Garoines, the authentic flavor of La Costa Brava, Magic Moments Luxury

Every corner of Catalonia is differentiated by its landscape, patrimonial and gastronomic features.

Some are characterized by the calçots, others by the xató and in the Baix Empordà, la Costa Brava, we have the famous garoines or uriços or garotes also known as erizos de mar, sea urchins.

It is a unique product, seasonal (they are fished between October and April), select, a small iodized pleasure with authentic sea flavor.

Now is the time to eat them. If you like the sea and the new gastronomic challenges, it is interesting to try this exotic delicacy in the old way, with bread, butifarra and a sip of red wine.

They are opened with scissors and what you eat are the red strips that you see in the image. With a spoon, remove the meat and place it on top of a piece of bread. It tastes like the sea and the texture is smooth and fine. They can be eaten in restaurants, bars or beach bars.

But they can also be found directly in local markets.

We organize a “family garoinada”at home once a year. We have to ask, in advance, a ‘garoines’ fisherman, a good sack of them. Once at home, one person is responsible for opening them, others lay the table, put some snacks, bread and wine on the table and cook a main dish.

We eat the sea urchins with their bread and a little wine and then the main dish that can be a meat or a fish.

I encourage you to try them, it is worth knowing the texture, the aroma and the flavor of this delicacy of the Costa Brava.

If you’re around, ask for them in a bar or restaurant or even in the market. You will find them practically everywhere. Do not forget that the season of sea urchins is limited, between October and April.

I hope you like them.

Have you ever tried garoines? What do you think about them?