After the Holiday season is over, a popular Catalan season is ready to rock. Do you know what we are talking about? INDEED. It is Calçots season in Barcelona! And also throughout Catalonia.
Starting from the basics: What is a calçot?
The most cherished onion. The simplest but most poetic definition since the ritual of eating calçots is almost considered an art, very rotted in the Catalan culture. But technically we would describe it as a green onion which is smaller, milder and less bulbous than the “normal” onion (as seen in the picture above).
When is exactly Calçot season?
It goes from November to April, but it gets all the attention specially during the months of January, February and March.
What is this tradition about?
This culinary tradition has also implied a social aspect: a reunion with family or friends. To put it in other words, a calçotada in Barcelona would be similar to a BBQ party in the United States but replacing burgers for calçots. And instead of bbq sauce, you will need “salsa romesco”. As simple as it sounds ;-)
Important for you take in mind if you are in charge of holding the ritual at your place: you will need these #calçotsessentials to ensure success:
- Big bib: an iconic essential for the event. And also very useful to avoid staining your shirt.
- Romesco sauce: the typical Catalan sauce when eating calçots (don’t replace it for ketchup or bbq sauce. Please don’t).
- Calçots: Nothing else to add.
- Barbecue and ember: essential tools, again, to ensure success (and to prove how you are totally immersed in the Catalan gastronomy.
How to eat calçots?
The big bib is going to help you out here. So here it goes the most important moment of the celebration: you take a calçot, you peel it, you dip it in the romesco sauce and finally you raise your arm with your head slightly tilted back and YUM! (don’t forget to take a picture).
Where does this tradition come from?
There are diverse versions about the origin of calçots, but the most known involves a main character, Xat de Benaigues. He was a peasant from Valls who invented the type of cultivation to produce this special onion that today we call “calçot”.
Where to eat calçots in Barcelona?
A friend’s house in the countryside
This is our favourite option. If you are lucky to have friends living in a farmhouse in the countryside, that location is perfect for a calçotada day. But even if you can’t think of anyone in that place, close enough to propose that plan, you can still enjoy a calçotada in that environment. There are many restaurants in the countryside which we call “masia” (similar to a farmhouse) that are specialized in calçots.
Places in the countryside equipped for calçotades
Or what about cooking yourself the calçots on enabled areas equipped with barbecues, surrounded by a beautiful environment? It definitely sounds like a plan, huh? Here we share some of these places we are talking about to celebrate a calçotada in Barcelona (or other beautiful places in Catalonia):
- El Cabirol (Vallgorguina).
- Can Via (La Palma de Cervelló).
- Parc del Pi Gros (Sant Vicenç dels Horts).
- Mas Ventós (in the beautiful area of Cap de Creus).
- Parc de Gualba (Gualba).
But you don’t have to leave the city to try calçots: restaurants in Barcelona
In Barcelona there are also many traditional Catalan restaurants offering this typical dish. Here we share some of them:
- Mirador de Can Cases (beautiful views).
- Can Travi Nou (a cozy place).
- Can Cortada (a farmhouse, rural and authentic).
Join a “calçotada popular”
Where to eat calçots in Barcelona? Right in the streets of the city! You can try calçots in Barcelona by joining one of the many “Calçotades populars” organized by neighborhoods.associations consisting in eating calçots on a long table placed on the streets of the neighborhood. Also calçots are cooked right there in the street. A really recommended option also! (usually are held from January to March).
But do you know where else to eat calçots in Barcelona? At your place!
You can cook them if you have a barbecue or even in the oven (but we warn you that they won’t taste the same. To all calçots lovers: forgive us for having said that. We mean the oven thing).
Don’t miss the chance to join a calçotada in Barcelona if the opportunity arises!