Pintxos and Tapas: Catalonia's first contest of two-bites plates

The first group of restaurants to participate in the Barcelona and Catalonia Pintxos and Tapas contest was announced on Wednesday. 

24 restaurants from all over Catalonia will participate on Monday, July 17 in the Catalan final due to take place in Barcelona's Llotja de Mar, a historical building near the sea. 

The top three winners of this first round will immediately qualify for Spain's National Contest and participate in the next round, which is to take place this November in Valladolid. 

The dishes presented at the contest are "tapas" and "pintxos": one-or-two-bite dishes. Chefs are encouraged to reinterpret and bring their personal touch to these traditional dishes.

The 'National Contest of Pintxos and Tapas of Valladolid' has been running for 18 years and is ready for its 19th edition later this year. 

Ernesto Ventós came third in the 2020 edition of the contest in Valladolid and is now organizing the Barcelona and Catalonia leg of the contest. 

He wants the addition of this contest to bring "more competition and talent" to the national event, as well as to "build up the reputation of the competition." 

"Catalan cuisine is one of the best of Spain, so I expect contestants to bring in their most creative pintxos," Ventós said to Catalan News. 

Carla Peirón, the chef of Michelin-starred Enigma restaurant, will be a member of the judging panel on July 17, but not too long ago she was on the other side of the proceedings. In the 2022 edition of the contest, she placed second in Spain with a sweet and sustainable "tapa." 

"It was the first time that someone presented a sweet dish, so I hope that I set a precedent and more people follow in my footsteps," Peirón told Catalan News. 

"Overall, I want people to be creative and innovate; I want to be surprised," she added.