Spring in Barcelona: eat like a Catalan

Springtime is one of the best times to visit Barcelona. The weather is getting warmer but it’s still at a comfortable heat, and there are typically less people in the city as the tourist buzz hasn’t quite hit yet and many locals leave Barcelona for the Easter break. Better still; springtime is also a great period of culinary excellence, the season boasting not just great food but unique gastronomic experiences.

Calçotada

One of the most renowned traditions of Catalonia is the Calçotada, most easily compared to a huge neighbourhood BBQ. It is during a Calçotada where calçots– similar to spring onions, leeks, or scallions- are eaten, along with a salvitxada or romesco sauce.

Los calçots grow from January to March and were first discovered near Tarragona, a small city roughly an hour south of Barcelona. The traditional way of cooking this delicious delicacy is by char-grilling them over an open fire until the outside is blackened and the…