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Catalan Cuisine: Introduction to Food in Costa Brava

Cured Spanish ham
Cured Spanish ham at Hotel Balneari Prats

Food, glorious food. It was all around us at TBEX in Girona, but my deep dive into Catalan Cuisine began with the 3-day blog trip through Costa Brava, which followed.

We had a busy itinerary, yet somehow there was always enough time for a multi-hour, multi-course lunch with bottomless glasses of wine.

Being a glutton never felt so good. And if ever there was a country worth getting to know through its food, it's Spain.

Salmon canape
Salmon canape

Lunch in Tossa de Mar

After touring Tossa de Mar, we sat down for a beachside lunch at Restaurant Madrugada, part of the Club-Hotel Giverola.

We were welcomed with a glass of sangria de cava and a choice of canapes, like the salmon one pictured above.

Cava is a Spanish sparkling wine, their version of French champagne.

More finger foods, including deviled eggs, soups, and mixed seafood
More finger foods, including deviled eggs, soups, and mixed seafood

Every dish served showed close attention to detail, and there were a lot of dishes that afternoon.

An array of sausages and cheeses arrived next. Cured meats, including sausage and serrano ham, are a staple in Catalan cuisine.

I only wish I were a bigger fan of both so I could appreciate them more.

Baked scallops
Baked scallops
Sea bass with potatoes and seasonal vegetables
Sea bass with potatoes and seasonal vegetables

For the main course, we had a choice of either sea bass or duck. Seeing as how we were dining by the water, most of us chose the fish.

Dessert was a parfait of ratafia with wild berries sauce. The heat of the day had it melting on the plate before me; thus, it looked like a big gloppy mess.

It tasted fine, but it wasn't very photogenic.

Spanish tomato toast
Spanish tomato toast

Dinner in Blanes

Later that night, we had another beachside meal. This time, it was dinner at the chic Restaurant Es Blanc in Blanes.

As often was the case, our meal began with olives and Spanish tomato toast, lightly toasted bread smeared with fresh tomatoes, and drizzled with olive oil.

A fresh, simple, tasty way to dress up bread.

Rice with spiny spider crab
Rice with spiny spider crab

The rice with spider crab was a house specialty, so that's what we ordered. It's not the most photogenic dish, but it was full of flavor.

I much prefer to eat crab when it's removed from the shell. I'm not one of those guys who can sit down in front of a bucket of Maryland crabs and go to town cracking shells and sucking the meat out.

Es Blanc is also known for its wide array of gins. I had a gin and tonic with dinner, but I can't recall which one.

Chocolate semi sphere
Chocolate semi-sphere

As if the two substantial meals of the day weren't enough, I couldn't resist finding out what was behind the “chocolate semi-sphere” on the menu.

It's safe to say if I were living in Spain, France, Italy, or any other western European country, I'd be on cholesterol medication by now.

Cheese bread with anchovies
Cheese bread with anchovies

September 25: Birthday Lunch in Lloret de Mar

The following day, we headed to Lloret de Mar, one of the biggest beach destinations in Spain.

It attracts one million visitors per year, which is hard to believe given how small it appeared.

We settled into another big lunch at Restaurant La Mar Blanca after a relaxed walk through the nearby Santa Clotilde's Botanical Gardens. And this lunch happened to fall on my 36th birthday, making it a special occasion (at least for me).

Octopus on potatoes
Octopus on potatoes

Before the main event, we were served an array of starters, including cheese bread with anchovies.

I would eat more anchovies in Costa Brava than the rest of my life combined. If you couldn't tell by now, seafood factors heavily into Catalan cuisine, and I didn't want to miss out.

Another dish I usually wouldn't order, if left to my own devices, is the octopus. But, the large meaty pieces served on potatoes turned out to be quite tasty. When cooked properly, I've found octopus to be a food I enjoy.

Deep fried little fishies
Deep-fried little fishies
Paella La Mar Blanca
Paella La Mar Blanca

As I mentioned earlier, Spanish seafood paella was the main event. Cooked in a large, paella-specific dish, it featured fresh lobster and mussels.

Mouth-wateringly good, it's a wonder any of us were able to carry on with the rest of our day.

Did I mention we were all drinking wine throughout the service?

Crema Catalana
Crema Catalana

Dessert was a regional favorite, crema Catalana, a Spanish custard very similar to creme brulee.

And because it was my birthday, I was also surprised with a chocolate brownie immersed in whip cream, complete with candles. Yea, I ate that too.

Gin and tonic with juniper berries
Gin and tonic with juniper berries

Happy Hour at Cala Banys

Later that evening, as the sun was setting, we rolled into Bar Cala Banys for happy hour cocktails by the sea.

We had the place to ourselves and grabbed a table and chairs right by the water's edge. Waves crashing into the rocky shoreline below, we relaxed with our favorite cocktails.

I opted for a gin and tonic, which was served with juniper berries. I experienced this nice touch for the first time in my life a few days earlier at a bar in Girona. I've never seen it done outside of Spain.

(Left) Tuna sphere "Balfego" with algae and fennel, and (Right) Marinated mackerel with avocado cream and almond vinaigrette
(Left) Tuna sphere “Balfego” with algae and fennel, and (Right) Marinated mackerel with avocado cream and almond vinaigrette

Birthday Dinner in Lloret de Mar

My 36th birthday came to a close with a 6-course, gourmet meal at FREU Restaurant in the Hotel Guitart Monterrey.

I barely had room for another large meal by this point in the day and trip, but I soldiered on. Luckily, the portion sizes were small.

Corvina with beet puree, Greek yogurt and vegetable couscous
Corvina with beet puree, Greek yogurt, and vegetable couscous (my favorite course)
Banana rum with coconut foam and pineapple sorbet
Banana rum with coconut foam and pineapple sorbet

I even managed to gobble down another blogger's dessert, in addition to my own.

Believe it or not, there was still another full day to our trip, but I'm going to end this introduction to Catalan cuisine on a high note, or rather, a sweet one.

_____

I visited these restaurants as a guest of the Costa Brava Tourism Board.

Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:

Corinne

Tuesday 13th of May 2014

Ooohhh it all looks so yummy. So one night I was walking downtown in Rota and decided to stop at an ice cream shop. They had a "crema cataluna" flavor of ice cream. The dessert is awesome, so I had to try the ice cream. OMG...to die for! Really, everyone should try it!

Jonas

Monday 29th of July 2013

Great place the Costa Brava!!!! I had great time two years ago, the food is excellent. i loved black rice and Pata negra ham. About ham I found very interesting information in this website: http://www.jamonarium.com/en/content/27-spanish-ham-pata-negra-bellota-serrano-iberico-iberian it's something big in Spain the iberico ham!!! About hte coast the best I saw was Tossa de Mar, I agree is a great place to stay. Enjoy your trips David!!!

Richard Crest

Tuesday 12th of February 2013

Yummy! I would love to taste all the desserts also got curious what's inside the Chocolate semi sphere.:)

Nelson Martin

Monday 4th of February 2013

These dishes are death to eat!

Anita Mac

Thursday 24th of January 2013

It all looks so amazing! I absolutely love the food in Spain. It is always so fresh and fantastic. I am a huge fan of the serrano ham and the tapas and the fish and and and!!! That G&T by the sea looks amazing! Having such stunning backdrops always makes the experience so much more!

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