Barcelona’s Molino de Pez restaurant has reopened its doors after a devastating kitchen fire forced months of closure and reconstruction. To mark its comeback, the team has decided to thank loyal customers and neighbours by giving away 500 free portions of lentils.
The blaze struck on 23 April, shutting down the restaurant overnight and prompting a complete refurbishment. For owner Nino Redruello, it was both a challenge and an opportunity:
‘We closed suddenly, with heavy hearts and a silent kitchen, but from the outset we knew we wanted to return as soon as possible — and to return stronger,’ he said.
On Wednesday 10 September, the team handed out lentils from a stall outside the premises on Carrer de Córsega, 346. The recipe, inherited from Redruello’s grandmother, is a dish that has long been served at the family’s Taberna La Ancha in Madrid. The following day, Thursday 11 September, marked the official reopening of the restaurant with lunch service.
The relaunch also includes special dishes for La Mercè festival, such as fricandó of beef loin, smoked tongue with vine shoots, and trumpet mushrooms — all designed to underline Molino de Pez’s commitment to traditional yet unpretentious food.
Redruello noted that the enforced closure gave the team time to ‘reconnect with what matters most: simple, flavourful dishes made to be enjoyed’.
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