Eat Withlocals in Spain – Olé!
Withlocals in Barcelona: eat, drink, and say “salud!”
Withlocals….think Airbnb, but instead of authentic places to stay, Withlocals connects travelers with local chefs and authentic food experiences.
A major player in the sharing economy, Withlocals was founded in the Netherlands in 2013 and expanded into Asia a year ago with the simple concept of offering an online marketplace where trusted locals can offer home-dinners, tours, and activities. It’s already a big hit in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia and Philippines, India and the Netherlands – and recently launched in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville.
This trip report was written by Danny Fernandez, who moved from England to Spain five years ago.
Withlocals in Barcelona
My love affair with Barcelona began in 2010 after a short stay in the city. Three months later, I decided to pack my life and move from London to Barcelona.
Even though I am now a resident of Barcelona, the honeymoon period hasn’t worn off. My sense of wonder at the city is kept alive in part by seeking out new things to experience and, luckily, there appears to be an almost endless amount of things to do.
Recently, I discovered a website called Withlocals. The site brings together a list of opportunities, dinners, and tours that are offered by local residents of Barcelona. What I love about this concept is that you get to meet the ‘real’people who live and work in the city. And I think this is perfect for travelers (or new residents like me) looking to gain more insight and authentic connection with Barcelona. As more people sign up to host meals, tours, and activities, the more varied the offerings become.
Dining Withlocals
So far, I have participated in 8 dinners, tours, and activities - ranging from cooking classes, personal training sessions on the beach, and an intimate home dinner cooked by the mayor of Barcelona’s chef! The groups have all been very small (most hosts limit their maximum number of guests to around 8) and have allowed me to meet not only interesting hosts, but also fellow like-minded experience seekers.
It’s difficult to choose a favorite experience that I’ve taken part in as they are each so different, and each offer their own highlights. But one which I remember particularly well was a dinner on a stunning rooftop that offers a 180-degree view of Barcelona (from the sea to the mountains).
A nicely balanced Vermouth Withlocals Pep & Joan.
Withlocals Pep & Joan
The hosts Pep & Joan are two incredibly friendly teachers (but I am convinced they both used to be chefs in their past lives). The dinner began with an assortment of locally sourced tapas (olives, pickles, chips, hummus, etc.) served alongside a very well balanced Vermouth.
I’m convinced that Withlocals Pep & Joan were chefs in their past lives.
During this period, my girlfriend and I enjoyed the fantastic views, marveled at Pep & Joan‘s urban rooftop garden and mingled with the other guests (from the US, Canada, Australia, Poland, Spain, England and Korea).
Mussels were then served, as Pep began explaining to us how to pick the best ingredients for a seafood paella. He kept us entertained as he showed us how to cook the paella to perfection (a little more complicated than I originally thought). The cooking, chatting and vermouth drinking continued as the sun slowly began to set behind the mountain and the shades of orange turned to hues of purple and blue.
It was a real treat to watch Pep prepare an authentic seafood paella.
Feasting Withlocals
Finally when the food was ready, we sat around the table and began our feast. Because I’m a vegetarian, Pep & Joan prepared a special veggie menu for me that was incredible. Wine was served and great conversation continued. After the meal, we all had a special treat of homemade tiramisu, served alongside a local cava.
Pep & Joan are definitely incredible hosts and their passion for hosting and cooking was clear from the start. They admitted that a lot of their spare time is spent participating in various cooking workshops (which explained the incredible veggie food they made me).
At the end of the evening, we all shared contact details and said goodbye, filled with great food, new recipes, and fantastic memories. These experiences are the memories that remain when I travel, and not usually those of visiting the famous sights and taking postcard-style photos.
If you visit Barcelona, a meal Withlocals could be the most memorable event of your trip.
Withlocals.com
And this is my favorite thing about travel – experiencing new things and meeting new people. Sites such as www.withlocals.com are a fantastic way to find the kind of things that I always wanted to do (eat at the homes of local people and do the things that locals do), but previously didn’t know how to access them.
If you visit Barcelona (or if you live here) I highly suggest you check out Withlocals to see what unique things are on offer, as they could be the most memorable events of your trip.
Category: Spain
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Sounds really interesting!
As always, great writing and interesting information.
never heard about that one but actually sounds quite intrigueing! thx for sharing. pitty it’s not available in a lot of cities
What fun. I’m definitely going to have a look before my next trip.