Barraca wins the 2025 Summer Card Game: our rice dishes triumph in Barcelona

When the news broke, we knew right away that it was something special. Barraca, in Barceloneta, was crowned the best restaurant for rice dishes in the Barcelonès area in the summer edition of Joc de Cartes, presented by Marc Ribas on TV3. We are filled with pride because it recognizes something we do with passion: taking care of every grain of rice, every ingredient, every detail of the dish.

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The episode that won us the award

The Joc de cartes d'estiu program organized a challenge focused on finding "the best rice dish in Barcelonès." It visited three restaurants with a variety of options: Maysi in Barcelona, Espai Versàtil in Badalona, and Barraca in Barceloneta. Each defended its cause with different styles of rice dishes, creative proposals, cooking techniques, and flavors. In the end, Marc Ribas awarded the victory to Barraca.

The jury evaluated various aspects: the cooking point, the flavor, the broth, the cleanliness, and the presentation. Our rice was considered superior in flavor and technique.

What has made our rice different?

As you can see at Barraca, we don't cook rice dishes as simple meals; each one has a perfected technique, a respect for Mediterranean tradition, and now, with the grill, a nuance that makes all the difference.

• The cooking point: the rice was neither dry nor stale, it had the desired looseness, with a precise texture.
• The socarrat (that golden crust at the base) was commented on positively, something that many competitors struggled to achieve.
• The graella is combined with fresh ingredients: seafood, vegetables, shellfish, combinations that balance the smoke, natural sweetness, and pure flavor.
• The aesthetics of the plate also had an influence: a clean, uncluttered, yet attractive presentation that revealed care, color harmony, and respect for the product.

Reactions, tension, and recognition

This episode was not at all peaceful. There were moments of tension: direct criticism, comparisons and demands between the participants, even disapproval over technical details. But in the end, the decision was clear: Barraca was able to withstand the pressure, demonstrate consistency, and convince the jury. The prize includes public recognition, media coverage (which can already be seen), and, above all, the satisfaction of seeing that what we do in the kitchen, every stir-fry, every broth, every rice dish, has an impact beyond our regular diners.

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What does this mean for Barraca?

Winning the 2025 Card Game Award is not just an honor; for us, it is an incentive to continue improving. It reaffirms that our commitment to quality, technique, and authenticity (and now the grill) makes sense. It also makes us even more committed: to maintaining those standards, to continuing to take care of every dish as if it were the first, knowing that there are many eyes watching, more demanding than ever.

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The fact that Barraca has been chosen as "the best rice in the Barcelonès region" increases our visibility, reinforces our reputation, and allows us to continue sharing events and celebrations with the assurance that those who choose us will get something special.

Thanks to the team, thanks to you

This victory belongs to everyone: the kitchen team, the service team, the dining room, the suppliers, those who take care of every detail, every grain of rice. And to you, our customers, who trust Barraca, who come with enthusiasm, who value authenticity, flavor, and the experience you have had when you have sat at our table.

Looking ahead

This encourages us to explore new rice dishes, new combinations, and continue to integrate the grill with that specific style that defines us. We will continue to innovate, but with our feet firmly planted in the maritime tradition that has always been the soul of Barraca.

Because when we talk about rice, and now we can say this with pride, we don't just want to be good; we want to be the best at what we do. And this victory is another step along that path.