So, I have been eating quite well over the last couple of days.

Dinner on Tuesday evening was at Cal Ton in Vilafranca (www.restuarantcalton.com). Not flashy, but just very good. Started off with a really deliciously executed warm octopus salad, and then had salt cod done three ways.

A quick lunch yesterday at El Moli del Mallol in Montblanc (www.mallol.eu) was superb. I started off with some sauteed beans with black sausage that was rich without being heavy. And then a really creative dish: pigs trotters with blood sausage rolled up in filo pastry and served over a bed of snails. Wonderful.

And last night: a relaxed dinner at Vinoteca Torres in Barcelona (www.lavinotecatorres.com). Driving into town at 9 pm you sense there’s a brooding but relaxed energy about the city. Stuff is about to happen. A surprising number of young couples on mopeds: him on the front, her on the back, although I did see one role reversal. Wearing light clothes, flipflops, and a helmet.

We ate some very good small plates, including the obligatory but fabulous jamon iberico and a really nice salt cod.