Benedikte Andersen

Hello Barcelona and welcome to English Radio Barcelona Blue on 102.5 FM La Marina Cat. I'm Virgil Stillen Always. Well, this week on English Radio Barcelona Blue Voices, we're delighted to welcome back a familiar face to the program. Benedict Anderson has been part of Barcelona's culinary scene for more than 30 years. Gracias por ver el video. You, Jordi Villanova, Jordi Cabré, en términos de... Who many has been here, who has been here the most times. Okay. I'll be back soon. No, yes. No, you'll be making a show on my new place. I wouldn't mind that. Is it possible? Oh, yeah, it's possible. Talk about that later. Yeah, that can easily be done. Speaking about the new place... Let's talk a little bit about the background behind it in terms of what's set up, you know, why you have a new place. Now, a lot of our listeners know you, they know you well, but for those who don't, tell us a little bit about your background and how you first came to Barcelona. Oh, wow, that's a long story. Let's start with El Picho. I've had a Picho gourmet bar, a wine and tapas bar for 21 years. en el centro, just in front of Palau de la Musica. And that was, I opened it, by chance it was a close place. I always wanted to open a small tapas bar, so there it was, and I did. And I didn't really expect it to last, and still going on for 21 years, but here we go. Así que ese es mi background, con las pastillas de vino, siendo un sommelier mientras que haciendo tapas. ¿Qué ha inspirado a abrir El Bicho? Obviamente era una gran locación, pero ¿qué ha dicho que tenía que abrir este tipo de bar, este tipo de lugar? I've always been very linked to bars and restaurants. My father loved food and wines. He told me about that. And I've been working in bars off and on. So when the opportunity was there, I thought, why not try what I thought would be a good idea and see if I'm made for it. And I think I am. Bueno, ya está listo aquí, eso es la gran cosa. ¿Cuál fue El Born como cuando llegaste antes de llegar y comparado a lo que es hoy? Bueno, no comparación. Cuando estaba en el centro de El Born, en la iglesia de la iglesia, en el mercado, era tan diferente. Un lugar llamado Rosal, que no existía más, solo había una mesa fuera. Y se quedó cerca del centro de Barcelona. Y dije, wow, estoy muy lejos. Y en realidad, antes de eso, había una señora con su hijo selling cutfish. Es muy diferente, y la historia de Bona es muy interesante. Es un lugar donde nadie quería ir. En el centro de comercio.