Food on Tenerife - Sea Urchins...Eat Them

Forgive the groan inducing title, but this is should be of interest to those adventurous foodies out there.

From the 23rd to the 25th July the Hotel Escuela Santa Cruz is offering a very imaginative menu based on the erizo del mar...that's sea urchin to you and me.

For €28 you get to try sea urchin croquettes, sea urchin salad, sea urchin with guacamole, sea urchin and rice, fish with sea urchin sauce. Wisely I feel, they've opted to leave the sea urchins out of the dessert choices.

It's an interesting menu for sure and sounds so much more enticing in Spanish...croquetitas de diadema de mar anyone?

Food on Tenerife – Tapas Route in Puerto de la Cruz

What are they trying to do to us in Tenerife? Summer's on the doorstep, a time to be parading those six packs and shapely curves on the playas (I wish), and here they are tempting us with yet another tapas route.

The second Ruta de Tapas, 'Papeando entre Volcanes' started in Puerto de la Cruz yesterday and will continue until the 6th June by which time it'll be more a case of beer barrels and curves with the consistency of blancmange on the playas if the goodies on offer are anything to go by.

As the title suggests there's a theme running through the tapas on offer with dishes sporting intriguing and poetic names like secreto en erupción, litoral de lava and volcân de sabor y color.

Have a look below to see photos, ingredients and participating restaurants.

Each tapas is €4 including beer, wine or water. It's a bit of a price increase from previous routes, but I'll have to try one to see if it's because portions are bigger which from the look of the photos might be the case.

You need a passport to participate, but these can be picked up at the restaurants, Cámara office or the town hall.

Get these stamped at ten different restaurants and you enter a draw for a fabby prize.

ruterotapacanaria2010

Food on Tenerife – Tapas Route 'El Almáciga' in Arona

It's time for tapas lovers to salivate. These tapas routes are becoming more and more popular on Tenerife which is great news for the foodies amongst us. This one involves restaurants around the municipality of Arona in South Tenerife (if you're a bit fuzzy with your Tenerife municipalities, this is the one that Las Américas, Los Cristianos and Las Galletas are all in - although the participating restaurants are all in the towns away from the coast).

With tapas like pescado salteado con ajo y cebolla (salted fish with garlic and onion), cazuela de morcilla al camembert y azafrán canario (Canarian black pudding, camembert and saffron) and sorpresa de calamar de las 7 islas (It's squid, but you'll just have to try it to find out what the surprise is) on offer, methinks it's time to head into the hills.

Click here for list of participating restaurants and tapas dishes.

Dates: From 1st to 13th June

Price: €3.00 for a tapas with glass of wine, beer or water

Fiestas on Tenerife: Romerías de San Isidro in Valle Guerra, Mercedes, Granadilla de Abona & Arguayo

I’ve got a question for anyone who lives on Tenerife who hasn’t actually seen a traditional romería – how have you managed to avoid them? From May onwards you can hardly go anywhere without tripping over a cart decorated with fruit and flowers pulled by a couple of seriously big bovines.

They’re great fun and will make anyone who believes that Tenerife has been completely engulfed by tourism think again. The real Tenerife is alive, kicking and having a whale of a time. If you don’t believe me head to Valle Guerra on 9th May, Granadilla de Abona on 15th May, Arguayo in the south west on 16th May or Mercedes on 30th May and you’ll see exactly what I mean.

Fiestas on Tenerife: Shake, Rattle and Roll – It’s San Andrés

Don’t forget that we have wino weekend coming up this fin de semana (I only wrote that so I didn’t need to write weekend twice) otherwise known as the celebrations in honour of San Andrés.

It’s a great excuse to pop open a bottle of new wine, which is what the fiesta is all about, and sink a few… well it would be rude not to and when in Rome and all that.

Celebrations take place in towns all over Tenerife, but the two stand out places are Puerto de la Cruz where you can test wine from all over the valley at the wine fair on the harbour, or grab a table and order a poke of chestnuts and try to listen to some traditional Canarian bands whilst kids drag anything from coke cans to washing machines across the cobbles – follow this link if you want to find out why.

The other choice venue is Icod de los Vinos which becomes Tenerife’s extreme sports capital for a couple of days when local lads, and occasional lassies, take to using trays to get from the top of Icod’s steep streets to the bottom in record breaking, and potentially bone breaking, time.

Events take place in Puerto from the 27th November with the main celebrations taking place on the evening of Saturday 29th November.

Food and Drink: Third ‘Ruta de la Tapa’ in Granadilla de Abona

Tapas routes are becoming more and more popular on Tenerife. As the one in Puerto de la Cruz comes to an end, another in the municipality of Granadilla de Abona begins.

22 restaurants in El Médano, Granadilla, Los Abrigos, San Isidro y Cruz de Tea are creating some delectable tapas dishes for the competition which runs from the 15th November until the 15th December for €2.50 a tapas.

Look out for crab montaditos, grated white cheese and almogrote, meatballs with dates and montaditos with goat’s cheese and gofio amongst loads more goodies.

Click here to see a full list of participating restaurants, tapas dishes, opening hours, names of everyone present, past and future who has ever made a tapas dish in Granadilla, their relatives, friends of their relatives, and anyone they’ve ever met…(scroll to the bottom to find the list of restaurants)

The art of being concise isn’t a concept in Granadilla yet.

Food and Drink on Tenerife – The 4th Wine Route ‘Vinos y Viñedos'

The wine bus is on its travels again, this time visiting Bodega El Moral in El Sauzal for a bit of wine tasting, then the Los Nateros vineyard and the La Matanza market. The last stop is at Bodega Insercasa in Valle de Guerra before you’re dropped off back at the bus station in Santa Cruz.

It’s just dawned on me why there are always inebriated fellows in bus stations – they’re not ‘alkies’ at all, they’ve simply been on wine tasting tours.

It costs €15 to join the wine tasting bus and you can reserve a place by phoning 922 56 40 66.

The bus leaves Santa Cruz at  08.45 on Saturday 7th November

See www.rutasyvinos.com for more details (I'm sure they'll have their site up to date before the bus leaves).

Food & Drink on Tenerife: The 3rd Ruta de la Tapa Puerto de la Cruz – Un Mar de Sabores (A Sea of Flavours)

All you foodies out there will be salivating at the news that the 3rd tapas route starts today in Puerto de la Cruz (of course a bit more notice from the organisers might have been nice, but on Tenerife 24 hours is still considered a lot of notice).
Grumbles aside, the Ruta de la Tapa is a great way to sample local goodies and some new delish' concoctions for only €2.50 a throw (glass of wine, water or beer included).
28 restaurants in the town are participating and offerings include tastebud teasing treats like ‘mushrooms and seafood tempura’, ‘salchichas in beer’ and 'pork with caramelized onions and curry sauce' (not particularly Spanish sounding, but who cares).

Okay, I’m not sure I can type any more – I’ve got a date with a tapas ración or two.

Don’t forget to pick up your ‘Ruta de la Tapa’ passport at the town hall and get it stamped each time you try a ‘tapa’.

Dates: From 30th October to 22nd November

See Full Tapas Route and Dishes Here

Events on Tenerife – La Gran Majada (the Almond Fair)

This is one of those lovely island traditions which captures the imagination. La Gran Majada almond fair is a wonderful example of keeping important island traditions alive, in this case the collection and storing of almonds and dried fruits such as figs by the local children in the Plaza de San Pedro in Aripe, Guía de Isora,

It’s a great opportunity to experience part of a way of life which has existed for centuries and one which seems an eternity away from that of the tourist resorts a short distance away.

Date: 25th October

Times: 10.00 – 14.00

Food on Tenerife: Cheese and Wine – the Perfect Couple

The Casa del Vino La Baranda in El Sauzal is definitely pulling out all the stops to seduce our taste buds. First it was their ridiculously good value and highly appealing menu, now it’s their ‘DEGUSTACIÓN DE VINOS DE TENERIFE’  between the 2nd and the 16th of October.

During this period, twelve of the best of the island’s wines can be tried for around a euro a glass accompanied by award winning cheeses (or after 12 glasses of wine ‘sheeesses’) from Arico and Benijos (€2.60 - €3.40 per ration).

Tapas on Tenerife – Tapas Route in Tacoronte – Acentejo

Tapas routes seem to be really in vogue on Tenerife over the last 12 months. Puerto de la Cruz has had them and so has Los Cristianos in the south.

They’re a great way to sample local tapas for a couple of euros a throw. The Tacoronte – Acentejo area has now followed suite. However, they’ve taken the idea a saucy step further and themed their version as ‘tapa afrodisíaca’. It doesn’t take a fluent Spanish speaker to translate that one.

It sounds like an invitation to have an orgy of a tapas tasting. Aphrodisiac offerings include intriguingly sinful delights such as ‘Noche de Pasión’, ‘Sueño de un Eunico’ (I wonder if eunuchs do have sensuous dreams?), and ‘Papa Romántica’. I don't know what any of them are, but who cares?

Sounds great and as it’s in the area with Tenerife’s best wines and also some of the island’s best restaurants you’re guaranteed some seriously tasty and possibly sexy little treats.

There are 25 restaurants participating and each tapas costs €2.50 (glass of wine included). There are also prizes for the first 10 people who try 15 tapas and the first 5 who manage 20 tapas.

 See here for the full list of participating restaurants.

Exhibitions on Tenerife - Saqueo de Souvernilandia, La Laguna

A deliciously tasty and irreverent finishing touch to the ‘Exhibition of Souvenirs’ at the Museum of History and Anthropology in La Laguna is ‘Saqueo de Souvernilandia’ by artists Alicia Ríos and Antoni Miralda. The pair mix art and food to create amusing masterpieces (see the edible London exhibit in the photo) in what they term ‘cannibalism culture’.

Personally, I think it’s a great idea. If you don’t like the exhibit… eat it; which is what is going to happen to the exhibit at around 20.00 on the 2nd of October. So get up there before then if you want to see the piece in its entirety.

UPDATE: The edible part of the exhibition wont be at the Museum until Friday, it's currently in La Matanza  (but I had to go to the museum to find that little fact out). It will be devoured, so the incredibly helpful attendant told me rubbing her tum in anticipation, as previously stated on Friday at 20.00.

The Tourist exhibition is on at the Museum and although there's an amusing ironic aspect to it, any visitors going out of there way to see it and finding a mock-up of a hotel dining room might just think someone's havin' a laugh.


Location: Museo de Historia y Antropología de Tenerife, Casa Lercaro, La Laguna

Fiestas on Tenerife – San Miguel de Abona

The romería season is drawing to an end, so if you haven’t managed to catch one of these lively, colourful processions, then this may just be about your last chance.

Normally one of the big drawbacks for many visitors and ex-pats is that the biggest of these take place in the north, but there’s no real excuse for missing this one as it takes place in the lovely little hill town of San Miguel de Abona only a hop, skip and a jump from Los Cristianos, Las Américas and Costa Adeje.

The Romería is the highlight of the town’s celebrations in honour of San Miguel Arcángel and is great fun whether you’ve seen a Romería before or not. Bands, traditional costumes, beauty queens and decorated carts from which free food and wine are handed out. This is what the Canarios do best.

Date: Sunday 27th September

Time: From midday onwards.

What an Incredible Meal Deal - Casa del Vino, El Sauzal

Any number of people will tell you that you have to pay for quality. Whilst this is often true, it’s not a given. Especially when it comes to eating out in the north of Tenerife.

There are few places on Tenerife to match the aesthetic ambience of the Casa del Vino in El Sauzal. It’s the sort of place where you might expect to shell out a small fortune, but wait till you hear about this.

How about a first course choice of Vichisoisse de Puerros con Virutas de Jamón, Tomate Relleno de Atún en Escabeche, Ensalada Cesar con Queso Curado, Lentejas Estofadas, Rissotto de Setas y Langostinos, or Sopa de Pescado?

Followed by: Cazuela de Cherne, Bacalao Confitado con Encebollado, Salmonetes al Horno con Verduritas Salteadas, Filetes de Cochino con Salsa de Moscatel, Pollito Tomatero Asado con Papas Panaderas or Ragut de Ternera.

And Rounded off with Postres de “La Casa”, Fruta o Helados y Sorbetes hechos en Casa

And what’s the cost of this wonderful meal in the exquisite surroundings of an old Canarian mansion? We’re not talking €20. We’re not even talking €15. No we’re talking an incredibly wallet friendly €10.

Drinks are separate, but still it’s too good an offer to miss.

(Casa del Vino is beside the El Sauzal exit of the TF5. Menu available between 13.00 and 23.00 Tuesday to Saturday, 13.00 to 16.00 Sunday, closed Monday)

Festivals on Tenerife – CATH 2009

The name of this festival might not capture the imagination, but that’s because it stands for ‘Canaries at the Hotel’… err, okay I’m guessing your imagination is still completely under whelmed, but stick with me.

CATH 2009 takes place over the 11th and 12th September and is a bohemian two day (and night) festival of art, music and dance taking place in one of the north’s lesser known entertainment hotspots (lesser known to most visitors and anyone unfamiliar with the north that is), the Panorámica Garden Hotel in Los Realejos.

It includes two concerts featuring more than 10 bands, 4 DJ zones, experimental art exhibition rooms, dance performances and contemporary magic shows. It is a jam packed weekend of events and finishes at 6.30 on the 12th September with a ‘Chill Out’ session in the swimming pools (only for people staying at the hotel) and at that time of the morning I’m willing to bet that the ’Chill Out’ will be a literal one.

There are a number of ticket options (a two day ‘bono’ costs €45 on the door, €40 if purchased beforehand), but the coolest, rock ‘n’ roll way to do it must be to take a package staying at the hotel for the two nights of the festival for €120 per person.

This is an event which will suit seriously COOL people

See Full details of CATH 2009 here (in Spanish only)

Fiestas on Tenerife – Fiestas del Cristo, Tacoronte

Another town where it’s party time for the whole of September. Tacoronte used to be on every traveller’s route, but now is pretty much by-passed by the majority of visitors to Tenerife, even though it’s reputed to have some of the best restaurants on the island (it’s where King Juan Carlos chooses to eat – so the locals say).

Celebrations take place throughout the month and apart from the usual suspects of parades, processions, dances and firework displays, there are a few other interesting events.

Highlights

Sunday 6th September: Turron and wine tasting in Plaza del Cristo at midday. This is the Tacoronte – Acentejo region so there should be some decent vino to quaff.

Friday 11th September: The Canarian popular TV programme 'Tenderete' is going to be filmed from Plaza del Cristo – there are no times in the festival agenda, but it usually takes place at night.

Friday 18th September: It’s throwback to the glamorous 70s time with the election of the fiesta queen in Plaza del Cristo with a set from pop duo K-Narias from 22.00

Saturday 19th September: A packed evening with a horse race – we’re not talking Grand National here (C/Teobald Poer, 17.00), religious procession & firework display (Plaza del Cristo, 21.00) and dance (Plaza del Cristo, midnight)

Friday 25th September sees another beauty queen contest in the plaza at 22.00, whilst on Saturday 26th, there’s another procession, firework display and dance (with Pepe Benavente – who seems to perform at every fiesta going) from 21.30 onwards.

The Fiesta comes to a close on Sunday 27th September with yet another procession at midday, a concert by the municipal band at 19.00 and a traditional folk festival at 20.00

Phew!

Events in Tenerife – Bavarian Week in Puerto de la Cruz

The Bavarian Week (Semana Bávara) gets going in earnest from tomorrow with concerts in and around Puerto de la Cruz by the Bavarian orchestra, Die Lustigen Egerlaender. The highlight of Bavarian Week is the beer festival in Plaza Europa on Saturday 5th September from 19.00.

Entrance ticket is €10 which entitles you to ONE DRINK & ONE RATION OF FOOD.

Concerts:
Friday 28/08, 20:15, Iglesia Peña de Francia
Saturday 29/08, 21:00, Avda. Colón / Avda. Venezuela
Sunday 30/08, 12:00, Lago Martiánez
Tuesday 1/09, 20:00, Playa Jardín
Wednesday 02/09, 17:00, Hotel Tigaiga & at 1900 at Supermercado 2000, La Paz
Thursday 03/09, 21:00, Plaza del Charco

The Best Place to Buy Goodies on Tenerife – Pinolere 2009

I hate to mention the X word when we’re still in the midst of summer, but the Pinolere craft fair in La Orotava will have so many goodies on offer that it’s too good a chance to miss out on some early and unique Xmas shopping (aaargh, there I’ve gone and done it).

It’s a beautiful location, set in and around the thatched huts of the ethnological museum in the green upper reaches of La Orotava and there really will be some cracking stuff to pick. Stalls are packed with artisan crafts ranging from hand painted shoes and jewellery to local produce and eclectic ornaments.

Apart from the stalls there are craft work exhibitions, musical performances and entertainers. It’s a good day out even in you don’t buy anything

Dates: 4th, 5th and 6th September

Times: From 10.00 to 21.00

Price: There’s usually a charge of a few euros to enter the fair.

Fiestas on Tenerife – Romería de San Roque, Garachico

One of the nicest romerías on Tenerife takes place this coming weekend in Garachico.

The picturesque little town provides the perfect setting for scores of decorated carts, goats, donkeys, ponies and Tinerfeños looking fab in their brightly coloured traditional costumes for the Romería de San Roque.
The town does get very busy and parking is a nightmare. Our tip is that as soon as you see other people parking their cars, follow suit… even if you’re still a couple of kilometres from the town.

Oh, and don’t forget your ‘vaso de romería’ unless you want to miss out on all the free flowing wine.

Date: Sunday 16th August

Time: From around 13.00 (mas o menos)

Fiestas on Tenerife – Dia de la Trilla in El Tanque

With Nelson attacking Santa Cruz and the Spanish Air Force probably screaming across the skies above Puerto de la Cruz, there are a lot of events taking place this weekend. Personally I’m opting for something a bit more sedate in the hills above El Tanque at the Dia de la Trilla. This smallish fiesta is based around old fashioned farming methods like horses and oxen being used to thresh the wheat in eras (threshing circles).

It’s held in a stunningly beautiful location. Denims and cowboy hats are the favoured mode of fashion and if you’ve got teeth you must be posh.

And as for it being sedate, who am I kidding…have you ever been to a fiesta in the hills?

Dates: 24th July from 18.00 – 20.00 (The party usually really gets going after that – stay if you dare). 25th July from 11.00 – 14.00

Location: San José de Los Llanos, El Tanque