Going out for a meal at a restaurant has already become a whole experience. Gone are the fast menus, in traditional spaces. While it is true that there will always be a place for quick, everyday food, the new focus of restoration is experiences. In this context, the Club Gourmet of El Corte Inglés in Diagonal begins a new stage on the fifth floor. The new space, of more than 750 square meters, seeks to elevate the company's gourmet concept, with a proposal "broader, more experiential and open to the city that combines shopping, tasting and restoration in a renovated environment," the company assured in the presentation of this new space.
One of the main novelties of these new facilities is La Barra del Gourmet, which has its own kitchen. In this way, its gastronomic proposal will be based on raw materials selected by the club itself, but with a clear desire to highlight fresh fish. The seafood product comes - like much of what is served in the restaurant and sold in the store - from local sources. Specifically, the fish comes from the fish markets of La Ràpita, Tarragona, Blanes, Vilanova i la Geltrú and Palamós. The offer will vary depending on the season and will also feature a rotating selection of traditional Catalan dishes. However, to maintain this innovative and experiential spirit, these traditional dishes will be reinterpreted with the space's own stamp.
Beyond these Catalan dishes, the offer is completed with some of La Barra del Gourmet's most representative specialties, such as oysters, Iberian products, cheeses, preserves and skewers, as well as a selection of proposals to share. All this accompanied by a wine, cava and champagne list from the country, but also international. "The Diagonal Club Gourmet has been conceived as an authentic gastronomic destination where the product is transformed into an experience. A place designed to discover new things, make specialized purchases, taste quality gastronomic proposals and share moments around the table," assured El Corte Inglés.
Firm commitment to local product
Local products are a fundamental part of this new stage of the Club Gourmet. That is why the space offers a catalog of almost five hundred local products. This selection aims to pay homage to the talent of creators and emblematic brands of Catalonia, such as the creative pastry and chocolate shop of Bubó, the nougat tradition of Vicens or the cheese excellence of Ardai and Tou dels Til·lers. The proposal is enriched with the premium smoked specialties of Carpier and Benfumat, the jams of Can Bech and the extra virgin olive oils of Estornell and Olirium, without forgetting the chocolate creations of Eukarya, signed by Lluc Crusellas. Among the most notable novelties is the line of artisan sheep's milk yogurts conceived by Jordi Roca and Peralada Mas Marcè. To complete the experience, the offer includes a careful assortment of local vermouths and wines and cavas ascribed to the DO Montsant, Empordà and Penedès.
The Diagonal Club Gourmet has been conceived as an authentic gastronomic destination
Elaboration by elaboration, the objective of this space is to show diners everything that can be done with cuisine and give it a fresh, elegant and sophisticated touch. The charcuterie will bring together a prominent selection of Iberian products, cheeses, salted meats, smoked meats, salmon and caviar, along with a wide representation of traditional charcuterie. A space attended by specialized professionals who will accompany the client in the choice of unique products.
For its part, the sweet universe will offer a careful selection of chocolates, chocolate, cookies, pastries and national and international specialties, becoming a showcase for some of the best brands and producers in the sector. To complement, the savory proposal will bring together a wide selection of olive oils, canned fish and vegetables, prepared dishes and other gourmet specialties.
The winery will occupy a prominent place and will be the maximum representative of the combination between the store and the gastronomic space. In this way, at the Barra Gourmet only wines by the glass can be consumed, but bottles can be purchased at the store. Thus, those customers who wish to do so can buy any of the wines on the menu to take home or drink with dinner. For this, the winery will have a wide variety of wines, champagnes, sparkling wines and spirits, where regional references will coexist with great national and international labels. In addition, it will have a wine cellar dedicated to exclusive references and special editions.