Best Little Wine Bars

Nevermind that Parma is home to some of Italy's best cuisine,

sometimes all you really want

for dinner

is a glass of wine

and

a savory sandwich.

And it's times like these,

that you can do no better

than to head to

Enoteca Fontana.

A wine list to keep you company through the evening

and some of my favorite panini.

Roast beef and arugla,

goat cheese with sundried tomatoes,

pork tenderloin with a spicy olive sauce,

and if for some reason,

those don't do it for you,

there are sixty or so others that

most definitely will.

A Parma institution.

Enoteca Fontana
Strada Farini, 24
Parma, Italy
0521 286037

Best Little Bars

I forget how much I love Spanish food when I am not there, but really those Spaniards are such underrated geniuses. Who doesn't love the idea of tapas? Brilliant! Especially for people like me who can never decide what to order, because I just want to try it all. The tapas culture keeps you grazing for hours on end, and plus what a convivial atmosphere it lends itself to.

Food in Barcelona. Sigh of delight. Where to begin? From the gorgeous markets to of course Mr. Adria's El Bulli (one day my dear Catalan), there is just so much to explore and sample, and that my friends is my kind of city. And so it comes as no coincidence that one of my favorite tapas bar in all of Spain is found in Barcelona.

Enter Quimet & Quimet. These people do not mess around.

Now take a look. Obviously if you are hoping for a romantic, intimate evening, this isn't your best bet, but if what you are looking for are some of the tastiest, most creative tapas that the peninsula has to offer (excluding of course, the Basques. That is for another post/book.), then you have come to the right place. Mr. Quimet seriously puts together some killer combos, like my absolute favorite:

Looks a bit like a bagel with lox, but what is really going on here is a light yogurt cheese, with smoked salmon and truffle honey. Weep!! They do a lot with Iberian cheeses, pates and the fantastic offerings of Spanish canned/preserved seafood.

I know that the whole idea of tapas is to graze your way through the evening, from one bar to the next, but I would be none the happier stepping a toe outside their door. Really now, what is the point?

Quimet & Quimet
Poeta Cabanyes, 25
Barcelona, Spain
93 442 31 42

Best Little Wine Bars

If ever you find yourself in Parma, Italy
and are looking for a place to
wet your whistle
and watch
the ever-chic locals
cycle by,
you must stop by
Tabarro.

Tabarro
Strada Farini 5/b
Parma, Italy
0521 200223