Churros with chocolate are a treat that becomes a tradition on special occasions, such as Christmas morning or a Sunday snack with the family. One of those small pleasures in life that not everyone can enjoy, like people with celiac disease, unless they buy frozen churros. However, less than a year ago an establishment opened in Barcelona that will become the new paradise for celiacs.
It is the Xurreria Can Vernet and it specializes in gluten-free churros and chocolate. In fact, currently, it is the only business in Catalonia that has accredited and artisan gluten-free products.
Albert Vernet, owner of the business, has been working as a churrero for 20 years and has been co-owner or owner of other churrerías. Until at the end of 2022, he found the opportunity to open this business at number 294 Calle del Comte Borrell, to the left of Eixample.
Vernet explains in RAC1.cat that he is allergic to nuts and milled virgin olive oil. This deprives him of enjoying many meals or visiting new restaurants because he is not guaranteed that the dishes do not contain any of these products. "You can't take the risk," laments the churrero, who recognizes that churros are not "a necessary food," but they are those small pleasures that celiacs can never afford.
And what guarantees that Can Vernet products are gluten-free? The certificate from the Celiac Association of Catalonia, which carries out a review every year to ensure that the protocol is met.
Vernet uses special flours to make churros and, as it also makes them with gluten, to avoid "cross contamination", it has two kitchens, two workshops, two fryers and separate tools for each process. Additionally, to differentiate the gluten-free churros, he makes them in the shape of a bow.
Not only do they make traditional churros, they also make them dipped in gluten-free chocolate (black or white), chuchos and fillings. To accompany, gluten-free, oatmeal or lactose-free hot chocolate.
Seeing that people "thank" him for making gluten-free churros is the greatest satisfaction for Albert Vernet, who all he wants is for people to "come and leave happy." And, to the Barcelona location, clients come not only from outside the city, but also from outside Catalonia. "Even from Seville," he explains.
For five years, Albert Vernet ran a churrería in Terrassa which, if he had not found the Barcelona location, would have had to close: "I feel sorry for having wasted time in Terrassa, but it was worth it."
On December 13, it will be a year since the opening of Xurreria Can Vernet, but in recent weeks, it has gone viral on TikTok and Instagram thanks to the video by the ByPep gastronomic content creator, @undeliciosomundo, and which announces the trade proposal. It accumulates more than 800,000 views on both social networks.
"Many more people have come" since it was published, says the churrero, who appreciates the dissemination of his work because "it is very difficult to compete with chains that offer frozen products."
Albert Vernet had the opportunity to settle in the premises of an emblematic churrería in the neighborhood and he does not plan to waste it. Now, people with celiac disease can also enjoy freshly made, crunchy churros accompanied by hot chocolate, all gluten-free.
Read the original RAC1 article here.
