Es Niu

‘Es Niu’ is a very old dish from Palafrugell which started out as a dish without meat, as it was made in Lent.

‘Es Niu’ is a very old dish from Palafrugell which started out as a dish without meat, as it was made in Lent. It was made with cod tripe, boiled egg, fish broth and potato. With time it was enriched: the fishermen added cuttlefish and the cork dealers completed it with game and even sausages.

This is a typical dish that the groups of cork peelers from Palafrugell used to eat on Mondays in the clochans.

This dish is very long to make and takes around five hours; one for the sauce and four for cooking the other ingredients, this is why very often it is not on most of the menus in the restaurants and it has to be ordered in advance.

One of the objectives of these meetings, which started in 1998, is to show ‘Es Niu’ to those who haven’t tried it and also to make it more accessible to lovers of traditional gastronomy.

FROM OCTOBER 16th TO DECEMBER 13th, 2026

Restaurants:

Palafrugell
Restaurant L’Arc. C. del Consell, 13-15 – Tel. +34 972 303 419 – Restaurant l’Arc  (Tuesday closed)
Restaurant La Xicra. C. de Sant Antoni, 17 – (c. Estret) – Tel. +34 9 72 305 630 – www.restaurantlaxicra.cat  (Wednesday closed)
Restaurant Pa i Raïm. C. de Torres i Jonama, 56 – Tel. +34 972 447 278 – www.pairaim.com (From 13th to  29th October closed) (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday closed)
Restaurant Xadó. Av,. de les Corts Catalanes, 12 – Tel. +34 972 304 428 – www.restaurantxado.com  (Wednesday closed)
Escola d’Hostaleria Baix Empordà. C. d’Àngel Guimerà, 63 – Tel. +34 972 300 323

Activities around Es Niu:

With the aim of promoting and reviving the cultural, gastronomic, and culinary heritage of Palafrugell, and to highlight a dish that was once very traditional but has lost its importance among younger generations over time, complementary activities related to this dish will be offered.

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• Popular Es Niu: 
  • Saturday 7th November from 11.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.
  • Taste Es Niu prepared by our expert chefs: Antonio Estrach, Quim Farrerons et Antonio Izquierdo.
  • Plaça Nova
  • Price: 3€ (dish & glass of wine)
  • Tickets on the same place (until stock lasts)

•  Guided tasting of Es Niu at Josep Pla Foundation
  • Wednesday 18th November at 7:00 p.m.
  • With restaurateurs: Roseta Jorba (Pa i Raïm), David Sadiki (Xadó), Toni Sáez (L’Arc) and Montse Soler (La Xicra)
  • Accompanied by readings of texts by Josep Pla on Es Niu
  • Josep Pla Foundation
  • Limited capacity
  • Price: 15 €
  • Ticket sales: https://fundaciojoseppla.cat/esdeveniments/tast-comentat-des-niu-maridat-amb-textos-de-josep-pla/

• Es Niu Talk “Recipe and the gastronomic history of Es Niu”
  • Date and time: Thursday, 19 November, at 6 pm.
  • Description: About the recipe and the gastronomic history of Es Niu. Presented by the writer and food critic Salvador Garcia-Arbós, with an introduction by Sandra Bisbe, from the MAP project. For young people and adults.
  • Location: Multipurpose Room of the Palafrugell Library.
  • Price: Free.
  • Capacity: Limited.
  • Registration: No advance registration required.

• Museu del Suro de Catalunya. Where does Es Niu come from? A guided tour exploring its origins and the culture of cork artisans, followed by a glass of wine at Enoteca Cal Ganxó
  Where does Es Niu come from, and what is its connection to Palafrugell’s former cork artisans? During an exclusive guided tour of the Museu del Suro, we will discover the origins of this unique dish, the cuisine associated with the cork industry, and the xefles — gatherings where cork artisans would come together around a hearty casserole. This story of gastronomy, tradition and social change will help us understand how Es Niu has become one of Palafrugell’s most emblematic dishes.
  We will conclude the tour at Enoteca Cal Ganxó with a glass of wine, bringing the experience to a perfect close.

• • Date: Sunday, 13 December.
  • Time: 12:00 pm.
  • Location: Museu del Suro de Catalunya in Palafrugell and Enoteca Cal Ganxó.
  • Capacity: Limited.
  • Price: Guided tour included with museum admission (€7 general admission / €3.50 reduced admission) + €4 for a glass of wine.
  • Bookings: Advance booking is required. Call 972 307 825 or send a WhatsApp message to 618 495 640.

• Es Niu brings cooking closer to young people. Workshops “Come and enjoy a workshop full of flavour!”
  Each session takes you on a different culinary journey, where you will learn to prepare irresistible dishes while discovering new tips, techniques and ingredients. A fun, creative and delicious experience designed for everyone to take part! For young people aged 12 to 16.
  • Location: Can Genís

• Dates and themes
  29 October – Seasonal cooking: cooking with autumn produce such as pumpkin and mushrooms
  27 November – Es Niu: discovering this traditional dish from Palafrugell.
  18 December – Christmas baking: decorated biscuits and nougat!
• • Time: From 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
  • Price: Free.
  • Professional: Unax Martinez @unax_chef.
  • Registration: Download the registration form and send it to cangenis@palafrugell.cat or bring it to the office.
  • Registration form: Download the registration form (PDF)

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