Calçots “Food” Experience – January 30th, 2010
Where to begin for this culinary experience…it is fairly safe to say that what I consumed today was quite traditional to this region of Spain. The restaurant that we ate in was practically in the middle of nowhere. Actually, I will rephrase that…it was in the middle of nowhere. The bus that we took drove us down a dirt road which took us to the middle of a field. This was the location in which we were about to devour our “calçots” delicacy.
Calçots are basically spring onions which are roasted on a smoldering fire. Now, to the “faint of heart/those with weak stomachs,” these interesting looking vegetables look like burned weeds when they are served. The best place to start is to describe the atmosphere a bit. First off, it is important to stress the fact that this place is in the middle of nowhere and we are truly in the countryside. However, with that being said, there was still a massive line to get into the restaurant. It is pretty safe to say that this “restaurant” (building looked like a barn) had over 150 people waiting in line…not to mention there was about another 200 people inside already eating. This reality made me believe that this place must be doing something right…once inside, the Spanish cultural experience began almost immediately. It was quite evident that we would be enjoying a traditional “family style” meal in which many individuals sat around the table and shared the same food. There is something truly special about this sort of experience no matter what country you are in. The relationship you have with the people that you “break bread with” is absolutely remarkable and that experience is only compounded when you shared it with so many different individuals.
Anyway, the building was not nice/comfortable by any stretch of the imagination; however, the food did all of the talking. We enjoyed pan con tomate, French fries, sausage, calçots, salad, and washed it all down with some Fanta©! Although I as a bit hesitant at first to consume these leafy, green vegetables, I have since been convinced that they truly are something wonderful. Just about everything about these vegetables is unique (taste, preparation, way in which you eat them, etc.). Although they were a bit messy to eat (black charcoal/soot all over my hands and clothes) I would absolutely have then again. Furthermore, the place we that we ate at had a strong rustic feel which, with a little bit of imagination, took me back to “traditional Spain.” I would not be surprised to hear that people had been enjoying similar experiences, in the same restaurant/location, one hundred years earlier. Simply put, this authentic Spanish lunch was truly intriguing and has left me craving more; more calçots, more pan con tomate, and more Spanish culture!
Where to begin for this culinary experience…it is fairly safe to say that what I consumed today was quite traditional to this region of Spain. The restaurant that we ate in was practically in the middle of nowhere. Actually, I will rephrase that…it was in the middle of nowhere. The bus that we took drove us down a dirt road which took us to the middle of a field. This was the location in which we were about to devour our “calçots” delicacy.
Calçots are basically spring onions which are roasted on a smoldering fire. Now, to the “faint of heart/those with weak stomachs,” these interesting looking vegetables look like burned weeds when they are served. The best place to start is to describe the atmosphere a bit. First off, it is important to stress the fact that this place is in the middle of nowhere and we are truly in the countryside. However, with that being said, there was still a massive line to get into the restaurant. It is pretty safe to say that this “restaurant” (building looked like a barn) had over 150 people waiting in line…not to mention there was about another 200 people inside already eating. This reality made me believe that this place must be doing something right…once inside, the Spanish cultural experience began almost immediately. It was quite evident that we would be enjoying a traditional “family style” meal in which many individuals sat around the table and shared the same food. There is something truly special about this sort of experience no matter what country you are in. The relationship you have with the people that you “break bread with” is absolutely remarkable and that experience is only compounded when you shared it with so many different individuals.
Anyway, the building was not nice/comfortable by any stretch of the imagination; however, the food did all of the talking. We enjoyed pan con tomate, French fries, sausage, calçots, salad, and washed it all down with some Fanta©! Although I as a bit hesitant at first to consume these leafy, green vegetables, I have since been convinced that they truly are something wonderful. Just about everything about these vegetables is unique (taste, preparation, way in which you eat them, etc.). Although they were a bit messy to eat (black charcoal/soot all over my hands and clothes) I would absolutely have then again. Furthermore, the place we that we ate at had a strong rustic feel which, with a little bit of imagination, took me back to “traditional Spain.” I would not be surprised to hear that people had been enjoying similar experiences, in the same restaurant/location, one hundred years earlier. Simply put, this authentic Spanish lunch was truly intriguing and has left me craving more; more calçots, more pan con tomate, and more Spanish culture!
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