The restaurant Don Martín, in Santa Coloma de Gramenet (North Barcelona), wanted to pay tribute to the gastronomic tradition of the city and to one of the most emblematic restaurants that closed its doors in 2020.
Colomian cod was a very popular dish in the municipality around the first part of the 20th century. The Ca n'Armengol restaurant, which opened its doors in 1923, popularized it by including it in its gastronomic proposals. The original recipe turns 100 years old this year.
In finding the recipe, we must thank the collaboration of the Armengol family. On the other hand, in the research that has been carried out, a recipe with the name “cod a la colomina” included in a recipe book of the Catalan Institute of Cuisine has also been identified, but taking into account that the ingredients are practically the same, it has been opted to maintain the original name of “Colomense cod”.
The chef of the Don Martín restaurant, Albert Oltra, stated in the presentation of the recovery of the recipe, that he had wanted to be totally honest with the original recipe, we have changed some details, but it continues to maintain the essence of the Colomian cod from 1923, he states. “It is a relatively simple dish to make, so it is not strange that years ago in Santa Coloma this was a common dish in many homes.” Not now cod, but before, he comments “it was a relatively inexpensive fish and the fact that it was salted extended allowed it to be kept for a long time, the accompaniment were vegetables and a minced garlic.
For her part, Laura Rovira, coordinator of the Don Martín establishment, explained that the recovery of this recipe was intended to be a tribute to the city's cuisine and to one of the most emblematic restaurants such as can Armengol, which also this year has made the 100 years. Furthermore, Rovira remembers that the area where the Don Martin restaurant and bar is located, between Plaza de la Vila and Josep Anselm Clavé Street, was the nerve center of the municipality's social life 100 years ago, where there was already a restaurant and shops
Finally, Manuel Arrebola, Councilor for Tourism and Promotion of the City of the Santa Coloma de Gramenet City Council. He stated that "this is a new example of the good health of the Santa Coloma gastronomic brand, of the inspiration and good work that our restaurateurs carry out every day." "With initiatives like these and others, the local gastronomic fabric will always find constant support and total collaboration in this government."
