According to Sky News a row has erupted over the prices of pan de cristal and M&S, on its website it has posted “Marks and Spencer is selling two slices of bread for up to £4.50. “The supermarket’s Spanish pan de cristal product is described as a “light, crisp bread perfect for toasting and topping with our crushed tomato bread topper”. “We checked on its website, and the topper costs another £2.50.
The items have been available at M&S for months, but have recently gained media attention.”
Well, I live in Palma and I can confirm that it’s more expensive, especially in restaurants. In Palma, the cost of pan de cristal (crystal bread) when ordered as a starter or side dish in a restaurant typically ranges from €8 to €9.50. When served as part of a larger dish, such as with Iberian ham, the price will be higher, around €22.
Prices can vary depending on whether you are buying the bread as a standalone item, as a appetiser (often served with tomato and olive oil), or as an accompaniment to a more expensive main dish.
If you wish to purchase pan de cristal for home use, specialty shops and online retailers offer packages. For example, a 12-slice pack might be available for around €8 from certain online suppliers.
Local bakeries may also offer various types of bread products for retail, though specific pan de cristal loaf prices can vary. A colleague of mine has recently returned from London and told me that eating out, you get better value for money than in Palma - plus you get a proper pint for the same price or even less.
Pan de cristal ( pa de vidre in Catalan) is a bread from Spain, originating in Barcelona , characterized by high hydration and double fermentation, resulting in a very hollow and alveolar crumb , almost nonexistent. It contains strong flour , water, yeast, olive oil, and salt