The shield? The pa amb tomàquet? The cannelloni? No, there is nothing that Catalans like more than eating a good rice or paella, during lunch on Sundays, or whenever. Because this is their favorite dish, according to the latest survey by the Center d'Estudis d'Opinió (CEO), which reveals the gastronomic tastes of the population in Catalonia. This dish is followed by others such as pasta and fideuá (the favorite for those under 50), tapas and meat.
Specifically, 21% of those surveyed considered paella, an elaboration of the Valencian Community, as the dish they like the most. The response adds, however, any other type of rice, in addition to paella, to avoid conflicts with the neighboring autonomous community. However, it seems that the palate of the citizens adores Valencian cuisine, since this preparation is followed by pasta (Italian) and another preparation from the territory, fideuá (15%).
Behind these dishes we would find the starters and tapas, which drive 12% of Catalans crazy, tied with dishes with meat and chicken. Soups and spoon dishes (9%), vegetables (9%) and fish or shellfish (6%) come next. And, despite the proliferation of pizzerias throughout the territory, this Italian dish is only the favorite of 4% of citizens. The same percentage declare their indisputable love for cannelloni and lasagna. The one who clearly loses is the potato omelette, which does not even appear in the ranking.
By age groups, the division between the youngest and oldest citizens is surprising. From 18 to 24 years old, pasta is the favorite dish, followed by meat or tapas. In fact, paella does not appear until the fourth position. But, as age increases, rice and Valencian preparation are gaining ground on pasta and, from the age of 50, it becomes the clear and indisputable gastronomic predilection.
What the Catalans are also clear about is that the dishes most representative of their culinary tradition are the escudella, the dried sausage or the bread with tomato, even though they do not match their tastes. One thing is what you know, the other is what you eat. To this list we would have to add other traditional preparations of the territory, such as calçots, the classic Catalan cream and cannelloni (so typical of festivities such as Sant Esteve).
If a few days ago, with the publication of the new Corpus de la Cuina Catalana —the official book that includes the cookbook of Catalonia—, the controversy broke out when gazpacho was introduced as a traditional Catalan dish, it can be said that both paella (with up to three different versions) such as fideuá are included. And it is that it is indisputable that even though there are dishes that do not originate from a territory, they are an essential element of its gastronomy. One only has to see what happens with the selection of these Valencian dishes as the favorites in Catalonia.
2,000 people, residents of the autonomous community, participated in the survey carried out by the CEO, who were interviewed in person. The analysis also reveals the favorite food according to size by municipality, where paella continues to lead in all cases, with the exception of towns with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants, where pasta and fideuada triumph.
