Traditional Catalan comfort cuisine in Sant Sadurní , the heart of Cavas country (the preferred…read moresparkling wine of Spain). This charming family style restaurant is located in the center of the town and a must stop when you make a trip to Cava country. Here you can taste the best dishes of traditional Catalan cuisine, all accompanied by the great wines and cavas from Canals & Munné .
We took the train from Barcelona and met up with our friend César who lived literally down the street . He reserved a table for us and took the reins on ordering and he did not hold back. We got to try a variety of dishes.
Upon entering a light whiff of smoke permeates the air as just about the entire menu is cooked using a wood burning grill.
We started with the BBQ Calçots in remesco sauce. Calçots , similar to spring onions, leeks, or scallions., are a Catalan delicacy only grown in the Southern Catalonia region from January to March. Char-grilled on a barbecue until the outside leaves are blackened and the inside is soft. The result is slightly smoky and tender green stalk with a very mild herbaceous flavor. Dipped in remesco sauce, it's an excellent accompaniment with a glass of Cava.
Iberian Ham with pa amb tomàquet (bread rubbed with tomato and garlic). The ham with a unique aromatic combination of sweetness, nuttiness, and earthiness is fantastic on its own but when rested against the pa amb tomàquet, it's the definitive Catalan comfort food.
Another traditional Catalan dish is snails a la llauna, where the snails are cooked in a metal roasting tray on a charcoal grill then dressed with salt and pepper, olive oil and oregano, and then served with an allioli dipping sauce. As a huge fan of escargot, I am no stranger to snails. Here the snails have a mild earthy flavor. Texture is tender with a slight chewiness. The grill added a delightful smokiness. Dipped in allioli it is also another perfect companion with Cava.
For main course, I had the Grilled Octopus. Grilled with salt and pepper then drizzled with Spanish olive oil. Besides, Japanese, I can't think of any other cuisine that makes better octopus than Spanish. Not even Hawaiian. Firm yet so tender and the Spanish olive oil added a wonderful velvety mouthfeel that lets each morsel gently slide down your throat.
I had a few bites of my friend's Grilled Rabbitt. Very lean with a nice smoky flavor, but it was a bit too simple and dry for my taste. Could've used some fats like olive oil.
My friend who had the pork sausages with pinto beans raved about it. He said the sausages were juicy with a nice fennel flavor.
The service was excellent and the atmosphere vibed of a country family restaurant with traditional delicious food.
We can't wait to come back!
Happy Eating!!
