FLT MANAGERS SERIES, PART 4: TALKING BARCELONA FOOD AND SIGHTS WITH MATT

Part 4 of our FLT City Managers Series is here and we’re talking with the Food Lover Tour founder himself! In this interview, Matt tells us all about Barcelona food and culture, and why this city is so special to him. Read on discover more about the many that started it all, Matt Floret!

Full name:

Matthieu Floret

About me:

I’m from the XX century, was raised on Starsky & Hutch, first generation Galactica, and when yoga was called stretching.

How long have you lived in Barcelona? What drew you to it?

I lived in Barcelona when I was student from 2000 to 2001 and decided to come back in 2007 with the love of my life.

What do you love about Barcelona? What is your favorite neighborhood? What are some of your favorite things to do here?

First is definitely the weather, the peace it brings, laid-back attitude, and pleasure of being between sea and mountains.

My job is my hobby and I love discovering new spots for Barcelona food, new restaurants, bars, local gems from the past, as well as new trends and talented chefs.

Eat, drink, and repeat!

See more: FLT Managers Series, Part 2: Tapas and Must Dos in Seville with Baptiste

What things should visitors in Barcelona see and do during their stay?

It depends. I would really recommend doing the most touristy parts on their own, since guidebooks, city plans and many other materials are available freely to keep visitors in good hands. The city provides very good public transport system and Barcelona, in terms of tourism infrastructure, is really at the top of the list.

Now, I would definitely recommend to see more than just the touristy parts, and this is easy to do in our beautiful city of Barcelona. The historical center is quiet, small, and walkable, but you would need a good guide or some luck to find where the locals go, live, eat and experience their way of living the city.

What is the foodie scene like in Barcelona?

Barcelona food is quite varied since it is a city with more than 4 million people and is the second-biggest city in Spain. From traditional to more sophisticated, Barcelona is THE culinary city in Spain 29 registered Michelin star restaurants to date. We can see also a new trend appearing with a return to mixing local Catalan food with more Spanish identities in many restaurants. To please the visitors possible? Or simply to express a more global offering? But we aren’t talking politics  here, right? Hehehe!

What’s your favorite local dish in Barcelona?

I love Spanish ham, simple, delicious, and addictive! The best place for me to get some is the Mercat del Ninot.

What is something about Barcelona that you want people to know?

I believe some must-dos have to be seeing, no doubt, Sagrada Familia or Gaudí’s other buildings. I believe also a city needs to be walked and explored, away from the most touristy sites. This way you can see real life, the way locals are living the city. That’s also what we try to show on our tours, that is why we love to bring our dear visitors where the locals go, because locals know!

Want to learn all about Barcelona food, culture and history with Food Lover Tour? Join us on a tasty food tour to see the city just like a local!