Springtime for calçots and Lunya

LUNYA proprietor Peter Kinsella is a man who knows his onions, especially the the Spanish leek type things that are a bit like them.

We are talking  the "calçot", which looks like a scallion - that's a spring onion to you and not a lad in a North Face jacket.

The calçot is so prized by the Spanish that it has its own festival - the Calçotada.  Taking place every spring, it is one of Catalunya’s most traditional celebrations.

Chop till you drop

Millions of calçots are dug up from the fields and in towns and villages the length of the Costa Brava, fires are lit and they are charred over burning coals, seated in newspaper and served with Romesco sauce, followed by lots of char-grilled meat. 

What's good for the Catalunyans is good for Liverpudlians too, innit? 

Catalunyan restaurant and deli Lunya which is behind the Bluecoat, was the first place in the UK to embrace the Calçotada and it has staged the hugely enjoyable food event for the past two years.

It is well worth a trip if only to witness startled Spanish passers-by giving the staff rounds of applause and having selfies taken with them to show to their mama on Facebook. 

This Sunday they are holding another one.

A lorry bearing 2,000 calcots from Barcelona is chugging down Edge Lane as we write. 

Peter KinsellaNew this time is  the fabulous flamenco guitarist Jenny Nelson giving it some full on mood music.

“Come and join us for an afternoon of traditional Catalan food, and entertainment,” says Peter. 

The feast is taking place indoors this year, but that's not because of a repeat spat with Liverpool One or Liverpool City Council, a la 2013. "We have their full support this year," Peter tells Liverpool Confidential. "It's mainly because of the weather."

Aye, it'll be windy alright.

Calçotada Feast,  Lunya, 18 College Lane, Liverpool, L1 3DS. Tel 0151 706 9770.  £24.95 (veggie, £20.95). Sunday April 6, 1pm onwards.