Barcelona already has a new breakfast champion. But we are not talking about brunch or the timorous breakfast of croissant and coffee, but the most authentic and Catalan breakfast of all, the esmorzar de forquilla.
The Lliga del Porc i la Forquilla, the contest that vindicates the esmorzars de forquilla and the Catalan pork tradition. The winner was Juli Alcoriza, from the restaurant L’Andreuenc, in Sant Andreu, who took the title with a mar i muntanya as authentic as it is surprising: homemade botifarra del perol, mongetes del ganxet and raw cuttlefish.
The final, held as part of the MOS festival,brought together twelve finalists (three for each Catalan region), who defended their creations before an important jury: Judith Càlix (director of Cuina magazine), Pedro Palacios (Spanish Capital of Gastronomy), Albert Molins(La Vanguardia), sommelier Marta Clot and Jonathan Nuevo(Esmorzars de Forquilla CAT).
There were proposals for all tastes and territories: from the carpaccio de peus de porc of Bar Lídia from Lleida, to a bikini of galta de porc with stone chocolate from Agramunt, Pedro Ximénez reduction and Comté cheese, signed by CaLagneta Art i Vi from Cervera. Also on the table was the classic Ofegat de la Segarra from Hostal Jaumet de Torà.
La Lliga del Porc i la Forquilla was born from the hand of Grup de Sanejament Porcí de Lleida with the collaboration of Como Pomona, and the final was not short in tributes to the Catalan recipes. Those attending the final enjoyed a popular esmorzar with pork cassola and snails, by Josep Vila(Mister Plat), and a Tastet Solidari de Caragols served by the Fecoll.
More than a competition, the league has established itself as a showcase of Catalan cuisine that vindicates the pig, the spoon and long after-dinner meals. And this year, Sant Andreu can already boast of being the champion.