"La Calcotada"

This is a special gastronomical tradition where hot, freshly cooked "calçots" (a young onion, a cross between spring onion and leek) are eaten in the open air. This tradition is especially popular in the region of Tarragona (Valls is the capital of the "calcotadas") but there are many towns that also claim to have started this tradition.
Nowadays "calcotadas" are celebrated not only in many different parts of Catalonia, but in outside regions as well. This tradition origimally took place during the winter months of January and February, but like many other enjoyable social events it is becoming very commercialised and is lasting longer each year. This season there were "calçots" in the shops and restaurants even before Christmas:

The "calcotada" consists of eating "calçots" that have been grilled in charcoal (then kept warm wrapped up in newspaper) accompanied by a special sauce (made with almonds, hazel nuts, tomoato, garlic, stale bread, parsley, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper). They are usually served on the tressel table in special tiles.
This sauce is similar to the well-known romesco sauce which is eaten with fish.

The onions are traditionally eaten outside in the open air, standing up around long tressle tables, often wearing large bibs to prevent yourself getting dirty. After eating your fill of onions, you then proceed to the interior where you eat grilled sausages and lamb cutlets accompanied by kidney beans ("mongetas"). There is a lot of wine consumed, as well as "cava" with the dessert. It is a really typical meal if you can manage to go to one of the smaller villages and eat in traditional style.