Barcelona is about to celebrate one of its most special moments of the year: La Mercè. And, for this reason, many restaurants and pastry shops in the city have taken the opportunity to innovate their menus and offer, for a limited time, some original and creative creations. A brioche in the shape of a panot, cakes made with figs and almonds, or a reinterpretation of traditional esmorzars de forquilla are part of the gastronomic proposals that this Mercè we will have on the table.
Because, in addition to the concerts, the shows and the street party, La Mercè is also enjoyed with the palate!
Pastries and desserts to enjoy La Mercè in the sweetest way
No self-respecting celebration is complete without its sweet proposal. What would Christmas Day be without its traditional roscón?, or Easter without the Mona? In Catalonia, we love to celebrate holidays with a sweet touch, and that's why chefs and pastry chefs have set to work to offer a sweet version of our main festival.
This is the case of Gloria Osteria and La Pastisseria who, for the first time, are working hand in hand to celebrate this day by combining signature pastry and Italian gastronomy. The two establishments will offer, from September 21 to 27, a sweet treat that uses some of the typical ingredients of La Mercè: figs, almonds, and honey.
And, since figs are the theme, there are other establishments that also reinvent this ingredient to join the celebration. Levaduramadre reinterprets its fig tartlet with a proposal created artisanally and in a limited edition. From September 23 until the end of October, all stores in Catalonia will feature this specialty that is made daily in their workshop and uses fresh figs at their ideal ripening point.
Hofmann also turns to figs and almonds to celebrate our city with a very special creation. But, in their case, they mix these two basic ingredients with an almond cream, yogurt, and a very special touch of rose tea. From the workshop, they want to create a play of textures and aromas that takes advantage of the sweet taste of the fruit, with more floral notes.
But why are so many establishments opting for figs and almonds? Because they are seasonal and local ingredients. For this reason, major Catalan confectionery and pastry firms take advantage of this festivity to offer a reinvention of some of the sweetest desserts made with these ingredients.
However, there are options that go a step further. For example, Jon Cake, a company well-known for its cheesecakes, also joins the celebration with a dessert that goes beyond: a cake made with croissant dough, which is mixed with almond frangipane, honey cream, and an almond and fig praline. This dessert will be available both in their physical stores and on their website so you can buy it online.
Turris also joins the festivity with a limited edition orange and chocolate plumcake, as well as a tote bag specially designed for the occasion, featuring some of Barcelona's most recognizable symbols and those of the major festival. From September 21 to 26, this special dessert will be available for tasting at all their stores in Barcelona.
Dani García's restaurant Leña (located in the Grand Hyatt Barcelona hotel) has also created a very special dessert with Lluc Crusellas, the best chocolate master in the world in 2022. A recipe where 80% dark Indonesian chocolate is the main protagonist, along with hazelnut praline, coffee nuances, cocoa biscuit, and a base of cocoa nibs. Furthermore, it is a very exclusive proposal: only 150 units will be served from September 24 to 27.
Suca'l, by pastry chef Ton Cortés, presents a 100% Barcelonian creation to celebrate the major festival: a brioche that pays homage to our beloved panots. The dough is made with gold leaf, offering a flavor very similar to panettone, with a sourdough starter preserved since 2011, and combined with water, flour, sugar, butter, natural vanilla, lemon zest, egg yolk, and salt.
Mamma Tiramisú closes the sweet section with its Catalan cream tiramisu, a tribute to our gastronomy. This dessert is born from the collaboration with Sucre Cremat, a workshop specializing in Catalan cream. This recipe can be enjoyed until the end of September at their store in the city (C/ Sant Pere Més Baix, 14).
Fork breakfasts, rice dishes and pyromusical
But, as man (nor woman) does not live by sweet alone, during La Mercè we also find other gastronomic proposals with a more savory touch. At Fismuler, the main festival will be celebrated with a menu that draws from traditional fork breakfasts. Manu Villalba has prepared an informal menu to share with traditional dishes such as cod a la llauna, head and foot omelet, or pig's trotters. But the table will also feature some local and proximity products such as fuet or bread with tomato.
Another reinvented traditional Catalan dish is what Molino de Pez proposes. On its menu, they integrate a chicken stew with langoustines, a typical "sea and mountain" dish that recalls one of the typical recipes of our cuisine. This dish will cost 22 euros and will be available on their menu until October 4. The Grupo No Hay Mañana also recovers the flavors of Catalan cuisine to prepare a 100% autochthonous rice, based on trumpets of death, botifarra and perona beans. This dish can be tasted only on September 24 for a price of 14 euros.
Italian restaurants also join the celebration with dishes adapted to our gastronomy. This is the case of Mama Pizzería, which will prepare the Pizza Cataliana, a special pizza that mixes ricotta, taleggio, broccoli with romesco sauce, a creamy and Catalan fusion. Circolo Popolare allies with White Rabbit also to reinvent the Italian table in the heart of Passeig de Gràcia with La Patrona, a pizza that combines the typical ingredients of the date: fior di latte, roasted cooked ham, fresh figs, almonds and honey.
And, to finish celebrating La Mercè in style, at 1925 Vermutería they propose an evening at Tibidabo that combines dinner and fireworks. This establishment is located inside the METT Barcelona hotel and, for the occasion, will serve dinner on its panoramic terrace which offers dreamlike views to see the Piromusical from a unique perspective. A DJ will provide the soundtrack for the evening and, at the table, you can enjoy the Foc de Mercè cocktail, a drink specially created for the occasion.
Figs, almonds, honey, Catalan cream, rice dishes or fork breakfasts have been the basis of inspiration to encourage us to enjoy La Mercè with our palate. Bon profit!