November is Food Month in The Irish Times, and readers abroad have been telling us about the weird, wacky and delicious local specialities where they live. To share your foodie experiences from overseas, email emigration@irishtimes.com.
You may think that living in a place like Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol is all sangria, sun, sea and sand, but there is so much more to the town than that, especially when it comes to festivals and food.
October to May, when the tourists have mostly gone, are the best months to enjoy local life here. The highlight of the year for all locals is the Feria in October: eight days of beautiful people dressed in glorious traditional flamenco costumes. The ladies don colourful dresses, and the gentlemen sit astride their stallions in what you and I might call their ‘Don Carlos’ outfits. Just think of the guy in the olive oil advert and you’ve got the picture.
As food is an integral part of Spanish life, an abundance can be seen at every turn during Feria. Vast quantities of paella, serrano ham, chorizo and prawns are consumed, along with barrels of beer and wine by the truckload. One of the most popular dishes is callos, tripe cooked in various different sauces and stews. November is Callos month in Madrid, where beef tripe is served and celebrated in various ways. If you're a fan, you know where to go for your next November break!
Fuengirola, where I live, has become known for something a little more unusual; the erotic tapa. One hundred and one bars and restaurants in Fuengirola are competing in this year's Ruta de la Tapa Erótica (Erotic Tapa Tour) for the eighth year, organised by the local government to boost revenue for local businesses in the leaner months. The high season is fairly short, so the locals must fill the gap. As the majority of people living here work in the service industry, they don't let the side down and the bars are packed for this month, once again.
At your first pitstop on the tour you get a passport, which is stamped by each participating bar you visit. You are then served their entry for the competition along with a drink of your choice, costing a grand total of €2.50 (up from just €2 in previous years).
The Spanish are pretty romantic as a nation, and southerners are especially expressive of their emotions. Therefore, they are not at all shy when producing a sensual scene on a plate.
Of course, the tapa must be tasty as well as suggestive. We need to be enjoying our food while we titter at the creation before us. The waiting staff tell you the ingredients of the tapa as they serve, as it is sometimes hard to work out what the chef used to make the masterpiece.
You must embark on a pub crawl to fill your passport with 10 stamps from 10 different establishments. You can fill as a many passports as you like, and you have from November 4th to 20th to do it.
Once the tour is over, local media advise where and when the completed passports should be handed in. Each passport is included in a draw for cruises, hotel stays ,televisions and other prizes.
There is also a space on the passport to indicate your favourite tapa which decides the winning bar/restaurant, who gets huge publicity, local prestige, and something for their hardworking staff.
Competition is tough and the food is usually top notch. To win is a massive boost for any establishment and the award is highly coveted.
There are even eight gluten free erotic tapas to be found this year. I've noticed many restaurants promoting gluten free menus as the norm this season.
While all this is going on, the Christmas lights are being erected. Another festival is just around the corner.
For more about the Erotic Tapa Tour, see andalucia.org
