{"product_id":"a-winter-feast-in-catalonia","title":"WORD IT´S THE SEASON: EL CALÇOT","description":"\u003ch3\u003eWhat is this?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA calçotada is a seasonal Catalan ritual (November–April) centered on the communal roasting and eating of calçots - sweeter, elongated onion-like shoot cultivated in trenches.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYou’ll depart Barcelona in private car, into the Catalan countryside. Your destination: a working garden where calçots (pronounced kal-sotz) are grown, harvested and prepared over open fire. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlong the way, you’ll stop at the Royal Monastery of Santes Creus, a medieval Cistercian abbey built in 12th century, with Gothic cloisters, royal tombs and austere architectural purity.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt the garden, you’ll meet the farming family and learn about the cultivation of calçots. Then comes the feast: calçots grilled until the outer layers blacken, wrapped in newspaper to steam and eaten by hand — peeling away charred exteriors and dipping each stalk into romesco (or a similar sauce). Expect to get your fingers messy, and partake in what is, by design, a convivial, generous meal. This is as farm-to-table fresh as it gets.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat makes this unique?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eA calçotada is a food experience that is sociable, traditional, delicious, and playful. It’s about ritual, regional identity, rural air, fire, laughter, wine, and the earth that grew your food. The ritual of gathering friends for a gluttonous afternoon to eat them defines Catalan winter life in rural areas. While many gastronomic experiences offer tasting or cooking classes to visitors, few immerse you in a tradition still rooted in community and seasonality. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this private gathering, the owners will share how calçots are planted and harvested as leafless stalks. Ask them about the origin story of the calçotada, how it started in the Catalan town of Valls at the end of the 19th century, and about the farmer who experimented with planting onion shoots under soil and discovered their sweet, tender interior.  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe inclusion of Santes Creus brings in further cultural weight: this abbey served as a royal pantheon for Aragonese kings and houses tombs of monarchs in Gothic sanctuaries.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat is included?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrivate round-trip transport from Barcelona into the Catalan countryside.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGuided visit to the 12th-century Royal Monastery of Santes Creus.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrivate farm visit with insight into calçot cultivation and local traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRustic calçotada meal prepared over open fire with a local farming family.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeasonal Catalan dishes served with local wine pairings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHands-on, communal dining experience rooted in regional ritual.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Santes Creus | Spain","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53975128277331,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1065\/6736\/9043\/files\/El_Calcot.png?v=1788363953","url":"https:\/\/bysublimia.com\/products\/a-winter-feast-in-catalonia","provider":"BySublimia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}