Restaurant Els Brancs

Since Thursday April 25th our hotel is open for the 2013 season.

We have been working hard this past winter months to innovate, create and improve our installations and services.

We hope to see you this year in our Hotel! Welcome home!

Since April 24th, our gastronomic restaurant “els Brancs” has a brand new website.

Visit elsbrancs.com and find the latest news and information, make a reservation with us, discover our professional trajectory in pictures and follow us on our social media sites and Youtube channel.

We hope you’ll like it! Thank you for all your support over the years!

Today May 2nd, on the occasion of the Day of the Comarca and during the celebrations of the Fires i Festes de la Santa Creu in Figueres, the awards Empordà 2013 were handed out.

This year the restaurant “els Brancs” was awarded with the Sirena award as an entity that has excelled in the promotion of outreach in the region.

This award would not have been possible without the support all these years of the people and entities closest to us. We want to express our most sincere appreciation to the Ayuntament de Roses (Town hall of Roses), the Consell Comarcal de l’Alt Empordà (regional council) and the entire team that has been part of the restaurant “els Brancs” since day one.

Since 1963 our family hotel is famous for the affectionate and warm welcome to offer you the most excellent service from the moment you arrive at the hotel.

We are now getting ready and preparing everything for the new Season, which will start on April 25th.

Renovations and design changes are underway and our Chefs are working to prepare new menus and dishes to truly surprise you with new tastes and culinary experiences.
We also prepare for a new adventure this Season, since our main restaurant “Els Brancs” was recently awarded with its first Michelin star. A recognition of work, persistence and a great motivation to improve and move forward.

We hope to see you this year in our Hotel! Welcome home!

Easter is the annual Christian commemoration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. It is a period of intense religious activity and it begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Resurrection Sunday.

One of the most followed traditions in Spain, apart from the Easter processions is Palm Sunday. This day happy but also sad begins with the blessing of the palms and olive branches. The priests enter the churches as if they were about to celebrate a blessing. The color of the day is red symbolizing the triumphal entry of Jesus of Nazareth in Jerusalem.

And one of the most said proverbs is: “On Palms Sunday, the hands drop off of those who fail to wear something new”.

The team of the Hotel Vistabella wishes you Happy Easter, and remember we're opening for the season on April 25th!

Discover our beautiful Costa Brava, where history and tradition is still alive in every single corner.

From small fishing towns to vibrant cities, from the wine innerland to the wonderful coast, from exclusive shops to colorful festivals and cultural events, this region is a place for everybody.

Because we are the heirs of the sea and we believe that sustainability is possible, we have become official sponsors of the NINAM Project.

The NINAM Project is a platform for the study of cetaceans of the north-western Mediterranean basin, which mainly operates in the surroundings of the Natural Park of Cap de Creus.

From the Hotel Vistabella we appreciate the unique beauty that offers the sea to us every day, and this is why we collaborate with conviction, and in any way we can, to protect the life that inhabits in it.

With our goal “we want to surprise”, which inspired us to search for the best products and the best wines, the foundations of this new cuisine were consolidated with the arrival of our chef Javier Cabrera to our team in 2009.

His innovated view of the cuisine, without abandoning the quality of the product, lead the “els Brancs” towards our creative cuisine of Catalan inspiration, where each plate is a piece of art, based of the harmonic fusion of all elements that are part of the culinary hedonism.

Whatever your tastes, your desires, your appetite is, we will offer all our know-how, new sensations, turned perceptible by our senses in a very aesthetic way, offered throughout our different menus as well as in our à la carte meals, dishes able to seduce you and touch your sensibility.

Come and enjoy our 2013 “100% Experience” menu composed of 30 dishes or our “Degustation menu” with 10 dishes, where you’ll find new creations as well as renovated dishes from our guests’ favorites, accompanied by very well selected wines from around 300 worldwide references.

The wonders of the nature that surround us, as well as the great gastronomic wealth of our region, along with the respect to the most excellent ingredients, originality and a lot of passion, are the engines to help our guests discover a sixth sense.

This heavenly setting, a team who is fascinated by it and a cuisine product of its surroundings are the pillars of “els Brancs”. We hope to see you soon!

Recently we have received the recognition of a long journey of illusions, work, persistence and perseverance. It’s time to thank all the people who have made this possible.

We welcome this new challenge to improve and move forward with greater motivation! It is a pleasure to share this award with everyone who believed in our work.

Thank you very much from Marlon and René Veitl, Javier Cabrera, Manel Núñez & the whole team.

At the northern end of the Gulf of Roses, between the Cap de Creus peninsula and the Montgrí massif lays the town of Roses.

The calm waters of this natural harbor was once the chosen site by the Greeks of Rhodes, to establish its commercial colony Rhode, founded in 776 BC. This historic event has become the trademark of this town that stretches between the sea and the mountains in the northern Costa Brava.

This town, in the province of Girona in Catalonia, offers a multitude of beaches and coves between rocky cliffs, where visitors can practice all kinds of water sports as well as walking through the nearby parks of the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà and Cap de Creus.
Meanwhile, the historic-artistic Citadel of Roses, the ruins of the Greek city of Rhodes, the old Greek quarter (III. AC) or the remains of the Roman city (XI century) offer visitors a true historic trail in this corner of the Mediterranean.

The historic-artistic Citadel is an example of Renaissance defensive structure to the sea. The construction of this military fortification was ordered by the Emperor Charles V to deal with the attacks by pirates and privateers. Today it houses the remains of the neighborhood of the Greek city of Rhode, the Roman village (II. AC - VI. BC), the early Christian necropolis, several buildings of the Visigoth period, the Romanesque monastery of Santa Maria (XI century), the remains of the medieval core and various military buildings (XVI century).

The Castle of Trinity belongs to the same period as the Citadel (XVI century). The design retains the shape of a five-pointed star used in all military buildings of the time. Just in front of the castle, right by the sea lays the Lighthouse of Roses, one of many along the coast.

In the town of Roses visitors will find interesting to visit the parish church of Saint Mary and the House of Mallol. This last one, preserves the original ornamental ceilings and wrought iron and stained glass made by local artists.

The coves, the clear waters, the sandy beaches and the semi-wild cliffs stretch along the coast of Roses. Many of the beaches have been awarded with the Blue Flag accreditation for its environmental quality.

Of the various leisure activities that the coast and the marina of Roses have to offer, many adventure activities should be added. The richness of this region allows you to admire the final foothills of the Pyrenees and the Sea is yet another adventure, providing an excellent opportunity to meet the large number of animal species and plants the live in its depths.

Its cuisine, especially Catalan cuisine has a very long tradition and is influenced over the years by many civilizations, such as the Greeks and Romans, to the Phoenicians, Jewish and many more.
Known for having a Mediterranean cuisine, this tasty and healthy cuisine, also is the expression of their culture and life style.
With a wide range of excellent local products and ingredients the cuisine of the Costa Brava provides you with a unique and curious mixture dishes.

There are several classics that need to be tried while you visit the Costa Brava. Especially fish and seafood such as “Mar i Montanya” (Sea and Mountain) a curious mixture of fish and meat or “Suquet de peix” a stew containing different sorts of fish and seafood. Anchovies from la Escala, prawns from Roses, Monkfish from the Bay of Roses and sea urchins are more specialties, which provides us the Mediterranean.

Other famous dishes are the regions “embotits” (sausage and pressed meats), “pa amb tomàquet” bread brushed with tomato and olive oil or “all-i-oli”, a garlic and olive oil whipped sauce. As for salads there are two highlights “escalivada” grilled vegetables of all kinds that are served with bread, meat and seafood and “esqueixada” a cold salad of tuna, cod, red and green peppers, onions, olives and tomatoes. The “saimfaina” is a mixture of eggplant and zucchini with garlic, onion and tomato sauce that accompanies many dishes. Other specialties are “arròs negre amb marisc i carn” black rice with seafood and meat, “escudella” a typical Catalan soup usually served in the winter, and “bolets”, all kind of mushrooms, one of the most prized gastronomic tastes of the Costa Brava forests in the fall.

For lovers of sweet flavors we recommend “crema catalana” a kind of crème brulée, “panellets” a paste made of almonds, sugar and eggs. Another highlight is the “ensaïmada” a typical sweet dessert in the shape of a snail, the “xuixo” a cylindrical dough stuffed with cream and sugar and “bunyols” dough fried in olive oil.

And don’t forget to have a glass of wine or cava while enjoy this classics. This region is known to have an excellent range of still and sparkling wines, such as the Seal of Origin Empordà.

Cadaqués is a fishing and artist village in the middle of the Cap de Creus Peninsula on the Costa Brava, in the province of Girona, Catalonia.

For most of the local people, Cadaqués is a special place but also part of their everyday life. For many visitors, it’s a remote town like an island because it lays in the middle of the Cap de Creus Peninsula.

Throughout its history, which dates back thousand of years, this town has been influenced by many civilizations.

Without a doubt, its secluded situation, in front of the Sea and separated from the rest of the region by mountains, created the character of this village: resisting for centuries the attack of pirates and corsairs, developing its economy, industry and oversea routes. Nowadays, this artist and fishing village with approximately 3,000 inhabitants bases its economy on tourism.

One of the best ways to discover Cadaqués and learn about its history is to wander around the Old Town.
Located on the highest point of this Old Town is the Church of Santa Maria from the 16th century. The old church was destroyed by the Turkish pirate Barbarossa who assaulted the village in 1543. The church was rebuilt thanks to the fishermen who work on their holidays and weekends.
Other emblematic buildings that have a wide range of architectonic styles are: Sa Casa Blaua, the State School Caritat Serinyana, the Rahola House, the tower of Colom, or the Saint Baldiri Church.

In this corner of the Costa Brava, some of the most important artistic movements from the 20th century arose. Famous artists that succumbed to the beauty of this place are: Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Marcel Duchamp, Federico García Lorca, Richard Hamilton, Maurice Boitel, Josep Pla or Max Ernst, among many others.
But the artist that has left the most important footprint is the surrealism genius Salvador Dalí who often visited this village during his childhood and later kept a home in Port Lligat, which is now a museum and is part of the famous Dali triangle route.

Another interesting museum in this village is the Cadaqués Museum, dedicated to Salvador Dalí. It holds contemporary exhibitions about Dali’s work, the village itself and other artists.

The geological beauty of the Cap de Creus Peninsula surrounds Cadaqués. This nature reserve is famous for its wild shapes that can be observed on rocks and plants. The Tramontana, a strong northern wind is the main agent that has modeled this region creating a unique landscape. Walking through this nature reserve enables you to see thousands of years of evolution but also the second oldest lighthouse in Catalonia from 1853.

Once again, Figueres in the north-east of Catalonia, will host the wine tasting of the Empordà the 7th until the 11th of September 2012. The origin of this wine tasting is linked to the need of the wine sector of the Empordà region to get to know their products. Born 28 years ago, the first edition had the participation of 12 wineries, their success was encouraging for other wineries to join in subsequent calls, reaching more than 30 wineries this year.

Also present at the tasting is food, especially duck and sausages, elaborated in the same region, that accompany the more than 100 wines, champagnes and dessert wines present at the tasting.

The wine tasting is held at the Rambla of Figueres, a very emblematic part of the city, ideal for a walk and talk while enjoying a good wine.

Spain, Catalonia, Empordà, Hotel Vistabella, Els Brancs… here is the very gist of the inspiration we are declining every night in our cuisine!

At “els Brancs”, we offer you the best of our cuisine what can be defined as a creation of the mind, turned perceptible by our senses in a very aesthetic way.

That is why we are delighted to present you our main restaurant, “Els Brancs”. Located on the most elegant terrace of the hotel, it’s situation, makes you a witness of an incredible panorama: the most wonderful sunsets while enjoying our original and delicious dishes.

Whatever your tastes, your desires, your appetite is, we will offer you, through our different menus (Falconera or Els Brancs) as well as in our à la carte meals, dishes able to seduce you and touch your sensibility.

We will deliver you all our know-how, our will to offer you new sensations, and creating a brand new world within your own mouth in ecstasy.

Come an enjoy our 2012 Degustation Menu “Brancs” where our star dish is the last dessert, which combines Painting – Music – Cooking in one dish.

But what would be this cuisine, this world of inspiration without you, dear guests, you are giving us the most important thing: your gratitude. We thank you for that ... and see you soon!

It is a place of passage of cultures and the first place were Greek and later Roman colonization of the Iberian Peninsula took place. The Costa Brava certainly packs in history and tradition: from north to south we find small fishing villages such as Port de la Selva, Cadaqués, Sa Tuna, Tamariu, Llafranc or Calella de Palafrugell, ideal places for lovers of peace to disconnect from the every day. But also, we find larger towns that have become tourist centers such as Roses, l’Escala, Palamós, Platja d’Aro, Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Lloret de Mar and Blanes. And in the inland, we find large cities that provide social and cultural life, and a first class commercial offer such as Girona and Figueres.

The tradition of tourism on this site of the Mediterranean dates back to the early twentieth century, in particular to 1908, when Ferran Agulló gave this coastline its name, mentioning it in the newspaper La Voz de Cataluña. Agulló named it Costa Brava because of its rugged landscape that stretches from Banyuls (north) to Blanes (south), referring to the Mediterranean wild coastline.

The nature of the beaches with coarse sand and calm waters, attract many visitors. The rugged rocks and high cliffs, surrounded by pine forests that often reach to the sea, makes the Costa Brava an exceptional, unique and worldwide recognized place.

The prodigal son was born in Figueres, in the Empordà region, on a beautiful day in May 1904. His birthplace is just a few steps away from one of the most visited museums in Spain and home of most of his work: the Dalí Theatre-Museum. This ancient theatre was converted into a museum designed by the artist himself and he is also buried under the glass dome in a crypt.

A second point on the Dalí-triangle is the castle of Púbol, Salvador Dalí’s gift to his beloved Gala. This castle is located in the small town of La Pera (Alt Empordà) and houses an impressive collection of art and couture dresses in the private rooms of Gala. This is also the place were Gala is buried.

The third and last point on the Dalí-triangle is the Dalí House-Museum in the small town of Portlligat, near Cadaqués. Salvador Dalí spend most of his life here. This house was renovated for over 40 years acquiring the adjoining fishing schacks. Today the house looks like a maze and houses personal belongings, furniture of the artists and his workshop.

This region in the northeast of Catalonia is famous for its wine culture brought to them by the Greeks who conquered Rhode and Emporion (nowadays the towns of Roses and Empúries) in the 4th century BC. The tradition was carried on by the Romans and later medieval monks.

During the 19th century the Empordà region became the first region to suffer the grape phylloxera from France. Because the vineyards were destroyed they were substitute by cork oak turning this region into the main of cork worldwide, an industry closely linked to wine.

They started to grow wine again in 1929 establishing the Denomination of Origin in 1975 under the name of Empordà – Costa Brava. In 2006, the production area was expanded and Costa Brava was deleted from the initial name.

Today there are more than 40 wineries with the Empordà denomination that produce more than 6.000.000 litres of wine every year.

We highly recommend a visit to some of the best wineries in the area, to enjoy the wines and the beautiful landscapes of our surroundings.

For the third time the restaurant Els Brancs from the Hotel Vistabella has been awarded with theMedalla de Oro (Golden Medal) of Radio Turismo from the Costa del Sol.

This medal, the restaurant’s second, is awarded is to professionals who already have the Plato de Oro (Golden Plate) of Radio Turismo and are a positive career reference in the field of gastronomy.
Javier Cabrera, head chef, was on behalf of the restaurant Els Brancs, to collect this prestigious award which was presented in Málaga on April 9th, 2012.

The entire team of the Hotel Vistabella congratulates their fellow colleagues for this award and for their continued and excellent work.

From January 16th until January 24th the team of Els Brancs will be visiting Le 15 Pâtisserie in Mumbai (India).

During this week they will be working to on a special line of exclusive Macaroons, completely natural, without chemical dyes and eligible for vegetarians.

The classic Macaroon is a sweet meringue-based confectionery made with egg whites, icing sugar, granulated sugar, almond powder or ground almond, and food colouring.

Le 15 Pâtisserie together with Els Brancs will be presenting Macaroons of completely new flavours.

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