The delights of Spain don’t end at sun, sea and sand. Reflecting the country’s love of the good things in life, the Catalan coast of Costa Daurada plays host to a feast of food festivals throughout the year.
It’s all the excuse needed to indulge in locally-produced wines, fresh tapas and hand-picked fruit and veg (for those feeling healthy). To coinicide a trip with a celebration of local gastronomy, here are our top pick of food fests – though we’ll make sure the bare-all beach days happen before the gluttony…
Gastrotour, Salou (26 May – 4 June)
At this busy time for foodies, one of the events is a walking route from the town centre to the coast, with €2.50 tapas available along the way from restaurants and cafes.
Wine and Gastronomy Show, Cambrils (12 – 15 October)
Local restaurants pair dishes to chosen wines from the region.
Olive Oil Days, Cambrils (20 October – 5 November)
A showcase the best locally-produced oils at tasting events.
Festival of the Squid, Salou (November)
The focus is a long-running fishing competition, but at the same time, restaurants offer succulent menus with squid as the main ingredient. Handy for using up the day’s haul.
Romesco Days, Tarragona (24 November – 10 December)
A celebration of the famous Catalan sauce, created from roasted red peppers and almonds.
Priorat Regional Wine Fair, Falset (the first weekend of May)
Celebrating the famous red produced in the designated wine region of Priorat, it’s a chance to swap tasting tickets for samples of wine produced in the region. There’s also conferences, talks, wine-tasting courses, cooking contests, wineries opening up for visitors, guided olive oil tastings plus wine and food pairings. Perfect for the connoisseur.
