Xanc i Meli, A Focus On History And Tradition

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As social beings, we need to communicate, relate and tell stories of our past. Every meal in a restaurant is not just simply to fill our stomachs and pay, each time is a memory, a complete experience in which all our senses intervene (touch, sight, smell, hearing and, of course, taste). All of this is stored in our brain. So, every time we go to a restaurant we cannot think only of filling our belly, but of also feeding our mind.

Some people are innate storytellers, who tell basic stories but are able to capture your attention immediately and completely. And this is what Ignasi Teixidor and Joan Tharrats have achieved through their dishes, their careful and cozy atmosphere and their choice of drinks. They transmit unquestionable enthusiasm for their restaurant and the traditional Catalan cuisine , communicating all this in the best possible way: through a personal interpretation.

Ignasi and Joan are two friends who met in Cadaqués, both passionate about the world of gastronomy. So, in 2017 they decided to open a place based on the gastronomic tradition of Catalonia – they took over an abandoned establishment from the late nineties and remodeled it, practically from scratch. Today it is small, cozy and really well designed – even the bathrooms are worth seeing. It’s elegant, simple and tasteful … in this case, less is more.

These two friends decided to call their establishment Xanc i Meli, an expression defined by the Cadaqués parlar dictionary: “It is very good to eat with pleasure.” A definition, by its origin, is very personal to them. And the cooks? They are, of course, Ignasi and Joan, while one cooks, the other caters to the diners. Its traditional tapas with a modern twist. Their Russian salad is seasoned with a fried caper powder (as a substitute for the daily salt), which is, once again, a detail that makes the difference. Their croquettes of cod, ham and mushrooms are worth trying, and, despite being a traditional preparation, in Xanc i Meli they have expertly honed their practice while making them: croquettes at the perfect temperature, crispy and stuffed with a well executed and light bechamel, something that is appreciated and enjoyed. Also, if you want to taste the flavor of tradition, you should try their patatas bravas. They always offer the same options on their menu: a stew, a soup, a grilled preparation … although they change the products that adjust them according to the season. And for sweets? You will find really traditional dishes such as tarte tatin, truffles, cheese cake … and others with avant-garde touches, such as a Catalan cream foam.

Here you can find a restaurant in which every dish is given lots of thought, and has the ability to radically and positively change the perception of everyone who goes.