Check out our VIDEO to see the awesome Catalan food we ate during our traditional meal at Sala Gran in Costa Brava.
Catalonia is a region in Spain where food takes center court and residents live the true meaning of “eating local” on a daily basis. And who can blame them?
Vegetables like wild rovello mushrooms grow rampant on the rich terroir and all varieties of seafood like prawns, clams and fish populate Catalan’s backyard waterway otherwise known as the Mediterranean Sea.
With so many different Catalan food products, we found surprises at every meal from casual tapas at König to our multi-course meal at a Michelin starred restaurant and everywhere in between. We found a new dish or product that blew us away every day during our 23-day visit. Our challenge in Costa Brava wasn’t finding good Catalan food but rather not eating too much of it.
As we pieced the Catalan cuisine puzzle together in our head, it all came together as we ate a traditional Catalan lunch at Sala Gran just outside of Pals, the historic epicenter of the region’s important rice production. Chef Isaac Sabria brought his 12 years of cooking in the family restaurant to our table as he showered us with some of the best food we ate in Costa Brava.
Sabria’s dishes captured the essence of Catalan cuisine with their incorporation of local products like rovello mushrooms, duck, snails, and rock mussels. We ate starter after starter before we got to the main course – Nembo rice from Pals with squid and small Palamos pawns.
As if that wasn’t enough, we drank a bottle of Emporda white wine and finished it all off with a decadent ice cream dessert.
Sala Gran is located at Calle de la Barceloneta, 44, 17124 Llofriu, Girona, Spain.
Catalan Food Fest Video
Want to see everything we ate at Sala Gran? Watch our YouTube video to see our entire traditional Catalan meal.
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Hungry for More in Costa Brava?
Check out our Girona Food Guide for great food and drink options in and around Girona, Spain.
About the Authors
Daryl & Mindi Hirsch
Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website and YouTube. The married Food and Travel content creators live in Lisbon, Portugal.
Original Publication Date: January 12, 2017
Anne
Tuesday 24th of January 2017
I'm dying to get back to Catalunya. This video made me hungry!!!
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Wednesday 25th of January 2017
This would be a great year for you to return to Catalunya. The sooner the better!
Heidi Roberts
Thursday 19th of January 2017
This food looks absolutely delicious! I loved travelling and eating on the Costa Brava
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Saturday 21st of January 2017
We loved traveling in Costa Brava too! The food is so great there, not to mention the natural beauty and friendly people.
Sue
Thursday 19th of January 2017
I love watching your vlogs but my favorite are your Instagram stories - you guys have so much fun and seem to be coffee addicts just like me. You have covered so much of the globe since I have been following you, are you ever going 'home'?
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Saturday 21st of January 2017
Thanks Sue! We're having fun with the Instagram stories, that's for sure. And, yes, we love our coffee. We have some exciting plans ahead, but we'll make it back home eventually.
Kavey
Tuesday 17th of January 2017
I think everywhere in Europe had great good traditions but few are quite so passionate as the Catalan people! Looks like you had an epic meal here!
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Saturday 21st of January 2017
Living in Girona for 3+ weeks gave us a great appreciation for the Catalan people and their food. We hope to return sooner than later.
Ayngelina Brogan
Tuesday 17th of January 2017
So many good food memories from Costa Brava! Looks like you're thoroughly enjoying it as well.
Daryl and Mindi Hirsch
Tuesday 17th of January 2017
We totally enjoyed our three weeks in Costa Brava. It's a special region with a wealth of culinary offerings.