Read this before making a calçotada at home

’Tis the season of eating onions charred over live fire… In a previous post, we talked about the best places around Barcelona to find a calçotada. Yet, in a quarter century of at least one or two calçotades a year, I probably only have ever had 2-3 in a restaurant. Funny thing was that I would just order off the regular menu while the rest of the party would eat the calçotada menu, like I was purposely avoiding it. More about this later.

From humble beginnings in the “Golden Triangle” of Valls, Reus and Tarragona, the tradition has now spread through most of Catalonia, in restaurants, and more important, at home. It has even reached further afield with calçotades available in Madrid, London or Rotterdam; even Anthony Bourdain featured a calçotada on his “No Reservations” tv show.

https://dailymotion.com/video/x2iprlx

A dear friend went as far as to throw a big calçotada party for all his friends in Orange County, USA to celebrate his 50th birthday! Nowadays, every company, social club or group of friends worth its salt has its yearly calçotada – the social aspects of the calçotada are key to its success – if you are a  new arrival in Catalonia, no doubt you’ll get an invite to a calçotada – go for it!

Calçotada

Back to the real calçotada, the homemade – the feast lends itself quite well to doing it at home in an outdoor setting. First time I was ever invited for a calçotada, it was in Sitges at the home of my parent’s friends, and it was a friend of theirs from Valls who came over as the expert – an early sign that the ritual was expanding outside its homeland. He brought the equipment, a large reversible grill with different length legs allowing the grill to be higher for flaming the calçots and lower for grilling meat over coals. However, the most important bit of kit that he brought along was the recipe for the sauce: salsa de calçots. Any veteran will tell you it’s the heart and soul of the calçotada, getting it right is an art, too runny and it doesn’t stick to the calçots, too thick and it takes forever to dip. Starting from the basics of almonds and hazelnuts, roasted tomato, raw and roasted garlic and nyora (a type of slightly hot pepper), each chef adds their own touch, and the recipe becomes a closely guarded secret. 

Just last week, with a group of friends we had a calçotada out in the country, very near my hometown of Artesa de Segre, just under the village of Montsonís with its castle looming over us. It was a perfect spring day, kids roaming freely all over the  fields, making friends with random dog who just appeared, adults poking fun at a neighbour who was air-drying her multi-coloured thongs, and of course, grilling those calçots on a very original barbecue pit. It was a perfect day, but I still couldn’t get Agnès to tell me the (secret) recipe for the salsa de calçots.

Barcelona events – The most important trade fairs in Barcelona

One of the most well-known Barcelona events has to be our trade fairs. If you have come here for one before, you’ll know why the Catalan capital is among Europe’s leading trade fair venues: the pleasant Mediterranean climate, plus being easily accessible from the rest of Europe, and many choices of big and small exhibition halls across the city are just a handful of the reasons. No wonder businesses from all economic sectors are attracted to exhibit here all year-round, including trade fairs related to gastronomy, fashion, and technology just to name a few. Keep reading for the most important Barcelona events related to trade fairs!

Most important Barcelona events – Trade Fairs

Mobile World Congress

Probably the most famous of all Barcelona events is the Mobile World Congress. All the biggest players in smartphones, computers, tablets and mobile devices come together for this highly anticipated event, hosted annually at Fira Barcelona. Heavyweights like Samsung, Huawei, Lenovo, Sony and more use the opportunity to debut flashy new products, and to showcase the latest technology trends. Some exciting new trends that dominated the recently held 2018 trade fair included 5G, mobile money, smart cities and artificial intelligence.

To be hosted on 25th – 28th February 2019

Mobile world congress
Mobile World Congress – Pic by Vicente Zambrano González

Comic Fair – Saló del Còmic – Barcelona International Comic Fair

Takes place in Barcelona since 1981 and is the festival which showcases all the most important new developments in the world of comics. If you visit it, make sure you wear a fancy dress, every year, the Barcelona Comic Salon awards the most original proposals.

To be hosted on 12 Apr 2018 – 15 Apr 2018.

Barcelona Events - Saló del Còmic

Alimentaria – Barcelona Trade Fair

With a reputation for producing some of Spain’s finest cuisine, it is only fitting that one of Europe’s most popular gastronomy and hospitality trade fairs be held here in Barcelona. Live cooking shows, seminars and discussions on food innovation, workshops, tastings, plus a dizzying variety of products: bottled, preserved, cured, fermented, dried, fresh… You name it, it’ll be somewhere in the massive acre-sized hall of Fira Barcelona. More than 140,000 visitors from 157 countries attended the last edition, joining some 4,000 exhibitors, which goes to show that Alimentaria one of the many Barcelona events that captures not just the Spanish eye, but that of the world.

To be hosted on 16th – 19th April 2018.

Barcelona events-Alimentaria

Hostelco – Barcelona Trade Fair

The International Restaurant and Hotel 2018 exhibition expects more than 41,520 visitors. The fair is being held alongside Alimentaria and is hosted every two years to bring new trends in hotel equipment.

Hostelco is a leading fair in technological innovation and international impact in the fields of manufacturing, import and distribution.

To be hosted on 16th – 19th April 2018. 

Barcelona events - Hostelco

B-Travel – Barcelona Trade Fair

This international fair is a travelers meeting point, where they can discover the latest developments about travel and tourism.

Its offer is presented around five big categories: B-Happy (experiences of well-being in company), B-Special (unique ideas), B-Culture (for fans of art, history and culture), B-Adventure (trips with sport, nature and adventure as protagonists) and B-Delicious (food and wine plans). 

To be hosted on 20th – 22nd April 2018.

Barcelona Events - B Travel

Barcelona Bridal Fashion Week – Barcelona Trade Fair

Every year in April, a flurry of bridal designers and models come from all over the world and descend upon Barcelona; and in tow with them are suitcases spilling open with dresses of white satin, lace, tulle, sequins, and everything bridal. During this Barcelona event, the industry’s hottest names host exclusive invitation-only catwalk shows, such as celebrity favorites Ángel Sanchez and Galia Lahav just to name a few. Hundreds of boutique and international brands exhibit their latest and most sparkly creations that will have you falling head over heels in love. With so much excitement and glamour, it’s impossible to deny that romance is in the air when this Barcelona trade show is happening.

To be hosted on 23rd – 29th April 2018.

Barcelona Events- Barcelona Bridal Week

Bizbarcelona

This trade fair is the best chance to meet roughly 14,000 visitors from SMEs and entrepreneurs seeking solutions for their transformation. The event is already a reference in the promotion of entrepreneurship and the competitiveness of SMEs. In this coming edition, digital transformation will be a highly anticipated hot topic.

To be hosted on 30 – 31 May 2018

Barcelona events - biz Barcelona

Salón Náutico de Barcelona – Barcelona Boat Show

Barcelona Boat Show brings the latest nautical and leisure products. Motor and sail boats, fishing boats, canoes, kayaks, boats, trailers and sportswear share the exhibition space in one of the largest nautical fairs in Europe. More than 55,000 visitors and 200 exhibitors get together making it the largest of its kind in Spain. In its last edition it gathered 275 exhibitors, and also more than 700 boats were exhibited.

To be hosted on 10th – 14th October 2018

Barcelona Events- Barcelona Boat Show

To check the calendar of upcoming Barcelona events and trade fairs at Fira, click here. If you’re visiting Barcelona for an important trade fair soon and are looking for an executive-style apartment, be sure to check out bizFlats for short term and long term rental options. Or check out our comprehensive guide for things to do in Barcelona during your 1 day, 3 day or 5 day stay!

Barcelona apartments for rent: Long term and short term apartment rentals

So you’ve booked your flights and now you’re on the hunt for Barcelona apartments for rent! Depending on your needs, you may choose a short term rental (rented by the day) or a long term rental (rented by the month). As a foreigner, if you’re looking for an apartment for rent over one month, but under three months, it can be a bit of a sticky situation if you go to a certain agencies. The main reason for this is the amount of upfront cash they require, which can normally be: one month for deposit, two months rent in advance, plus the payment of another month as an agency fee, which is a lot of cash to cough up!

Here at BizFlats, we are proud to offer you quality apartments located across Barcelona city, with flexible rental terms, that can be booked online easily. If you want to know what are the “must haves” for rental apartments in Barcelona, click here. Keep reading for our handpicked recommendations for Barcelona apartments for rent – long term and short term!

Barcelona apartments for rent short term

Rented by the day

  1. Fira Place Apartments
    Close to La Fira de Barcelona and the Barcelona Sants train station, this complex boasts a total of 10 apartments and 2 new duplexes, plus a big communal terrace that can be enjoyed by residents.
  2. Milliways Apartments
    Just 15 minutes away from the airport, The Milliways Complex has 20 identical executive-style apartments, all equipped with free wifi and twin bedrooms, making it the perfect place to stay for corporate groups and trade show groups.
  3. Dandi
    A three-bedroom luxury apartment located in the upscale neighbourhood of Eixample, just one block away from Passeig de Gràcia, and surrounded by La Pedrera and La Casa Batlló. Fitted with leather and mahogany furniture, mosaic-titled flooring and balconies, Dandi aparment is the epitome of culture, class and Modernism. This makes it a really good option if you’re looking to splurge on a memorable holiday.
  4. Livingstone
    A charming apartment furnished with original furniture and oil paintings from South Africa, Livingstone has two double bedrooms and two full bathrooms, plus fully furnished kitchen and fiber optic internet to ensure a comfortable stay.
  5. La Mimosa
    Just one minute away from Passeig de Gràcia, where the most elegant shops and boutiques are located, such as Gucci, Armani and Chanel. Plus all the restaurant and nightlife destinations with even more glamour to keep you busy. Feet sore after a long day of shopping? Have a soak in the whirlpool tub in La Mimosa apartment, the perfect apartment for treating yourself!
  6. Ascot
    Close to National Theater of Catalonia, and a few steps from Sagrada Família by Gaudí, Ascot apartment is surrounded by music, arts and culture. The apartment itself is chic, spacious and quiet, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms plus a nice balcony too.
  7. Ferran Batík
    This spectacular penthouse boasts a magnificent private terrace of 65 square meters, perfect for panoramic sunset views of the surrounding exclusive neighbourhood of Pedralbes. The floor to ceiling windows make it light, airy and pleasant. One of our popular Barcelona apartments for rent.barcelona apartments for rent -Ferran Batík Apartment
  8. Neo
    A charming place in a new building in the neighbourhood of Eixample, this two-bedroom apartment is perfect for the curious traveller who yearns for a tranquil and calm place to rest after a long day of exploring.
  9. Noname
    Full of ambience and affection, you’ll be sure to appreciate the special touches of Noname apartment, like the fringed curtains, separate dressing room, plus big comfortable L-shaped sofas.
  10. KissMe
    Combining romance with playfulness and comfort, KissMe apartment is like a first kiss… unique and unforgettable.
  11. Garden House
    A mix between modernity and comfort, all located in the center of the city in the modernist neighbourhood of Eixample. Not to mention the 85 square meter terrace which is perfect for sunshine filled breakfasts to start your day.
  12. Art Gallery
    This cozy apartment is located in a beautiful 19th century building. With warm accents of wood in the floors, ceiling beams and furniture, it almost has a country house feel, bringing you an oasis in the city center.
  13. PDG Apartments
    With high ceilings, intricate detailing, and stained-glass windows, this luxury apartment will have you feeling like the rich and famous. Can be rented as a 5 bedroom unit, or combined with PDF Petit to make it a total of 8 bedrooms, making it perfect for large groups.
  14. Red Carpet
    With four bedrooms, three full bathrooms and a Jacuzzi, Red Carpet is fit for an A-list celebrity. The spacious kitchen and dining table which fits 12 people, it’s the perfect space for hosting a memorable evening.
  15. Colonial
    Full of Gothic flavor, this apartment is decorated with wooden furniture, checkered fabrics, and rustic tables that create a warm atmosphere.
  16. Oriental
    Next to La Rambla and overlooking one of the most vibrant markets of the city, La Boqueria. Oriental apartment is full of sleek lines, polished surfaces and bright finishes.
  17. Picasso
    Located in the Born neighbourhood, Picasso apartment is in the artists’ district, a very chic area with many new cafes, restaurants and boutiques. The exposed stonewall and wooden beam ceilings add a rustic feel to the apartment.
  18. Calabrese
    This state of the art apartment is equipped with leather Chester sofas and armchairs, plus comfortable queen-size beds. The crisp high quality linens and premium towels will give you that five star hotel feel.
  19. Los Rambla Exec
    This executive style complex of apartments, is sophisticated and centrally located near La Rambla. Plus each bedroom comes with an ensuite bathroom.
  20. La Levantina Upstairs and La Levantina downstairs – Villas in Sitges
    Located in the beautiful town of Sitges, this mountainside villa is one of the most elegant options for rent just 20 minutes away from Barcelona. With a garden area and a wonderful pool of 16 meters long, it’s perfect for a bit of afternoon reading or a quick morning swim.
  21. Aro Beach
    Located in a private residential complex, this two-bedroom apartment has a sunny terrace, a swimming pool surrounded by lush gardens, and also a barbeque available, plus a golf club nearby and common areas for tennis, ping pong or basketball. Perfect for families looking to wind down and relax.

Barcelona apartments for rent long term

Rented by the month

  1. Parsifal
    This large apartment breathes modernity and is perfect for lovers of music, with its proximity to the Gran Teatre del Liceu, a temple of music with international recognition, plus Plaça Reial just moments away.barcelona apartments for rent - Parsifal Apartment
  2. Jollie
    With spacious 1 bedrooms, 1 bathroom plus sunshine-filled terrace with wooden canopy and sun lounger, this Barcelona apartment for rent is a real gem in the district of Les Corts. Take advantage of the beautiful Mediterranean climate with morning coffees under the sun, high up on the rooftops of the city.
  3. Macca
    Mixing design, original pieces of art and vintage touches, Macca is a contemporary apartment in a historic area, filled with light and comfort – just one of our many sophisticated apartments.
  4. The Penthouse
    A bright penthouse, in the beautiful neighbourhood of Eixample area near Camp Nou, with the luxury of a private terrace.
  5. Dandelion
    Exquisite, delicate and beautiful just like the Dandelion flower. This apartment’s privileged location guarantees sunlight throughout the day, and the natural light bounces off the many mirrors, making the entire apartment full of life.
  6. TheMarket
    A warm and functional apartment, located in the heart of the city next to Plaça Universitat. With a nice balcony overlooking a quiet square, full of trees.

Which BizFlats apartment would you like to stay at most? Leave a comment below to let us know. Want to see more Barcelona apartments for rent? Visit www.bizflats.com!