Now we will go in Catalonia, to know their food and institutions together to preserve local cuisine and the diversity of their crops.

Gastronomic routes:

The people of Gallecs, today is a natural paradise where your neighbors are struggling to care for about 750 hectares that prevail in their products field to turn, step by step in a truly organic garden.

Photography by flydime

In Gallecs (Vallès Oriental) native species were planted tomatoes, green beans, zucchini or cauliflower. His neighbors have recovered ancient varieties of wheat, some of which survive in very few places in Catalonia. And he cultivated a type of bean (called the gantxet) very popular and nutritious, but very productive, which is the essential complement to a good sausage.

Traditional recipe:

Traditional recipes have been passed from generation to generation for years. One of these recipes the operetta, a fish stew similar to traditional suquet but has no chips, traditional seaside areas as the barrio of Barceloneta, the Catalan capital. As with most dishes, there are many ways to prepare, but the zarzuela has prawns, langoustines, hake, cuttlefish and squid.

Photography by Hector Garcia

Just 17 miles from the beach there is a large prawn fishing grounds known to all fishermen in the city. There are 16 trawlers and 25 purse at the port returning daily with kilos of seafood such as cuttlefish, squid, sole, sea bass, hake … etc. A product that, according to fishermen, restaurateurs and owners, is of high quality.

An invention of the traditional cooking values are the emblematic dishes prepared with mountain and sea products, fish and seafood dishes with meat and rice. Become much in the Baix Emporda, where they can find restaurants.

The routes of wine (cava)

Cava is a typical product of the Catalan wine sold in markets around the world. The traditional production method, originated thanks to the research of biologist Louis Pasteur, which allowed controlling the second fermentation in the bottle. The cork stopper allowed to keep the bubble characteristics.

Currently, the Penedès region of more than 95% of the production of cava (200 million bottles per year). The capital of cava is Sadurní d’Anoia Sant, who holds a Week Cava in early October. The caves of the area you can visit to learn the process from collection of the bunch until bottling. Here, you find the Codorniu cellars, in a modernist building by the architect Puig. There are 26 kilometers of underground cellars. There is a tourist train that runs through the area. You can also visit the famous Freixenet champagne.

Photography by eldelinux

The Tourist Promotion Consortium Alt Penedès has developed seven routes of wine and cava in the region. One of them gets on a bus leaving the station Lavern. The routes pass through areas of vineyards and several wineries.

Gourmet Calendar 2010:

These are some of the events related to the food to be produced in Catalonia in the remainder of the year.

September

September is full of celebration. Between the 9th and 12th is celebrated Wine Show Empordà. On Saturday 11th there will be a popular rice Vilada and sample cheeses in Borredà, both in the Pyrenees. The 18th season begins in Camprodón truffles. In the Ebro delta celebrates one of the traditional festivals of rice, the Feast of Harvest, the two-day (Saturday 18 and Sunday 19).

October

Height of the season for mushrooms in Catalonia with various celebrations around the country: in the Maresme gastronomic, Cerdanyola, Pyrenees and Llagostera, which also organizes the Festa del Bolet. It is also time for chestnuts, which can be tasted in Viladrau and Vilanova de Prades (in both places on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24).

November

The first weekend of November Gandesa, capital of Terra Alta, celebrates the Fiesta del Vino. Begin on Sunday 14th of Gastronomic Gantxet Monget of the Maresme.

December

L’Escala (Costa Brava) offers cooking workshops Christmas, with the participation of local people and restaurant, plus a «celebrity in the world of the kitchen.» Valls celebrates the Christmas Market, where poultry are sold, nativity figurines, wine and champagne, honey, candy and crafts. In the first half are held VII Gastronomic Grape and Wine Alella.

Photography by Kevin Krejci

Bon voyage!