Three years ago this month, I traveled to Spain for the first time, to meet Julia, who’d been working in Barçelona. We had many memorable adventures, and I left with an appreciation for the storied Spanish lifestyle, which centers gastronomy and family, and cares little for the proverbial rat-race. While walking from the Eixample to the Parc Guell, we passed through the Vila de Gràcia, where narrow, tree-lined streets of stone connect scores of public squares, alive at all hours with children playing and locals chatting and smoking. Gràcia feels like a small town within the city, perhaps because it was once a little village outside the city. In Roman times, Barcelona was a walled city, with barricades encircling what is now the Gothic Quarter.

Strolling through Gràcia that morning, we came upon an alleyway bustling with activity. Large, flat, sheet-metal grills were loaded with wood beside piles of large green onions, and men and women shouted, smiled and laughed as they lit fires and strung the leek-like onions together on a wire line for ease of flipping. They said to come back later for the calçotada, a traditional Catalan festival featuring the precocious winter vegetables they call calçots.

Returning from the Parc Guell with excitement, we found the party in full swing. Jamaican ska music filled the air, tap dancers laid down tiles to trade foot-driven percussive accompaniment, and long, communal tables were full of twenty-somethings drinking beer, while Spaniards of all ages pulled charred onions from newspaper wrappers, peeled the burnt outer skins, dipped them in romesco sauce, and tipped their heads back for a sweet vegetable slider. Everyone else seemed to know each other well, and when the tables filled up, neighbors came with card tables from their homes to expand the party, and Julia and I found a seat in the crowd and enjoyed a beer and a grilled botifarra sausage sandwich. The calçots, we learned, were reserved for the locals. We found this understandable, and were delighted to be welcome at the celebration, despite the limited menu. We also vowed then to host a stateside calçotada with enough fresh California leeks to serve all comers, and the time is approaching.

Save the date for Oakland Yard’s first Catalan-style calçotada, Tickets go on sale this weekend! Event is Sunday March 12th from 1 to 5pm, in our back parking lot, with music and laughs, grilled leeks and romesco by chef Carlo Espinas, grilled sausage by Crossman Meats, desserts by Marykate McGoldrick’s Sesame Tiny Bakery, and wine and beer from Oakland Yard.

ALSO... once again, PROVECHO returns to OAKLAND YARD this Saturday February 18th from 2-6pm! Locally sourced, seasonal dishes from chef Eder Ramirez. Oaxaqueño flavor paired with curated flights and wines by the glass from Oakland Yard.

SUNDAY February 19th, from 2-6, French Laundry alum and pasta pirate, Tango will be at OAKLAND YARD with fresh pasta made that morning and hand delivered here to the shop! Chef Tango will be here in person to chat about the pastas and answer any culinary questions. He will have a small quantity of fresh pastas and sauces on hand to sell that day - but you can reserve yours and pre-order by clicking HERE! Pre-order cutoff is Saturday @5pm.

But first...TONIGHT - THURSDAY NIGHT FLIGHTS
CALIFORNIA REDS and ITALIAN WHITES: Portalupi Lupi Red, Phantômé Cellars Cabernet Franc, Folk Tree Pinot Noir, Villata Arneis, Ercole Bianco, & I Pastini Locorotondo Bianco Antico
Flights $15 from 5-9pm and wines by the glass until 9pm

SATURDAY FLIGHTS 2/18: Les Vins de Savoie
2020 Domaine d’Ici La Altesse La Croisette
2020 Fabien Trosset Avalanche La Blanche
2020 Maison Angelot Bugey Gamay
2021 Domaine de Ardoisieres Silice Rouge Mondeuse
Flights $15 from 2-6 and wines by the glass from around the globe until 9pm
*Provecho Pop Up out front 2-6*

Salud!

Max