The Costa Brava is a somewhat special place. A corner of Europe that many Europeans are clued into, but Americans aren\u2019t. It\u2019s not over touristy. It has beaches and mountains. It hosts an up-and-coming\u00a0wine region<\/a>. And, most important, it has a gastronomic history and tradition that rivals any other culinary region in Europe.<\/p>\n If anyone knows anything about Catalonia cuisine, it is probably because of Ferran Adri\u00e0, and El Bulli.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>The top restaurant in the world for years, El Bulli was set on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean, outside the town of Roses, in Costa Brava. Over the years, Adri\u00e0 has trained dozens upon dozens of young chefs who have gone out and spread high-end gastronomy around the globe. More than that, though, he inspired chefs who have stayed in Costa Brava, to open their own high quality restaurants.<\/span><\/p>\n Gastronomy is top of peoples\u2019 minds in Catalonia, not only because there are more Michelin stars per capita in Costa Brava than any other region in the world, but because there is a history of local production, of farm-to-table cuisine, of living off of the land, and appreciating the fresh, local seafood.\u00a0Food and wine<\/a>\u00a0are a way of life here.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>It is not just high-end gastronomy, but local food traditions, that form the backbone of Catalonia. There is a depth to the cuisine, from cured meats and cheeses, to seafood and fish, to meats and vegetables, all within this one small region.<\/span><\/p>\n Many travelers to Spain focus on seeking out the best tapas, paella, and sangria they can find. What many travelers don\u2019t realize is that Spain has regional cuisines. There are 17 distinct regions in Spain and each has a different cuisine. The food in Andalusia is different from the food in the\u00a0Basque Country<\/a>\u00a0is different from the food in\u00a0Madrid<\/a>. Catalan cuisine is different from all of the above.<\/p>\n Catalan food is more focused on the Mediterranean diet, influenced by the history of the Greeks, the Romans, and the Etruscans on the area. It\u2019s even influenced by the Arabs and the spice trade that once came through the Costa Brava, and through the ports at Barcelona.<\/p>\n For travelers to Girona, there are some amazing restaurants right within the city. But, some of the real gems, when it comes to Costa Brava restaurants, are those that are in small towns a villages, some along the coast, and some set more inland.<\/p>\n See\u00a0TripAdvisor Reviews of the Top Costa Brava Restaurants<\/a> for 2020<\/p>\n When visiting some of the traditional Costa Brava restaurants, there are some dishes you are most likely to see on a Costa Brava menu. One of the most common dishes is\u00a0pa amb tom\u00e0quet<\/a>\u00a0(in Spanish, pan con tomate). This is crusty or toasted bread, drizzled with olive oil, garlic, and crushed fresh tomato. Escalivada is a dish made of marinated and grilled vegetables, generally including eggplant, bell peppers, and onions. Botifarra (in Spanish, butifarra) is a pork sausage, often served grilled with white beans. Or track down fuet, a long, thin cured pork sausage. For dessert, look for Crema Catalana, a thick custard with burnt sugar on top.<\/p>\n Unlike it\u2019s more touristy neighbor to the south, Barcelona, it is hard to find a bad meal in Girona and the Costa Brava. There are a handful of places that might border on the definition of touristy, particularly along Girona\u2019s La Rambla, or in some of the larger coastal towns. But, for the most part, the restaurants are made for the locals. And, even if they are not serving traditional Catalan cuisine, you are more likely to hear Catalan at the next table than English.<\/span><\/p>\n\n \n What is Catalan Cuisine<\/h2>\n
Costa Brava Foods<\/b><\/h2>\n
Costa Brava Restaurants<\/h2>\n
Tops Catalan Foods To Try On Your Costa Brava Holidays<\/b><\/h2>\n
Recent Costa Brava Restaurant Reviews and Posts<\/h2>\n