When we visit our family in the little fishing village of Sant Carles de la Rapita, our tastebuds are rewarded with two types of seafood that are very hard to find anywhere else, Tallarines and Galeras.

Tallarines are tiny little clams that are found in the sandy beaches. Beware-if you order this local specialty outside of the area (even in Barcelona) you’ll likely end up with a big plate of pasta! They are so tiny that eating them takes a lot of patience. It’s almost like eating sunflower seeds. They become addictive and soon you just can’t stop eating them and drinking beer!

As soon as we get into town we start on our quest for our favorites and  head straight to The Pescador, a little seafood tapas bar in the main plaza, and order a plate of fresh Tallarines. They are best when simply steamed with fresh sliced garlic and olive oil. Ah, the flavors of home at last!

Next, off we go to La Nova Tasca in search of Galeras! Galeras are Squilla Mantis, a type of mantis shrimp. What? Yes, I know, I’d never heard of them before either!  They are found in the Mediterranean and are more abundant where there are large rivers that run into the sea, hence why they are a favorite of our region due to the Ebro River.  Here is a picture from the fish market.

Galeras used to be thrown away or only eaten by the poorest fisherman. Now, they are considered a speciality and can only be found seasonally in small fishing villages. They are not easy to eat but the meat is incredibly delicious and sweet. They are usually just pan fried with olive oil and salt. They are also used for fish stock and make a delicious paella!