Calçots: What are they and where to eat them in Barcelona?
Many visitors of Barcelona still do not really know what Calçots are. In this blog post we are going to tell you all about it! This Catalan tradition is carried out during this time of year (when winter ends and spring begins).
Calçots are long onions with a peculiar shape and you eat them with romesco sauce. It’s really delicious! The best thing is that this dish is actually accompanied by a ritual: put on a bib, take it with your hands, which immediately get stained with ash, eat it looking up and enjoy the union of its watery sweetness with the Romesco sauce made of almonds and tomatoes. Fabulous!
Where was this tradition born?
A place called Valls, located in Tarragona is where Calçots were born. They are usually between 15 and 25 cm long and the way to prepare them is to be roasted by flames and under their black layers, you can discover a white onion, very tender and sweet: the onions have to be calcined on the outside and cooked on the inside until they are tender.
The best restaurants to try it:
El Jardí de l’Àpat
This restaurant located near the Carmell Park, has a more rustic and traditional decoration. They have both a garden and a terrace and you can enjoy the wonderful views that this restaurant offers along with its Calçotada Menu. It is cataloged as one of the reference restaurants of Catalan cuisine in Barcelona. The special menu comes with Calçots as starters, accompanied with romesco sauce and toasted bread with tomatoes and garlic. Then a grill platter of meat as a main course, white beans, artichokes, grilled tomato and potatoes with ‘caliu‘. It also included wine and a dessert. Reservations can and should be made!
Location: Carrer d’Albert Llanas 2
Nou Can Martí
The restaurant Nou Can Martí, is located in the mountain of Collserola, in the middle of the nature. Living this experience with friends, family or couple is incredible. Uniting tradition with views and some hiking exercise is the most beautiful thing that can be organized for a weekend, while you savor extraordinary tastes! After enjoying the food, you can stay a while longer to enjoy live music on the weekends!
Location: Passatge de la Font del Mont, 4
Web: www.noucanmarti.com
Balmes Roselló
Located in the center of the Eixample, it is an emblematic place for its extensive variety of Mediterranean food and its specialty in grilled meats, tapas, pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven and, of course, calçots. This “calçotada menu” is one of the most complete and delicious in the city. In Balmes / Roselló the decoration details are taken care of, leaning towards a modernist and very pleasant style. The restaurant is open every day of the year. There is no excuse not to go!
Location: Carrer de Balmes 129
Restaurante Maur Muntaner
Upon entering the Maur Muntaner restaurant, you are guaranteed to try one of the best calçots in Barcelona. Maur Muntaner stands out for its authentic wood ovens where the best vegetables, meats and delicious pizzas are cooked. Its artisan cuisine and the simple and tasty preparation of the dishes with wood aroma are the secret of this restaurant that offers traditional Catalan cuisine with quality ingredients.
Location: Carrer de Muntaner, 121
Web: www.maur.es
 Now make your reservations because you have to try the best calçots in the city! You will see it’s a special and fun experience to enjoy together with your friends and family!