A new Pötstot (c. Pintor Fortuny, 32) has taken over at the legendary L'Hortet, which closed forever on January 23. Everything has changed, in the decor and the menu, but there's an invisible thread that links the two projects: healthy eating. If L'Hortet was a pioneer as a vegetarian, Pötstot is a pioneer in gluten-free and lactose-free food. Hence the name, which nods to the languages of northern Europe, perhaps German, and others: "We want to say 'you can eat everything,'" explain Manel Forés and Quim Viñas, the restaurant's owners, hours before the first service begins, at which point they'll be able to test everything they've been preparing. This Raval restaurant will be the second Pötstot and the fourth restaurant for Forés i Viñas (The first two were Casa Àngela, opposite the Sagrada Família), and right now they confirm that they run a group of restaurants, with all the respect that the word generates for them cluster, but in any case what they assure is that the Pötstot del Raval makes them very excited.

It is well known that going to a restaurant is an odyssey for celiacs. In addition, they have to put up with statements like: "it's getting easier and easier" or "it's not like it was twenty years ago when there were no options." And that is certainly true, but it is also only half true, because celiac disease and gluten intolerance have a major drawback: beyond not eating wheat, oats and other cereals that contain gluten, traces are highly volatile and are found in the environment. It is useful to think of a cloud of flour shaken in the air, for example. This makes it practically impossible to eliminate them unless the food is prepared in a physically separate kitchen. Therefore, choosing a restaurant suitable for this public is not an easy task and establishments that take it seriously are highly valued by the celiac community.