ZWT8 ~ Tapas Party Spain Challenge

[NorthwestGal]

Elmotoo wrote:

I'm going back to Toledo, Spain in the Castile-La-Mancha region. I spent part of a summer there as an International YMCA counselor a gazillion years ago. This was my first introduction to Europe & provided very, very near & dear memories. Off we go!

We will be celebrating Corpus Christi - it is Toledo’s most important festival and one of its oldest - it’s the biggest day of the year!

Five weeks before the religious procession, the route is decorated with awnings, wreaths and lanterns. The day before the feast of Corpus Christi, walls, windows and balconies are adorned with antique pennants and tapestries from the 16th and 17th century, and the ground is strewn with aromatic herbs such as thyme whose scent pervades the festive atmosphere of the following days. The procession begins at midday: the bells of Toledo begin to peal, and the first to appear is a group of giants representing the different continents. Then the procession itself leaves the cathedral, bearing the Monstrance and accompanied by the religious guilds in order of antiquity. There are awnings along the way to protect the Monstrance. You need to pay for seats in advance to see this! There is also a program of events lasting a week which includes concerts, shows and sports competitions.

Our menu for the afternoon includes tapas such as
Moussels Tigre (Mejillones Tigre) Tiger Recipe Mussels With Spicy Tomato / Tigres #398723 by Holmes Basque
Ham Croquettes (Croquetas de jamon) Croquetas De Jamon (Ham Croquettes) #391900 by DisasterInTheKitchen
Garlic Mushrooms (Champinones al ajillo) Champinones Al Ajillo-Spanish Garlic Mushrooms #378760 by Buster's Friend
Garlic Prawns (Gambas al ajillo) Shrimp and Garlic Tapas (Gambas Al Ajillo) #362175 by Hopkins82
Spanish Tortilla Tortilla Espa�ola (Spanish Potato Omelette) #248857 by Chris Beckstrom
Spicy Potatoes (Patatas Bravas) Grilled Potatoes With Spicy Tomato Aioli (Patatas Bravas) #370019 by jkoch960

and of course...some Authentic Spanish Sangria #148073 by parisucks. (Love the intro!)

Buena apetit!

xo Bethie of the Chefs Gone Wild

Bethie, I enjoyed reading your Tapas Party report. And I loved your selection of tapas---all my favorites! The Corpus Christi celebration is wonderful and one I'd love to experience one day. You picked a wonderful topic! Thank you for participating in this Challenge.

[NorthwestGal]

Maryland Jim wrote:


The region of Spain I choose for my tapas party is the province of Huelva. Huelva is in Andalucía, in the extreme southwest of Spain. To the north it has borders with Badajoz, to the east with Sevilla and to the west with Portugal. It covers an area of 10,000 kms and has a population of 150,000 inhabitants. Part of the province is on the Atlantic coast.
Huelva is located at the mouth of the rivers Tinto and Odiel which start in the Aracena mountain range. The landscape varies widely depending on where you are in the province. It can be divided into 2 different parts: the northern part at the foot of the Morena mountain range and the coastal area which is a lot warmer and contains some of the most unspoiled and wild beaches in the whole of Spain.
Huelva has very hot summers and mild winters. The average annual temperature doesn't vary much: 17ºC in the valleys, 16ºC in the mountains and 18ºC on the coast. It rarely rains on the coast, although it sometimes rains in the mountains.
The occasion I have chosen in The Holy Week (also known as Semana Santa). Festivities in Huelva, although they’re outshone by the spectacular festival held in Seville, and they’re on a smaller scale (but for that very reason they’re more intimate and homely), have been declared of National Touristic Interest. For a week and a day, from Palm Saturday to Easter Sunday, twenty-six brother- and sisterhoods move in procession through the streets of the capital –a royal sight at times, as well as giving onlookers the opportunity to “discover” special nooks from which to admire the carvings as they’re carried past.



The Tapas Party I would hold during the Semana Santa would be at the end of the week to celebrate Easter and the rising of Jesus Christ. My menu would include:

Mojama de atun (cured tuna)
Rape al vino blanco (monkfish in white wine)
Raya al Pinenton (skate with paparika)
Chacinas (cured pork sausage)
Serrano Ham Croquettes
Remojan (Lenten Salad made with cod, oranges & olives)
For beverages we would enjoy wines from Condado de Huelva


Map of Huelva


Huelva Meat Market

Hola, Maryland Jim. I enjoyed your Tapas Party report. The tapas sound delightful, and I enjoyed reading about your celebration of Semana Santa. It's one of the most popular community celebrations every year in most regions of Spain, and it's awlays full of color and awe. I'm glad you chose such a wonderful celebration to write about.

[Tea Girl]

Save a space in your calendar for May 15, we are going to capital of Spain, Madrid!



The 15th of May is the San Isidro's Day, the patron saint of Madrid. Madrid is one of favourite places, beautiful city, the city celebrates all that wonderful from Spain, especially the wide variety of foods. The people of Madrid love the wonderful ham from Iberia. You will see it hanging in shop windows throughout the city.



San Isidro is the patron saint of Madrid and the public holiday which coincides with this festival is on 15th May although a range of varied events take place from the Friday before the 15th when the Mayor's speech begins proceedings and continue until the following Sunday.
On the day of May 15th the people of Madrid dressed in traditional gear head for Plaza Mayor where there is traditional dancing and open air concerts. Casa de Campo, the large park to the south west of the centre, hosts rock concerts during the fiestas and there are varied events throughout the city.



Our menu for tapas in the park are:


Spanish Tortilla #370457

Ham and Manchego Croquetas With Smoked Paprika Aioli #478602

Manchego and Serrano Crostini #370533

Torrijas Saladas Con Ajo (Garlic "french" Toast) #483300

Chorizo Al Vino (Chorizo in Red Wine) #369970

Patatas Bravas - Brave Spanish Potatoes #370044

Sopa De Ajo (Garlic Soup) #483312

To drink we will have some lovely Spanish wine

Buena apetit!

Tea Girl of the Chefs Gone Wild

[Studentchef]

It is New Year's Eve in northern Spain in the region of Andorra! In Andorra New Year's is a week long event to celebrate the coming of the new Year. It's so beautiful here, with all the lights, and decorations. People know how to get dressed up, and they love to dance.

One of their favourite dances is the folkdance called Sardana. This dance is one of several favourite folkdances, and me and my team are learning to dance. It is a lively time for us all.



On the menu are six tapas that our Andorran friends brought for us. They love tapas, and when you are busy greeting friends and family members, and even meeting new friends, there's no time to make meals. So Andorrans, like the rest of spain, nibble on Tapas.

On hand, we have:

Spanish Mushrooms Tapas-Style
Garlic Tomatoes - for the Tapas Bar
Tomato Bread (Tapas)
Marinated Green Olives (Tapas)
Pearl Onion Tapas
Spinach, Pine Nuts and Raisins (Tapas)



There may have been more tapas, but with all the activities going on, we couldn't keep track.

The Andorrans staged concerts with performers singing in Catalan, and musicians playing music. There were children's performers as well, and my team felt connected to their inner child, as we listened on.

There were fireworks, and dancers, and churches were open during the night for religious prayers. I didn't go into any of these churches, but I observed and respect the people who did go in for their services.

[Chef Aduladi]

http://www.yourfrenchconnexion.com/spain-info/extremadura-map.jpg

[Dienia B.]

Dienia B. wrote:




HERE IS A MENU OF SOME TAPAS FROM EXTREMADURA
x <a 6 x <a 6 spanish tapas these are NOT in the tour cook book but we had no recipes here at food.com for this region . so i added some for next tour lol
here is the location


Read more at: http://www.food.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=377175&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60&oc=linkback
these recipes however are in the cookbook and as they are for ham i thought they would work
459488
Spanish Rice With Ham 186179
Habas Con Jam�n (Broad Beans With Ham) - Spain 228465
Ham Steak Au Porto 483683
Basque Eggs With Ham, Asparagus and Peas 483730
Spanish Ham and Cheese Monte Cristo Sandwiches 483708
Huevos a La Flamenca 369736



The Extremadura International Folk Festival is based principally in Badajoz, although there are also performances in more than a dozen other Extremadura towns and villages.
The event programme lasts ten days and is made up of around eight overseas folk groups, three acts from Spain as a whole, and ten or twelve from Extremadura itself. The festival is organised by the "Extremadura" Chorus and Dance Association. It comes to a perfect end with the "Gala of the Nations", where all the participants take part.

This is the region that most of the conquistadores came from. it is the most rural part of Spain without many good roads or railway transportation .


They eat alot of meat game including, the best ham comes from this region, from the black iberian pigs that munch on acorns . they also have sheep goats and beef . they make a famous cheese from the sheep. The spices they like to use are garlic, bay leaves, anise and paprika. They also use cardoon and borage . chick peas are eaten alot here too.
here is the ham



here is a picture of the most famous sheeps milk cheese


this is the frontier of spain bordering with portugal . the food here is heavy , with alot of meat and not so many veggies . the french during the napoleonic wars stole several of the famous recipes from a convent of which there are many here consomme was one of them.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Localizaci%C3%B3n_de_Extremadura.svg/250px-Localizaci%C3%B3n_de_Extremadura.svg.png
This legendary and select race has many qualities, including a great capacity to accumulate fat under its skin and between the muscular fibres. This fat is what produces the typical white streaks that make its hams so special. The production of meat products from Iberian pigs has very little in common with that of meat products obtained from selected pigs raised under intensive conditions on industrial farms, and it constitutes an example of the preparation of high quality meat products, comparable to the most exquisite food products in the world.
this is what they call weak american coffee lol im guessing the spoon would stick straight up in spanish coffee


this is a picture of spanish french toast which they eat hot or cold

he Extremadura Int
we are going to pack a picnic basket of tapas for when we listen to the music http://images-p.qvc.com/is/image/h/88/h142588.001?$uslarge$
[/quote][img]http://images-p.qvc.com/is/image/h/88/h142588.001?$uslarge$[img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][/quote]


here is my completed task my sister would not let me quit my mouse is dead lol from the banging

[threeovens]

I think I'll throw party celebrating Melilla. Melilla is very interestingly called "The City of Four Cultures" because it home to large populations of Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Hindi. It is located on the northern coast of Africa and surrounded entirely by Morocco.

One of Melilla's public holidays is Dia de Melilla. This day is celebrated to commemorate the day Queen Isabella I of Spain and King Ferdinand II of Aragon sent Juan Alonso Perez de Guzman, 3rd Duke of Medina Sidonia to take the city from the Kingdom of Fez. There is a parade which is enjoyed by everyone. Some choose to celebrate the holiday with parties and festivities, others quietly with family and friends, and still others protest that Melilla should be part of Morocco.

Me? I will celebrate with a party! Since Melilla is The City of Four Cultures, their food is quite diverse. Their main industry is fishing, so they do eat lots of fish. They also eat food influenced by Spain, Morocco, and also enjoy Jewish food. I will serve 6 different Tapas to represent the region:

1. Pinchos Morunos (Moorish Pointed Stick or Thorns) which is marinated pork kebabs.

2. Pescado Cocho (Cooked Fish) - a Jewish-Moroccan fusion tapas which consists of fish stewed with sweet or hot peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and cilantro.

3. Fideos del Corinto (Corinthian Noodles) - made with chicken, onions, cinnamon and spice, raisins and other good things.

4. Cazuela de Rape a la Rusadir - a monkfish casserole with tomato, green peppers, and garlic, seasoned with cumin.

5. Tortilla de Colores (Colored Tortilla) - this one is made with smashed potatoes, studded with colorful vegetables like peas and carrots; it is seasoned with nutmeg and also has chopped hard cooked egg.

6. CusCus - couscous made with cuts of chicken and beef, with carrots, tomato, eggplant, chickpeas, artichokes, and green beans.

[NorthwestGal]

Tea Girl wrote:


Save a space in your calendar for May 15, we are going to capital of Spain, Madrid!



The 15th of May is the San Isidro's Day, the patron saint of Madrid. Madrid is one of favourite places, beautiful city, the city celebrates all that wonderful from Spain, especially the wide variety of foods. The people of Madrid love the wonderful ham from Iberia. You will see it hanging in shop windows throughout the city.



San Isidro is the patron saint of Madrid and the public holiday which coincides with this festival is on 15th May although a range of varied events take place from the Friday before the 15th when the Mayor's speech begins proceedings and continue until the following Sunday.
On the day of May 15th the people of Madrid dressed in traditional gear head for Plaza Mayor where there is traditional dancing and open air concerts. Casa de Campo, the large park to the south west of the centre, hosts rock concerts during the fiestas and there are varied events throughout the city.



Our menu for tapas in the park are:


Spanish Tortilla #370457

Ham and Manchego Croquetas With Smoked Paprika Aioli #478602

Manchego and Serrano Crostini #370533

Torrijas Saladas Con Ajo (Garlic "french" Toast) #483300

Chorizo Al Vino (Chorizo in Red Wine) #369970

Patatas Bravas - Brave Spanish Potatoes #370044

Sopa De Ajo (Garlic Soup) #483312

To drink we will have some lovely Spanish wine

Buena apetit!

Tea Girl of the Chefs Gone Wild

Madrid does sound lovely indeed, Tea Girl. Your Tapas Party in the park sounds delightful, and I'm ready to pack my bag and head on out for Spain.

Thank you for participating in the Challenge. I hope you enjoyed it.

[NorthwestGal]

Studentchef wrote:




It is New Year's Eve in northern Spain in the region of Andorra! In Andorra New Year's is a week long event to celebrate the coming of the new Year. It's so beautiful here, with all the lights, and decorations. People know how to get dressed up, and they love to dance.

One of their favourite dances is the folkdance called Sardana. This dance is one of several favourite folkdances, and me and my team are learning to dance. It is a lively time for us all.



On the menu are six tapas that our Andorran friends brought for us. They love tapas, and when you are busy greeting friends and family members, and even meeting new friends, there's no time to make meals. So Andorrans, like the rest of spain, nibble on Tapas.

On hand, we have:

Spanish Mushrooms Tapas-Style
Garlic Tomatoes - for the Tapas Bar
Tomato Bread (Tapas)
Marinated Green Olives (Tapas)
Pearl Onion Tapas
Spinach, Pine Nuts and Raisins (Tapas)



There may have been more tapas, but with all the activities going on, we couldn't keep track.

The Andorrans staged concerts with performers singing in Catalan, and musicians playing music. There were children's performers as well, and my team felt connected to their inner child, as we listened on.

There were fireworks, and dancers, and churches were open during the night for religious prayers. I didn't go into any of these churches, but I observed and respect the people who did go in for their services.

New Years would be a wonderful time to travel to Spain, wouldn't it? I enjoyed reading all about your tapas party and your youthful resergence during the folk dancing lessons. Thank you for partiicipating in this challenge. I hope you enjoyed it.

[NorthwestGal]

Dienia B. wrote:

Dienia B. wrote:




HERE IS A MENU OF SOME TAPAS FROM EXTREMADURA
x <a 6 x <a 6 spanish tapas these are NOT in the tour cook book but we had no recipes here at food.com for this region . so i added some for next tour lol
here is the location


Read more at: http://www.food.com/bb/viewtopic.zsp?t=377175&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60&oc=linkback
these recipes however are in the cookbook and as they are for ham i thought they would work
459488
Spanish Rice With Ham 186179
Habas Con Jam�n (Broad Beans With Ham) - Spain 228465
Ham Steak Au Porto 483683
Basque Eggs With Ham, Asparagus and Peas 483730
Spanish Ham and Cheese Monte Cristo Sandwiches 483708
Huevos a La Flamenca 369736



The Extremadura International Folk Festival is based principally in Badajoz, although there are also performances in more than a dozen other Extremadura towns and villages.
The event programme lasts ten days and is made up of around eight overseas folk groups, three acts from Spain as a whole, and ten or twelve from Extremadura itself. The festival is organised by the "Extremadura" Chorus and Dance Association. It comes to a perfect end with the "Gala of the Nations", where all the participants take part.

This is the region that most of the conquistadores came from. it is the most rural part of Spain without many good roads or railway transportation .


They eat alot of meat game including, the best ham comes from this region, from the black iberian pigs that munch on acorns . they also have sheep goats and beef . they make a famous cheese from the sheep. The spices they like to use are garlic, bay leaves, anise and paprika. They also use cardoon and borage . chick peas are eaten alot here too.
here is the ham



here is a picture of the most famous sheeps milk cheese


this is the frontier of spain bordering with portugal . the food here is heavy , with alot of meat and not so many veggies . the french during the napoleonic wars stole several of the famous recipes from a convent of which there are many here consomme was one of them.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Localizaci%C3%B3n_de_Extremadura.svg/250px-Localizaci%C3%B3n_de_Extremadura.svg.png
This legendary and select race has many qualities, including a great capacity to accumulate fat under its skin and between the muscular fibres. This fat is what produces the typical white streaks that make its hams so special. The production of meat products from Iberian pigs has very little in common with that of meat products obtained from selected pigs raised under intensive conditions on industrial farms, and it constitutes an example of the preparation of high quality meat products, comparable to the most exquisite food products in the world.
this is what they call weak american coffee lol im guessing the spoon would stick straight up in spanish coffee


this is a picture of spanish french toast which they eat hot or cold

he Extremadura Int
we are going to pack a picnic basket of tapas for when we listen to the music http://images-p.qvc.com/is/image/h/88/h142588.001?$uslarge$

[img]http://images-p.qvc.com/is/image/h/88/h142588.001?$uslarge$[img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img][/quote]


here is my completed task my sister would not let me quit my mouse is dead lol from the banging[/quote]

Thank you, Dienia B. I enjoyed reading about your Tapas Party. I think you're right about the coffee, I think a spoon would stick straight up in a good cup of Spanish coffee.

[NorthwestGal]

threeovens wrote:



I think I'll throw party celebrating Melilla. Melilla is very interestingly called "The City of Four Cultures" because it home to large populations of Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Hindi. It is located on the northern coast of Africa and surrounded entirely by Morocco.

One of Melilla's public holidays is Dia de Melilla. This day is celebrated to commemorate the day Queen Isabella I of Spain and King Ferdinand II of Aragon sent Juan Alonso Perez de Guzman, 3rd Duke of Medina Sidonia to take the city from the Kingdom of Fez. There is a parade which is enjoyed by everyone. Some choose to celebrate the holiday with parties and festivities, others quietly with family and friends, and still others protest that Melilla should be part of Morocco.

Me? I will celebrate with a party! Since Melilla is The City of Four Cultures, their food is quite diverse. Their main industry is fishing, so they do eat lots of fish. They also eat food influenced by Spain, Morocco, and also enjoy Jewish food. I will serve 6 different Tapas to represent the region:

1. Pinchos Morunos (Moorish Pointed Stick or Thorns) which is marinated pork kebabs.

2. Pescado Cocho (Cooked Fish) - a Jewish-Moroccan fusion tapas which consists of fish stewed with sweet or hot peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and cilantro.

3. Fideos del Corinto (Corinthian Noodles) - made with chicken, onions, cinnamon and spice, raisins and other good things.

4. Cazuela de Rape a la Rusadir - a monkfish casserole with tomato, green peppers, and garlic, seasoned with cumin.

5. Tortilla de Colores (Colored Tortilla) - this one is made with smashed potatoes, studded with colorful vegetables like peas and carrots; it is seasoned with nutmeg and also has chopped hard cooked egg.

6. CusCus - couscous made with cuts of chicken and beef, with carrots, tomato, eggplant, chickpeas, artichokes, and green beans.

You selected quite a diverse region with a lovely assortment of tapas to delight your guests, threeovens. Your party sounds like a wonderful celebration. I hope you enjoyed participating in this challenge.

[Susie D]

Running for your life in front of a pack of angry, 1,200-pound bulls is just the way to start the weekend! You can go first. LOL



I've heard about the Running of the Bulls but never thought to find out the reason until now.

Pamplona is located in the Navarre region and has a rich history.

The San Fermin Festival is celebrated annually for nine days. The festival is celebrated in honour of San Fermin, the patron saint of the town, but the religious aspect has taken a secondary role over the years. Revellers travel from all over the world just to partake in the Running of the Bulls, which started in the 1400's. The latter began as a non-religious fair centered on the arrival of cattle merchants in summer. Hurrying their livestock through the streets to market eventually evolved into a competition -- now, what we know as running of the bulls. Today participants run ahead of the bulls every morning of the festival at 8am. Spectators and runners have to adhere to some minimal rules as this is the most dangerous part of the festival.

Afternoons are spent watching matadors display their skills at the bullfights.Nights are usually spent partying as the town erupts into an enormous party with giant puppets accompanied by brass bands parading the streets.

The 1926 novel 'The Sun Also Rises' by writer Ernest Hemingway contributed to the notoriety the festival has developed today as it introduced the festival to the world.



Navarra, the region of which Pamplona is capital, has long been Basque in nature and enjoys a privileged geographical situation. The varied landscape features everything from fertile valleys and mountainous terrain to freshwater rivers and proximity to the sea, all of which play heavily into the local gastronomy. Based on fresh vegetables, fish and lean meats, Basque food is known for being healthy and natural, for being simple yet creative and for incorporating raw materials of top-notch quality.
You'll definitely want to add Cordero al chilindrón to your must try list as it originated in Pamplona!

Tapas (often called pinchos or pintxos in northern Spain) offer the opportunity to sample many little bites as we enjoy the evening and explore the city. I plan to try:
Basque Scrambled Eggs (Tapas)
Basque Lamb Chops With Tomatoes & Olives
White Beans a La Basque
Basque-Style Chicken
The Best Garlic Shrimp in the Whole Wide World

[NorthwestGal]

Susie D wrote:
Running for your life in front of a pack of angry, 1,200-pound bulls is just the way to start the weekend! You can go first. LOL



I've heard about the Running of the Bulls but never thought to find out the reason until now.

Pamplona is located in the Navarre region and has a rich history.

The San Fermin Festival is celebrated annually for nine days. The festival is celebrated in honour of San Fermin, the patron saint of the town, but the religious aspect has taken a secondary role over the years. Revellers travel from all over the world just to partake in the Running of the Bulls, which started in the 1400's. The latter began as a non-religious fair centered on the arrival of cattle merchants in summer. Hurrying their livestock through the streets to market eventually evolved into a competition -- now, what we know as running of the bulls. Today participants run ahead of the bulls every morning of the festival at 8am. Spectators and runners have to adhere to some minimal rules as this is the most dangerous part of the festival.

Afternoons are spent watching matadors display their skills at the bullfights.Nights are usually spent partying as the town erupts into an enormous party with giant puppets accompanied by brass bands parading the streets.

The 1926 novel 'The Sun Also Rises' by writer Ernest Hemingway contributed to the notoriety the festival has developed today as it introduced the festival to the world.



Navarra, the region of which Pamplona is capital, has long been Basque in nature and enjoys a privileged geographical situation. The varied landscape features everything from fertile valleys and mountainous terrain to freshwater rivers and proximity to the sea, all of which play heavily into the local gastronomy. Based on fresh vegetables, fish and lean meats, Basque food is known for being healthy and natural, for being simple yet creative and for incorporating raw materials of top-notch quality.
You'll definitely want to add Cordero al chilindrón to your must try list as it originated in Pamplona!

Tapas (often called pinchos or pintxos in northern Spain) offer the opportunity to sample many little bites as we enjoy the evening and explore the city. I plan to try:
Basque Scrambled Eggs (Tapas)
Basque Lamb Chops With Tomatoes & Olives
White Beans a La Basque
Basque-Style Chicken
The Best Garlic Shrimp in the Whole Wide World

What a fun Tapas Party, SusieD. Navarre really is a beautiful region, one I'd love to visit one day as much for the food as for the scenery. But it's your party, so I think you should go first with the bulls

[Lavender Lynn]

I am planning a Tapas party for my visit to Galicia, in the north western corner of the Iberian Peninsula. I am so excited about attending Saint James Day on July 25.
This region is rich and fertile with an abundance of beaches and spectacular mountainous views. It has historic cities like the famous Santiago de Compostela, a culture descended from the Celts and a warm and friendly welcome for all of its foreign visitors.




Galicia is a popular holiday choice with many Spaniards living in the southern and central cities of the country. They like to holiday in the north to escape the oppressive heat and enjoy Galicia's famous seafood based gastronomy.
The single most popular attraction on Galicia's tourist map is Santiago de Compostela. The Cathedral.Santiago de Compostela was founded in the ninth century at the site of the tomb of Saint James, one of the disciples. Initially a small chapel was built over the actual spot where the apostle was discovered, but over the years this building has evolved into a huge and very significant cathedral. Besides being the site of the St James Day festival, it is the final destination for pilgrims following the famous "Camino" Christian pilgrimage from France and Portugal.




On July 25th the city of Santiago de Compostela Celebrates Saint-James day (Dia de Santiago). Many events start out that day in the city such as:

Exhibitions of art work by Galician artists
Street shows.
Concerts of modern and traditional music

Traditional dance events


My tapas party starts at the special service in the Cathedral of Santiago. We have heard so much about the Botafumeiro (giant incense burner)

Special church services will honor the life and work of Saint James, including the swing of the Botafumeiro in the Cathedral of Santiago.



After the service we will meet up to share our wonderful tapas menu with wine.

Since the 25th of July is a public holiday for the locals. we are expecting a big crowd for the fireworks that night. This is a picture of last years crowd and we don't want to be standing way in the back





If July 25th is on Sunday, it is declared the “Holy year”, and on the 25th, the Saint door of the cathedral that is generally closed with bricks/stones is opened for the pilgrims to access the cathedral that way.




These are the on the menu for my tapas party. Most of them involve seafood because it is such an important part of the Galacians diet.

Pulpo a la Gallega (Galician Octopus)


Chipirones (baby squid)


Almejas con setas (baby clams)


Vieras (scallops)


Percebes (goose barnacles)


Gambas al ajillo ( shrimp in garlic)


Titella Cheese ~ wonderful, breast-shaped, aptly named tetilla


Albarino Wine ~ remarkable white wine that reminds some people of Reisling but has a lighter texture; flowery but not sweet


After we have eaten and drunk our fill, we will head over to the Cathedral so we can get a good spot for the fireworks.

[MomLuvs6]

The Fearless Red Dragons are heading to Haro in the La Rioja region of northern Spain, to attend the Haro Wine Festival.



Haro is the capital of La Rioja, one of Spain’s largest wine-producing regions. Here, June 29 is the celebration of the patron saint San Pedro. As all holy days must, it begins with a solemn mass on the mount of Bilibio, with thousands of believers dressed in pristine white. The day begins at 7:00 am, with a procession of people old and young, dressed in white shirts and red scarves, all carrying jugs, bottles, botas and other types of containers filled with red wine. Led by the town's mayor, on horseback, the procession winds through the town to the Cliffs of Bilibio, where a mass is celebrated at the Hermitage of San Felices de Bilibio.



Then the mass ends and the madness begins. Or as Haro calls it, La Batalla del Vino (The Battle of Wines).After the mass a true free-for-all begins, with everyone tossing wine on each other until all are soaked from head to foot. There is a sea of wet, pink shirts everywhere.

Who's who? I'm not saying
.


We sure enjoyed ourselves.



Then at noon everyone returns to town to celebrate at the Plaza de la Paz, enjoying some tapas.


Followed by bullfights in the town's bullring. But the bullfights are only for the youth, and the "bulls" are actually just heifers.


On our Tapas Menu

Menestra



Stuffed Piquillo Peppers with wild Mushrooms



Artichokes with Ham- (Alcachofas con jamón)


Stuffed Mince Peppers - Pimientos de carne picantes



Pochas



Rusos de Álfaro



ML6