Askata: the legacy of seafood cuisine is in good hands

Cristina Perelló Mones is the daughter of fishermen, and Anna Paltré Perelló is a clean fisherman. Cristina's parents (he from Tarragona and she from La Rápita) left in 1982, uneasy about fishing in waters directly influenced by the Tarragona petrochemical industry. They decided to dock in Port de la Selva, a small fishing village with no trawlers. With the growth of this type of fishing boat and the significant increase in catch volume, the fish market was established on the Balleu dock.

Cristina began her career with a very clear intention: "My dream was to be able to showcase our fish." He settled on the Gros dock, "I didn't want to bring fish from outside. I started with the canana. We made radishes from the legs, Andalusian-style from the head, and my mother made the canana with onions. She bought the fish, cleaned it, cooked it, and served it. "The first steps were hard... but- from that! There have been other business proposals and changes of location, but always in Port de la Selva and in the company of her daughter.

A natural wonder

The location is spectacular: the Mediterranean surrounds us, the town center is visible in its entirety, the mountains rise by the sea... and all this wild beauty is protected by the Cap de Creus Natural Park, a natural wonder. We started the meal with succulent clams, rock mussels, the famous "pomada de Port" (Figueres onion, tuna, and mayonnaise), and anchovies with tomato bread. Life gives you many pleasures, but for us, tasty anchovies with just the right amount of salt and good tomato bread are hard to beat. The wine that accompanies us is Les Tortugues from the Macizo de la Albera winery in Vilamaniscle (Empordà). A red Garnacha with an intense yellow color, persistent and fresh.

The highlight of the dinner comes with the fresh fish that Cristina offers us. We're hardly original, and we're aware of it, but our devotion to scorpionfish inevitably makes it the chosen one. A tarte Tatin, a cheese tart, and a crème brûlée serve to conclude a meal with an undeniable taste of the sea. The sound of the water caressing the breakwater and the lights reflected in a Mediterranean calmed by the absence of the Tramuntana wind make this dinner at Askata an extrasensory experience.

After the intense service, like almost all those during the summer, we are joined by Cristina and Anna. Mother and daughter run this restaurant, a benchmark of Empordà seafood cuisine. "In the summer, we can serve up to 100 portions of rice," Anna tells us, proud and tired at the same time. "Before, we only bought fish from the boats in Port de la Selva, but now it's not enough and we have to look for it elsewhere. The fishing is drying up," Cristina tells us with nostalgia and a hint of disappointment.

This is a business run by courageous women, full of perseverance, determination, and persistence. Their hard work, dedication, and tears, all in the effort to keep the business going, are rewarded by the success and hard work they demonstrate in every service. Port de la Selva's seafood cuisine and fishing heritage are in good hands.