Carrying on the Catalan feel of the weekend after our trip to Manresa, I attended my second calçotada in a mountainside restaurant near Casteldelfels, along with Erin and ASB colleagues.
Between January and March, Catalans all over the region hold special social lunch events called calçotadas- a time to eat newly ripe calçots, drink and be merry. See below for more details of what the whole event entails...
We started the day with a hike to the ruins of the 'Castillo d’Eramprunyà', which was perfect for working up an appetite. This does not always precede a calçotada, but it was a great idea, because we needed quite the appetite...pan tomaquet, calçots (a green onion somewhere in between a spring onion and leek, see here for more details), a looot of meat- lamb, chicken, pork, botifarra sausages- various accompanying sauces and aioli, red wine...AND crema catalana. Needless to say, my stomach is feeling a little interesting right now- but it was worth every bite.
Eating the calçots themselves is quite the interactive experience- first, you pull off the deeply charred outer layer then dip your smooth calçot into a delicious nut and tomato romesco sauce. Erin is demonstrating to the right! You are given around 10-15 calçots all for yourself- surprisingly filling! The meat that followed was mouth-wateringly good, but we had filled ourselves up by the time it came around. All of this was washed down with some wine- drunk both the traditional way and through a 'porrón'- a jar with a thin spout through which you pour the wine directly into your mouth. The latter is infinitely messier, but much more fun! There is a photo below of my attempt.
If you ever visit Catalonia during this season, I would definitely recommend trying to catch a calçotada. The restaurant we went to, Ermita de Brugués, was great- around 30 minutes from Barcelona by car. However, there are always random ones happening in city neighbourhoods like Gracia as well that will vary according to the year, so you may need to ask around once you get here.
Excuse the smudged photos below- peeling the calçots is a mucky business, and unfortunately camera unfriendly. They provide you with bibs for a reason! Enjoy...
Between January and March, Catalans all over the region hold special social lunch events called calçotadas- a time to eat newly ripe calçots, drink and be merry. See below for more details of what the whole event entails...
We started the day with a hike to the ruins of the 'Castillo d’Eramprunyà', which was perfect for working up an appetite. This does not always precede a calçotada, but it was a great idea, because we needed quite the appetite...pan tomaquet, calçots (a green onion somewhere in between a spring onion and leek, see here for more details), a looot of meat- lamb, chicken, pork, botifarra sausages- various accompanying sauces and aioli, red wine...AND crema catalana. Needless to say, my stomach is feeling a little interesting right now- but it was worth every bite.
Eating the calçots themselves is quite the interactive experience- first, you pull off the deeply charred outer layer then dip your smooth calçot into a delicious nut and tomato romesco sauce. Erin is demonstrating to the right! You are given around 10-15 calçots all for yourself- surprisingly filling! The meat that followed was mouth-wateringly good, but we had filled ourselves up by the time it came around. All of this was washed down with some wine- drunk both the traditional way and through a 'porrón'- a jar with a thin spout through which you pour the wine directly into your mouth. The latter is infinitely messier, but much more fun! There is a photo below of my attempt.If you ever visit Catalonia during this season, I would definitely recommend trying to catch a calçotada. The restaurant we went to, Ermita de Brugués, was great- around 30 minutes from Barcelona by car. However, there are always random ones happening in city neighbourhoods like Gracia as well that will vary according to the year, so you may need to ask around once you get here.
Excuse the smudged photos below- peeling the calçots is a mucky business, and unfortunately camera unfriendly. They provide you with bibs for a reason! Enjoy...
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| The chapel of the castillo d’Eramprunyà, built in Roman, Gothic and Renaissance styles. |
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| The lord of the castle made sure his face was built into the building! |
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| The 'Roca Foradada', or the 'Rock with a Hole'. It was apparently wind that caused this rock to be hollow. |
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| Our guide, Elena, Kristin and Erin hiking up the hill. |
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| All the girls mid-hike (L-R Natalie, Elena, Nina, me and Erin) |
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| Relaxing in the gorgeous sunshine after the short hike. |
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| Comoooo??? |
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| Calçots! |
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| Mucky hands guaranteed! |
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| Peeling process in motion... |
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| Artichokes...a common accompnyment. I'd never really had artichokes before coming to Spain; these ones were particularly soft and delicious. |
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| Opening the artichoke up like a flower! |
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| A very garlicky aioli for the bread and meat, and the obligatory olives. |
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| Attempting to drink from the 'porrón'. |
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| MEAAAAAT |
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| A silly selfie! (L-R Astrid, Nina, me, Erin and Elena) |
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