“I’m on fire, every time we touch,
Can’t you feel me burnin’ with desire,
Baby feel warm, give me some emotional fire.”
Cher, ‘Emotional Fire’
Carlotta Delicato, the head chef at W Barcelona’s latest restaurant, Fire, may tell you the eatery earned its name because, “We have created a menu that puts fire at the centre.” However our imaginary inside source tells us it is actually because Carlotta is as obsessed with 80s Cher’s soft-metal anthem as we are.
We jest, it’s true, the restaurant’s name is actually inspired by huge flames and strong flavours – perhaps a better option than the Cher-themed 80s diner we had already begun to conjure up in our mind.
Intrigued by exactly what we might find on the grill, Loverboy headed down to W Barcelona, to investigate its newest progeny last week. An iconic part of the Barcelona skyline, the W Barcelona is bold and brazen, so it only makes sense for the menu at Fire to follow suit, priding itself on its fusion of flavours and catering for those who want to eat both healthily and heartily.
Fusion is at the forefront and this is even apparent in its design as the restaurant transitions from an Oasis during the day to an intimate restaurant/bar at night. The vibe is relaxed and chic, adaptable to whatever your occasion, whether it be a stag party, family birthday or a casual meal out – all of which we saw during our time there.
As a pre-starter, starter, we began with the essential cocktail, both Smoke and Oxygen were exquisite, the former including a bitter truth and the latter based around guava puree. As we perused the menu, many dishes caught our eye, from braised octopus to grilled beef tongue and the suckling pig but at the recommendation of our waiter, we opted for the restaurant’s signature plate – The Tomahawk, a classic cut of two kilogrammes of meat, truly delicious. If you are reading this and screaming, ‘But I’m vegan!’, then fear not, as there are some exceptional herbivore alternatives including a parsley risotto and fermented cauliflower rye bread crumble. Somehow managing to find room for dessert, we considered the apple tartin as a potential palate cleanser, then realised we were deluding ourselves and finished our night with the indulgent chocolate dome.
