Valladolid Gastronomy
The Feria de Artesanía y el Ajo de Portillo
It has become an excuse for many tourists to visit Portillo, a
town in the province of Valladolid, on the last weekend in June
when this fair takes place. The initiative was originated by an
association including craftsmen, potters, confectioners and garlic
sellers, who offer their products to visitors during the two days
of festivities.
The indigenous white garlic occupies a special place in the fair
and, in order to popularise it, visitors are given various garlic-based
dishes to taste, such as torreznos (pork scratchings) fried with
garlic or garlic soups.
At the stalls, which are set up in the grounds of the castle,
visitors can see how garlic heads are strung together, how local
pottery is made, or how to infuse "mantecados de Portillo"
with liquor. This is star confectionery of Portillo - pastries
named after the town, which are distributed amongst the public
during the fair.
These acts are complemented with photography exhibitions, talks,
and debates, as well as popular music and dancing.
Fiesta de Exaltación del Espárrago
Every year, Tudela de Duero (Valladolid) celebrates the Fiesta
de Exaltación del Espárrago (Festival in Praise
of the Asparagus), a day in which both tourists and locals take
the opportunity of buying and tasting this typical local product.
The fiesta generally coincides with the last Sunday in May. From
noon through to late afternoon, many streets are filled with stalls
offering different dishes prepared with asparagus or selling the
raw product itself. These stalls also sell other typical garden
products, sweets and pottery.
There is also a competition for the most beautiful asparagus,
the best presented bunch, the best quality crop and the best asparagus-based
dish. The entertainments are completed by parades of dancing groups
and traditional music.
Fiesta de la Salchicha de Zaratán
In Zaratán in the province of Valladolid, according to
tradition, on the day after All Saints Day all butchers would
sell their sausages in the village streets. This over a century-old
tradition is still in practice today with the Fiesta de la Salchicha
de Zaratán.
Once the offering mass for the sausage has been celebrated street
bands, folkloric groups and regional dancers take to the streets.
At midday a free sample of sausage paella is open to all.
Even restaurants get involved in the celebration by offering a
tapa of typical Zaratán sausage.
Jornada de Exaltación del Piñón
The last weekend in May is the Jornada de Exaltación del
Piñón, organized by an association of the pine nut
industry in Castilla. The two-day event combines festival performances,
presentations and debates by specialist in the subject.
The events take place in Pedrajas de San Esteban (Valladolid)beginning
on Friday evening with the opening speech and several talks about
the sector, followed by a ticket-only fraternity dinner where
dishes containing pine nuts can be sampled.
The big day is Saturday when it is tradition to attend mass in
the ermita de Sacedón. Following the mass in the hermitage
people are invited to have a glass of wine accompanied by products
from the area and, of course, pine nuts.
Valladolid guide