Faire
Tapas & wine + Brunch
Imagine a restaurant with zero plastic waste, that dedicates all organic leftovers to composting, with a tree planted for every meal served, and that treats its providers with respect by paying fair prices for their produce. That restaurant is Faire, much more than a restaurant, it’s a way of existing, a template for a more sustainable gastronomy. Serving mostly but not exclusively vegetarian / vegan dishes the concept, like the food, is carefully deliberated, every detail is thought through to the nth degree. The result is a friendly, neighbourhood eatery where the warm décor invites savouring healthy cuisine in the knowledge that the experience is win-win. Good for you and good for the planet. The name Faire is a play on the French verb ‘to do’ and phonetically fair, as in equitable or just, which runs through every aspect of the business.
The template for Faire was created in Paris where the culture of recycling, eating local and appreciating the vegan diet is perhaps more advanced than here in Barcelona. But the Ciudad Condal is catching up, and fast. The three co-owners Egeman Tevsanci, Tom A. Batten and Onno J. Fenstra, all from different backgrounds, developed the project by raising funds from friends and family, as conventional banks were unwilling to get involved. Proof of the revolutionary and visionary aspect of this ground-breaking initiative. Wait staff are specially trained in the restaurant’s logistics with all organic matter separated from recycling waste for example in order to be composted by a local external company.
-
-
-
The slow food philosophy means that everything is made daily with ingredients from local and organic suppliers. Most of the dishes on the menu are vegan but there are some exceptions. The cow's milk, for example, is sourced from the granja Selvatana (farm) and the free-range eggs come from the granja Montsoliu. At Faire however there is a premium charge for the milk instead of the vegetable substitute, which is more commonly the case.
-
The evening menu at Faire includes a selection of international style tapas dishes conceived for sharing and adding colour to the table: everything from baked aubergine hummus (with tahini, sweet chili oil and dukkah) for dipping, cannellini with artichokes, bao bread filled with vegan protein, crispy puff pastry cigar rolls (stuffed with kale, feta cheese and sweet potato) to a local cheese board with quince, dried fruits, walnuts and raspberry coulis.
-
Natural wines are included in the succinct wine list, designed to please both fans and neophytes to the world of alternative wines. Faire likes to surprise its customers, whites, reds, orange and sparkling wines are added and replaced frequently according to the dishes being served and seasonal criteria.
-
Faire Brunch and Faire Tapas & Wines are located side by side on the newly pedestrianised section of c/ Girona. The décor is filled with mid-century timber furniture, with colourful tiles and lots of potted plants that evoke a Mediterranean ambience. All the furniture is second-hand or vintage which reflects the culinary concept of zero-waste. But it also crates a warm and inviting interior to spend time and have a coffee or after dinner drinks, a place to enjoy at any time of the day.
-
Faire Brunch: Daily, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Monday to Friday) and until 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Faire Tapas & Wines: Wednesday to Saturday, from 5:30 p.m. till midnight.
- Faire Tapas & Wine
- C/ Girona, 79
- 08009 Barcelona
- www.fairebrunch.com