I borrowed the idea for the title of this article from a fellow journalist. Thank you. The fact is that we agree that Catalans are already as 'typical Spanish' as the rest of Spaniards.
The Center d'Estudis d'Opinió (CEO) has just discovered by asking 2,000 citizens who live and work in Catalonia what their favorite dish is among a top ten that of course the pollster suggests. 21% opted for paella, followed by pasta/fideuá (15%), starters and tapas (12%), meat and chicken (12%), soups and soups (9%) and vegetables (9% ). Behind are fish and shellfish, pizza, cannelloni, sushi and desserts, with minimal support percentages.
Thus, the theory according to which not only is the Catalan difference not in the palate, but also that Catalans share the same tastes as the foreigners who visit us, is officially inaugurated. Ironic, yes, but true if we believe the CEO.
At this point, it is worth remembering two key aspects in this debate, as my colleague observes. One: it would be necessary to weigh in this analysis to what extent Quim Monzó is right when he maintains that paellas are not made in Catalonia. Not all rice is paella, obviously. And two: given that these results from the CEO are not going to serve to change the fate of Catalans or the country, let's at least take advantage of them to vindicate traditional cuisine against foams and air that leave you hungry and your pocket dry. I suggest that someone organize a citizen movement, like change.org, or create a hashtag on Twitter, whatever, so that the long-awaited “Thursdays, paella” return to our lives on jogging menus.
The other surprise news from the opinion poll that the CEO presented this Wednesday may be more indigestible as it is largely forgotten. What is the most representative dish of Catalan cuisine? 'Scudella' (20%), 'dried sausage' (17%), 'bread with tomato' (14%), 'calçots' (13%), Catalan cream (5%), cannelloni (5%), paella /fideuá (3%), fricandó (2%), escalivada (2%) and 'cargols a la launa' (2%). In effect, there are large absences in this list, such as 'biscuit soup', 'beans', 'trinxat', 'suquet' or 'honey and cottage cheese', to name a few.
That for the first time the CEO asks about things to eat and about the character of the citizenry demonstrates the change that the body to which the Government commissions the polls has taken and which, by the way, is directed by a Valencian. In any case, it is clear that the identity question weighs little on the tablecloths, which coincides with the political preferences revealed by the same survey. Today the Catalans are 44% in favor of independence and 48% against it, fans of paella, responsible and not very affable. A stew that leads us to a question: Where is the 'català emprenyat'?
