A tapa is, basically, a Spanish appetizer, snack, finger food, or canapé — although those labels really don't cover it. It's usually inexpensive, and it's very possibly unusual and delicious. The variety is endless.
The Ruta de la Tapa Erótica (Route of the Erotic Tapa) is Fuengirola's annual competition that includes 100 local restaurants. The cost is only €2.50 for a tapa and a drink (inc. wine and beer). To participate for prizes (and to vote on this year's best tapa erótica), you pick up an "Erotic Tapa Passport" and get it stamped each time you sample a tapa. With ten stamps you are eligible for some very nice prizes. This year there are approximately 50 prizes that include a cruise, luxury hotel stays, TVs, cases of wine, dinners, lunches...
My first evening out on "la ruta," Pedro, Kathleen, Luke and I hit two places in my neighborhood.
My second evening out, Elena and I hit two other places in the neighborhood. Our second stop had a dish called "Well, grab this!" It was very good but left me tasting fish for the rest of the night. (And that's all I'm saying.)
My second evening out, Elena and I hit two other places in the neighborhood. Our second stop had a dish called "Well, grab this!" It was very good but left me tasting fish for the rest of the night. (And that's all I'm saying.)
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| EL PLACER DEL VULCANO (THE PLEASURE OF THE VULCAN/O?) |
Regarding the previous photo: "Volcano" in Spanish is "Volcán." So, this is either a misspelling of the English word "volcano" (which is what the dish looks like) or it refers to Mr. Spock's Pleasure, or The Pleasure of the Sicilian island called Vulcano, or, as Elena suggested, a reference to the pleasure of a woman's "bits."
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| JARDÍN DE EDÉN (GARDEN OF EDEN) GLAZED PATÉ 'APPLES' AND FIG LEAF COOKIES LUKE FASCINATED BY THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE (OR THE GLITTER). |
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| VALLE DE LA TENTACIÓN (VALLEY OF TEMPTATION) MY FAVORITE: WITH ANCHOVY PASTE, HARDBOILED EGG... |
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| PO LLÉVATE ÉSTA! (WELL, GRAB THIS!) |
A Nice Set
Two prizes are of interest to me. They're listed as "Cestas Eróticas," which is translated beneath the Spanish on the program as "Erotic Sets."
Erotic sets of what you might wonder.
I'm sure anyone would be happy with a nice "set." Although "cesta" is really a Spanish word for "basket." I already have a nice basket.
Truth is, I won't be winning anything. So far, I've visited four restaurants and only have three stamps, and it all ends today.
Sounds like a great thing ... I mean, I love tapas, and I love a nice wine, and I love erotica .... and then to win a prize! I need to plan my next trip to EroticaTapa!
ReplyDeleteBob:
DeleteIt's always in November, starts around the end of the first week and runs got 2 weeks. See you next year!
EL PLACER DEL VACANO would be my favourite in whatever sense you read it :-) Ha ha
ReplyDeleteHeron:
DeleteWell, I might not care about that theme, but it was the best I had.
Heron:
DeleteOops! THAT wasn't the best I had... but it was good.
"Well, grab this" is a response to DT, I suppose. Lol.
ReplyDeleteJennifer:
DeleteI'm sure it was. It makes me want to go back to that place -- very friendly besides. And Elena said their meals are delicious.
scurrilous foodstuffs indeed
ReplyDeleteI miss the tapas place in Chicago; it had marvelous goat cheese in tomato sauce. oh how lovely.
Spo:
DeleteI had never experienced good tapas in the States. We didn't live in the right place. I LOVE goat cheese.
But form the sounds and looks of things you had a blast, right Mitch?!
ReplyDeleteSome very interesting tidbits there.....
Jim:
DeleteNext year I might even try to cover my card with stamps. It really is fun and the chefs are very creative. Also, I'm always in great company.
Looks like tasty erotic fun! I would go for VALLE DE LA TENTACIÓN, and probably all the others, too. Missing tapas down here ...
ReplyDeleteWilma:
DeleteI wish they had that Valle de la Tentación on their regular menu. It was exceptional. But I will definitely go back there for a meal.
Okay my mouth is watering... love tapas... and I'm sure you have a lovely basket. And there does seem to be a fair bit of grabbing going on down there... in Spain I mean not down there ... damn you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteWillym:
DeleteApparently, there's quite a bit of grabbing going on all over. Luke (the 1-year-old) actually grabbed the waitress's crotch area while we were enjoying the Tree of Knowledge. Apparently he was just being friendly and the waitress wasn't even phased. Ah, Fuengirola.
Sorry you didn't win anything, but you probably had a good time trying to win.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteI didn't even make a feeble attempt to win but, yes, I DID have a really good time.
This is so shocking, I can't look, I thought your blog was all about wholesomeness and values what happened? Those Spaniards are on the road to perdition or something. They are creative but I think they are having too much fun here.
ReplyDeleteLaurent:
DeleteWithout my mother to say "Mitchell!!!" when I'm inappropriate, I've gone to hell in a hand basket. My sincere apologies (but get used to it).
The eats of the many outweigh the eats of the few. Or the one.
ReplyDeleteWalt the Fourth:
DeleteThis is soon to become a famous quote.
How civilzed!!
ReplyDeleteRon:
DeleteAny excuse for a celebration... and food.