The Tarragona Shrimp has become queen, at last. Twenty-four restaurants –the very best of the city– will take part in the so-called I Tarragona Shrimp Gastronomic Days, on March 13 – 29; an event set by Tarragona Gastronòmica and Adernats, together with the Confraria de Pescadors and Port de Tarragona. It is therefore paying tribute to the Tarragona Shrimp, one of the products provided by the Mediterranean Sea and Tarragona with the highest quality, and which you will have a unique chance to try in a number of proposals at three different price levels during 16 days.
From the 24 restaurants taking part, 20 (Al Natural, Barquet, Cocvla, Degvsta, De Vins, La Cantonada, Lola Tapes, Passadís, Sadoll Restaurant, Sirco Airlines and Xamfrà del Fòrum, Ares, Balandra, El Llagut, El Terrat, Palau del Baró, Racó de l’Abat, Txar3verd, AQ Restaurant and Xaloc) will offer a 15€ dish, consisting of 150g of boiled or grilled Tarragona Shrimp, together with 2 glasses of wine or cava Adernats.
Then, we have 8 restaurants (Àpats Quattros, Ares, Balandra, El Llagut, El Terrat, Palau del Baró, Racó de l’Abat, Txar3verd) providing 38€ menus, consisting of a starter, three Tarragona Shrimp main courses, dessert and half a bottle of wine or cava Adernats (one bottle for every 2 menus). In these 38€ menus, one can find creative proposals such as the so-called “mar i muntanya” by Àpats Quattros or their “Shrimp with perol sausage and baby cuttlefish”; “Shrimp wrapped with cap-i-pota and truffle”, by El Llagut restaurant; or “Shrimp stuffed pig trotters”, by Txar3verd. For those stew and bread lovers, here’s two dishes you’ll particularly like: “Shrimp suquet with cod intestines and chickpeas” by Balandra restaurant and “Shrimps with noodles and bread casserole” by Racó de l’Abat. Since we are now in the middle of the calçots season, how about this sweet onion and the new Mediterranean queen? El Terrat restaurant has created a “Grilled shrimps tartar, with couscous, calçots chutney and sweet potato”, and Palau del Baró, “Artichokes, Ganxet beans, calçot and shrimps suquet”. How about a soup? Ares Restaurant offers an “Artichokes with bacon and shrimps soup”.
Finally, 5 restaurants (AQ Restaurant, Arcs Restaurant, Ca l’Eulàlia, Restaurant Manolo and Xaloc) have designed superb menus with that little something else, at just 50€, consisting of a starter, four Tarragona Shrimp main courses, dessert plus half a bottle of wine or cava Adernats (one bottle for every 2 menus). For those choosing this top-notch tasting menu, you’ll find “Grilled shrimp and barbeque sauce” by AQ Restaurant; “Cod and ink bombs with shrimp cream and stir-fried shrimps and green onions” by Arcs Restaurant; “Stir-fried shrimps with whisky” by Ca l’Eulàlia; “Lukewarm shrimp and broad beans salad with Iberian ham crunches and orange vinegar” by Manolo restaurant; or “Shrimp Nigiri with Wasabi and Ponzu sauce”, by Xaloc restaurant.
Besides, two Tarragona Shrimp promotional videos haven been presented, thanks to Rafael López-Monné and Rafa Pérez, which come to explain the shrimp’s life cycle, and its relation with our city plus some cooking ideas. You can check out these 2 videos on the following links:
Tarragona Shrimp (short version)
Tarragona Shrimp (long version)
Text: Ivan Rodon (@irodon on Twitter)
Pictures: Pere Toda (@ptodaserra on Instagram)
Translation: Artur Santos (@artur_1983 on Twitter)
