🦐 At The Sun Places, we know that luxury is also found in products that tell a story, that are born from a unique ecosystem and that are the result of generations of effort.
That's why we invite you to discover the Palamós Prawn, a product that is much more than a crustacean: It is a symbol of the identity of a town, of the tradition of its fishermen and of a unique ecosystem that must be preserved. It is, as they say in Palamós, "suck the head and lick your fingers".
The Palamós Prawn (Aristeus antennatus) is the star product of the Costa Brava, a crustacean of international fame that has far transcended the limits of the province of Girona to conquer the tables of the best restaurants in the world.
Its bright red colour, its unmistakable marine aroma and its sweet, intense and deep flavour make it a delicacy of the highest order, appreciated both by the most demanding palates and by any lover of good food.
Today we invite you to discover all the secrets of the Palamós Prawn: its history, its habitat, why it is so special and where you can taste it in all its splendour. Stay in our Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava and let yourself be seduced by the most authentic flavour of the Mediterranean.
🦐 What does the Palamós Prawn represent for the region and for The Sun Places?
The Palamós Prawn represents the most authentic essence of the Costa Brava and the pride of a community that has managed to preserve its seafaring tradition without renouncing innovation and sustainability.
For Palamós and the Empordà, it is the most emblematic product, the one that gives the region its name and the one that attracts travellers from all over the world in search of a unique gastronomic experience.
For Catalonia, the Palamós Prawn is a benchmark of quality and sustainability, a product that has adapted to the times and looks to the future with responsibility.
And for The Sun Places, the Palamós Prawn embodies the luxury of the authentic and the well-made. It is the luxury of sitting on a terrace with sea views and tasting a product that has been caught hours earlier by fishermen who know the sea like the back of their hand.
It is the luxury of understanding the history, the effort and the passion behind every bite.
Our Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava, located between Calella de Palafrugell and L'Escala, are just a few minutes from this gastronomic paradise, and we can arrange visits to the fish market, private tastings and exclusive dinners so you can experience the Palamós Prawn in all its splendour.
We are committed to gastronomic, relaxed and exclusive tourism.
📜 History of the Palamós Prawn: the discovery of a treasure
The history of the Palamós Prawn is relatively recent. Until the early 20th century, this crustacean was practically unknown in kitchens and markets.
Its "discovery" came about by chance, thanks to the arrival of fishermen from other regions.
Around 1930, fishermen from l'Ametlla de Mar (Tarragona) arrived on the coast of Palamós and introduced the art of trawling, a fishing technique that had not been used in the area until then.
With this new technique, which consists of dragging a net along the seabed, large red prawn fishing grounds were discovered and soon became the main fishing activity of the port of Palamós.
From that moment on, the Palamós Prawn began to gain popularity and to be recognised for its exceptional quality. Today, it represents between 40% and 50% of all the turnover of the Palamós fishermen's guild.
The journey of this crustacean, from being an unknown animal on the seabed to becoming one of the most prized products in the Mediterranean, is an example of how tradition, innovation and respect for the product can create a true gastronomic treasure.
🌊 The Fonera Canyon: the habitat of the Palamós Prawn
The Palamós Prawn would not be the same without the unique ecosystem in which it lives. The main fishing ground is located in the Fonera Canyon, an underwater canyon located off the Costa Brava, about three miles from the Cape of Sant Sebastià.
This canyon, with its rocky seabed, clear waters and great biodiversity, creates the perfect habitat for the red prawn, which lives at depths ranging from 300 to 700 metres, with an average of around 400 metres.
In this high-pressure environment, with little light and low, constant temperatures, the prawn feeds on the marine fauna and flora that proliferate in the bottom sediments: algae, small crustaceans, minerals and organic matter of great nutritional richness.
This specific diet, which no farm or cultivation system can replicate, is responsible for the sweet, deep and at the same time delicate flavour that distinguishes the Palamós Prawn from any other in the Mediterranean.
💧 Sustainability: a commitment to the future of the Palamós Prawn
The Palamós Prawn not only stands out for its flavour, but also for its commitment to sustainability. The Palamós fleet is an example of responsible management and co-management between fishermen, scientists and administrations.
A study by the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) has shown that the Palamós red prawn fishery is the best managed in all of Catalonia, with an overfishing index 25% lower than the rest of the red prawn fisheries on the Catalan coast.
Sustainable management measures adopted:
- 60-day closed season per year: From January to March, trawling is prohibited to protect the seabed and allow the regeneration of the species.
- Fleet reduction: The fleet of boats has been reduced from 22 to 16 since 2018.
- Improved net selectivity: Since 2017, the nets operate with a 50 mm square mesh, which reduces the capture of small and immature individuals.
- Use of semi-pelagic doors: These doors do not touch the bottom during fishing, which avoids the resuspension of sediment and disturbance of the seabed.
- Reduction of fishing effort: The fishing day was reduced from 12 to 11 hours per day and the engine power of the boats was limited to a maximum of 500 HP.
Thanks to these measures, the Palamós Prawn is moving towards Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainability certification, which would make it the first demersal (bottom trawl) fishery to obtain this certification in the Mediterranean.
In addition, in 2007 the Palamós Town Council and the Fishermen's Guild promoted the Palamós Prawn Guarantee Mark, which ensures product traceability and maximum quality in terms of flavour, aroma, appearance and freshness.
🦐 How to recognise authentic Palamós Prawn?
The Palamós Prawn differs from other varieties of prawns caught in the Mediterranean for its sweeter flavour, its bright red colour and its firm, melting texture. These are some of the quality parameters used by the Guarantee Mark to certify the product:
- Clean, intact presentation without wounds
- Sizes: Prawns are classified by pieces per kilo: medium (56-70), large (33-55) and extra (19-32)
🌊 The Palamós Prawn and the Sanlúcar Langoustine: two jewels of the sea
While the Palamós Prawn reigns in the Mediterranean, in the Atlantic we find the Sanlúcar Langoustine (Penaeus kerathurus), the king of the Gulf of Cádiz. Both are high-end gastronomy products, but with very different personalities.
The Sanlúcar Langoustine is bred in the Guadalquivir estuary, in the heart of the Doñana National Park, where the fleets of Chipiona, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Huelva converge.
Its meat is thicker and its flavour is intense and powerful, with a sweet and salty touch that makes it unmistakable. It is distinguished by its iridescent blue tail, its thick whiskers and the stripes on its body.
While the Palamós Prawn is best enjoyed grilled, the Sanlúcar Langoustine lends itself to multiple preparations: boiled (medium and small sizes) or grilled (large sizes, which offer a powerful and distinguished flavour).
Both are zero-kilometre, sustainable products with a designation of origin, representing the best of their respective coasts.
🌍 The Palamós Prawn, the Sanlúcar Langoustine and The Sun Places: a perfect pairing
At The Sun Places, we connect the best products of each destination. The Palamós Prawn is the emblem of the Costa Brava, but we also appreciate the Sanlúcar Langoustine, which you can taste in our Luxury Accommodation in Sanlúcar de Barrameda.
On the Costa Brava, the prawn is the star product, the one that defines the gastronomic identity of the region. In Sanlúcar, the langoustine is the king, the one that gives its name to the bay and the one that attracts travellers from all over the world.
In all our destinations, luxury is also lived through gastronomy. From the sea-view terraces on the Costa Brava to the beach bars of Bajo Guía in Sanlúcar, especially Casa Bigote, The Sun Places offers you the opportunity to enjoy the most exclusive products in the most privileged settings.
Stay with us and let yourself be carried away by the flavours of each land. Because luxury is not only in the landscape, but also on the table.
🍽️ Where to taste the Palamós Prawn near our Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava?
The best way to enjoy the Palamós Prawn is in the restaurants of Palamós Bay, just a few minutes from your accommodation. From Calella de Palafrugell to L'Escala, you have excellent options:
- Restaurant La Gamba (Palamós) is one of the pioneers in promoting this product, with a terrace overlooking the port and extremely fresh produce
- El Raco de Palamós (Palamós) offers traditional seafood cuisine with modern touches, and its grilled prawn is legendary
- Restaurant Aiguablava (Begur), although famous for its rice dishes, also serves Palamós prawns in season, with sea views
And of course, Hotel Trias (Palamós), an emblematic establishment that works directly with the port's fish market and guarantees maximum freshness.
Between the months of May and July, Palamós Bay (Palamós, Calonge, Sant Antoni and Vall-llobrega) celebrates the Prawn Menu, a coordinated gastronomic proposal in which all participating restaurants offer, at the same price, a complete menu centred on this crustacean.
In April, the Palamós Prawn Festival is also held, a gastronomic festival that attracts thousands of visitors.
And if you want to delve deeper into maritime culture, the Palamós Fishing Museum offers a comprehensive view of the history of fishing in the town.
⏳ The time of the Palamós Prawn: when and how to enjoy it?
The Palamós Prawn is available practically all year round, with the exception of the closed season from January to March.
Its season of greatest gastronomic splendour is the period between May and July, when catches are more abundant, the product is at its peak of flavour and the atmosphere in the port of Palamós takes on a special intensity.
The best way to cook it is the simplest: grilled, with just a splash of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt. Also boiled, to appreciate its texture and natural flavour.
Some restaurants also offer more complex preparations, such as suquets, rice dishes or fideuàs, in which the prawn brings all its power to the broth.
🍽️ Perfect plan with The Sun Places to enjoy the Palamós Prawn
Friday: Arrival and first prawn in Palamós
- Afternoon: Visit to the port of Palamós (10-15 minutes by car) to see the unloading of the boats and the prawn auction at the fish market
- Dinner: Tasting of grilled Palamós prawn at Restaurant La Gamba or at Hotel Trias. Pairing with a fresh white from the DO Empordà
Saturday: Prawn and suquet route
- Morning: Visit to the Palamós Fishing Museum to learn about the town's seafaring history
- Lunch: Suquet de peix at El Raco de Palamós or Can Xiquet (Vulpellac)
- Night: Dinner at a beach bar in Palamós Bay with prawn rice and red wine from the DO Empordà
Sunday: Farewell with sea views
- Lunch: Last tasting of Palamós prawn at Restaurant Aiguablava (Begur)
- Baggage collection and return home
Ready to discover the authentic Palamós Prawn with The Sun Places?
📞 Contact The Sun Places and let us organise your gastronomic getaway to the Costa Brava.
We advise you on the best prawn restaurants, luxury accommodation and tailor-made experiences so you can experience the authentic taste of the Mediterranean.
CEO's word: At The Sun Places we have tasted the Palamós Prawn in its best temples, and every time it moves us just as much. It is not just a product, it is the story of a town, the effort of generations of fishermen and the commitment to a unique ecosystem. I encourage you to discover it, to suck its head and to lick your fingers, as they say in Palamós.
If you liked this article, we invite you to discover other incredible destinations with The Sun Places: Luxury Apartments in Barcelona, Luxury Accommodation on the Costa Brava, Luxury Apartments in Seville, Luxury Apartments in Cádiz, Luxury Apartments in Puerto Banús, Luxury Accommodation in Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Luxury Apartments in Córdoba.
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