The first year is usually one of the most difficult moments for any entrepreneur, a period in which, despite the excitement of starting a new project, uncertainty and fears often end up gaining ground. However, in her first year of activity, the founder of the gastronomic space Maldita Barra, young Ana de Espona, has not only managed to far exceed that uncertainty, consolidating herself as one of the trendy spots in the Eixample ---both for having a coffee, wine or letting oneself be seduced by one of the dishes offered by its uninterrupted kitchen---, but also, reinventing herself so that the kitchen merges with art and other projects by young female entrepreneurs.
"My goal is for the space to become not only a gastronomic meeting point, but also to support and boost the careers of young women who, like me, decide to embark on this adventure," defends the young entrepreneur, who opened the establishment at just 22 years old. In reality, her innovative spirit came from much earlier, and since she was in school, she knew that, although she didn't know what she wanted to study, she did know that, in the future, she would want to start her own project.
But it wasn't until the last year of her Business Administration and Management degree that de Espona had it clear: she would renovate the space that today houses Maldita Barra, and which her family acquired in the 90s, to open a gastronomic space. Thus, without having finished her degree and with a ticket to Hong Kong for her Erasmus, Ana began with the plans to bring this place to life, combining classes with meetings thousands of kilometers away to see how her project was taking shape. It was upon her return from this Chinese city, inspired by the places she had seen there that mixed styles and breathed modernity, when the Maldita Barra project was finally conceived.
For the gastronomic proposal, Ana, who despite having no experience in the sector was passionate about finding local producers, inspiration, and references, decided to enlist the help of chefs Jordi Limón and Martín Bradó from the Mam del Bo tavern (Sant Llorenç d'Hortons, Gelida). Inspired by Ottolenghi's cuisine and Middle Eastern flavors, the menu offers a wide variety of dishes: from the trendy avocado toast or its iconic pistachio croissant, to a mortadella and burrata focaccia or noodles with crispy prawns and miso.
In fact, one of the hallmarks of the place is its uninterrupted kitchen, which offers the possibility of ordering brunch options at any time of day, and having dishes on the menu as varied as grilled salmon or a veal Milanese next to Shakshuka. A variety and flexibility that allow customers to come to this space to telework while a large group is dining, and among its regular diners are neighbors of all ages, local business people, or expats working. "I was very clear that I wanted an open and versatile space," assures its founder.
Few changes have been made to the menu since the space opened, which also has a wide selection of wines by the glass. Looking ahead to the coming months, its founder acknowledges that, although it will mostly remain unchanged, she wishes to start working with more seasonal and local products. In fact, her visible concern has led her to work with different local producers she has met, from wineries to drinks like kombucha and even surprising proposals, such as the pea vegetable drink, which Espona, who is not afraid to innovate, is now considering introducing to the menu.
In addition to flexibility and uninterrupted cooking, another emblem of Maldita Barra is "all the things we love." A motto that its founder has taken literally, and her character, tastes, and hobbies can be seen not only in the dishes on the menu but also in every corner of the place: from the books or records that fill its shelves, to the paintings that decorate the restaurant, by emerging artists like Marta Carraté. It is precisely this impulse for emerging artists that the founder, who also currently has a team of 18 people, wants to strengthen and expand, making the space a showcase for art and innovative projects led by young female entrepreneurs like her.
The space, in fact, is already divided into two differentiated areas: the restaurant and a private room that allows all kinds of events, from concerts, yoga classes in collaboration with the Frizzant center or a pop-up of Lia Swimwear bikinis, and even book presentations like that of influencer Gigi Vives. In this reserved space, the objective is to inaugurate Maldita Gallery, an area that can serve as a gallery to host all kinds of artistic projects, with a special focus on young female creators but open to all types of artists, and where special events such as thematic dinners with the creators can also take place. "The goal is to offer a 360-degree experience, that enters through all the senses, from music, to smells, food and also art and, in turn, can help spread the names and work of artists," summarizes Ana de Espona.
By offering the venue to all these artists and entrepreneurs to exhibit their projects ---from fashion brands or other products they want to promote---, the objective is also to create a community and an ecosystem to support female entrepreneurship, which is still far below male figures. Thus, "food can be a powerful vehicle to create something bigger, managing to create a community that shares values and vision."