When asked to name their ideal dinner party guests, there is a good chance that Steven Spielberg, Bruce Springsteen and Barack Obama would make the list.
No one was surprised when, on Thursday, the former US President, the legendary singer-songwriter and the Oscar-winning Director sat at the Amar Restaurant in the Palace Hotel to have a meal.
Staff member Pol Perello posted a picture of the three men posing alongside staff and chefs, with the caption: “The joy this job brings you!”
Last-minute bookings were made after Mr Obama, his wife Michelle, and the former First Lady arrived in Barcelona on Friday to attend Springsteen’s concert at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium.
Rafa Zafra, amar chef at Cadena SER in Spain, said that the reservation had been made just hours before on the recommendation of renowned Spanish-American Chef Jose Andres.
“Jose Andres rang me and said that this was an important table but that we shouldn’t say anything,” Zafra said.
“And, of course, I started to investigate and found out that Obama was coming. Bruce had a show.”
The chef said that the group was “tired”, but eager to “try everything”.
He said that they “ate” a lot, including oysters and shellfish. They also “drank” some during the meal.
“The best behaved person had to go to work today”, Mr Zafra said in reference to Springsteen’s concert on Friday night.
In regards to the group picture, Mr Zafra stated: “The security personnel told us not to ask for photos. But just before we left, Obama came into the kitchen and asked if the team could take a photograph with them. This was one of the best meals they had ever eaten.”
The Obamas visited some of Barcelona’s cultural landmarks on Friday.
The tour will include stops at the Sagrada Familia, designed by Antoni Gaud, and the Picasso Museum.
Spanish news agencies showed the former President and First Lady walking hand-in-hand through central Barcelona, surrounded by large groups of security guards.
Later, Mrs Obama appeared on the stage to sing along with Springsteen’s Glory Days performance. She played the tambourine.
In 2008, Mr Obama and Springsteen met for the first time on the campaign trail of the 2008 presidential election. They hosted a podcast in 2021 that led to the book Renegades Born in USA.
