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I have already mentioned my endless quest for the perfect ensaladilla rusa: here is that story.
Four score and seven years ago, I landed in Spain, fully ready for my new adventure. It was not my first time in the Iberian peninsula, but it was my first time away from home, about to live without my parents. I headed for my apartment in Valencia, where I met my three roommates, two Spaniards and a Cuban man, who took me directly to a tapas bar on the Valencia beach. I ordered an Ensaladilla Rusa - that's where it all started.

A history of the ensaladilla rusa.

The ensaladilla rusa is in fact Russian, as its name indicates it. Invented in 1860 by Lucien Olivier, a respected cook in a fancy Muscovite restaurant, the original dish became one of the most popular salads in Russia in only a couple of months - and yet its creator swore the recipe to secrecy, no matter how much the Russian leaders begged and pleaded.

His assistant, on the other hand, tried with all his might to recreate the secret recipe, and succeeded in selling a very similar version to a competing Muscovite restaurant. Although the public as well as the creator admits that it is not a succulent as the original version from Olivier, who still refused to oblige, this second version spread across Europe nonetheless, becoming extremely popular. The original recipe unfortunately died with the permanent closure of Olivier's restaurant in 1905, but the second version of the Ensaladilla Rusa had had time to become iconic in many European countries.

The first version of the Russian Salad, Olivier Salad or Ensaladilla Rusa called for precious, elegant ingredient, but as it becomes more and more popular among less fancy countries the ingredients become more common - the recipe ended up becoming a cheap and easy-to-made dish, traditional in many countries, each one adapting it to its customs and tastes. As such, it is sometime prepared with chicken, other times with ground beef, however the local customer prefers his salad.

The Spanish tapa called the Ensaladilla Rusa bores no meat:

Ensaladilla Rusa Recipe :

• 7 medium potatoes
• 2 roasted red peppers (bottled is fine)
• 1 16 oz can of peas and carrots, drained
• 2 hard-boiled eggs
• 1 6 oz can tuna, drained
• mayonnaise - For home-made, see recipe link below.
• Optional:
• 4-5 spears white asparagus for garnish

Click here for the complete recipe of the ensaladilla rusa

Where can I eat an Ensaladilla Rusa in Barcelona?

Since I started renting an apartment in the center of Barcelona, I have actively searched a great place to eat an ensaladilla rusa. Here is my selection of the best ensaladilla rusas in Barcelona:

Bar Alastruey

It is a calm bar in the heart of the city, on a pedestrian street, hidden away, perfect for a nice relaxing tapas afternoon with friends.

Carrer dels Mercaders, 24
08003 Barcelona, Spain

La Pineda

This tapas bar is almost 100 years old, and every piece on the menu is a real treat, prepared with love just a few hours prior. The authentic catalan bar, waiting for you.

Carrer del Pi, 16
08002 Barcelona, Spain

There is another way to visit Barcelona then simply and 

un-originally taking the bus, you know -- or as I tend to inadvertently do, walking endlessly in the streets of the city, before passing out in my bed, exhausted, without dinner. No, the better solution is GoCar! Nothing original, they exist in many cities (namely San Franciso, Lisbon, Madrid...), but they do not cease to be useful (and awesome)

These little yellow cars, which can commonly be seen in the city center, will make your holidays in Barcelona the most fun in a long time. Made for two, the mini-cars have an integrated GSP system and a personal voice, explaining the many hidden secrets of this most beautiful city. You design your own path of the city, since you are the one driving it, and the guide knowing where you are, catches up with fun stories about the streets you are visiting. 

You may use GoCar for several hours at a time - drive down the Ramblas to Sagrada Familia, the Park Güell and Camp Nou, and let the car speak to you! Every single part of Barcelona is accessible to you, and it is much faster, much more relaxing, and of course more fun, to ride around in these fun-sized automobile than sweat in the sun walking around aimlessly, trying to decipher yet another poorly constructed city guide. 

How much does GoCar cost ?

First hour: 35 €
Second hour: 25 €
Each additional hour: 20 €
All day: 99 €

Where to find GoCar ?

Reserve a car on the phone : GoCar Barcelona +34 902 301 333
Reserve online at least two hours before picking up the car : 23bis calle Freixures bajo, Barcelona, 08003 Spain.

Open from 9AM to 9PM in summer and 10AM to 7PM in winter