The Mijas Tourist Office was the setting on Tuesday 22nd for the official presentation of one of the semi-finals of the XI 'Concurso de Espetos' (skewered sardine), a benchmark gastronomic event on the Costa del Sol which this year will have an important novelty: the celebration of two semi-finals, one in the eastern and one in the western part, with Mijas being the town chosen to host the latter.

The western semi-final will take place on Saturday 24th of May, from 18:00 to 00:00 hours, on the Torreón beach in La Cala, and will include the participation of 'espeteros' (sardine roasters) from municipalities such as Manilva, Estepona, Marbella, Mijas, Benalmádena and Torremolinos. In addition to the professional competition, there will be a large popular 'espetada' (Sardine Feast), live music and bar service, making it a festive event open to locals and visitors.

The president of the Circle of Entrepreneurs of Mijas, Adolfo Triguero, emphasised that "this year we will have 12 semi-finalists competing on our beaches, consolidating the competition as a gastronomic event already recognised throughout the province". Triguero was especially grateful for "the involvement of Mijas Town Hall, which has provided us with all the means to make this semi-final a reality in a municipality with enormous potential". 

 

For his part, the councillor for Tourism, Francisco Jerez (Vox), stressed that "it is an honour for Mijas to be part of this initiative, which highlights the value of our most authentic gastronomy. We enthusiastically join this proposal providing all the necessary resources from the Town Hall".

Jerez also highlighted the importance of preserving the local culinary legacy: "We are living in a time of enormous gastronomic richness and diversity, in which innovative proposals coexist with others deeply rooted in our identity. 'Espeto' is one of them, a symbol of our coast and of our way of understanding cuisine, which deserves to continue to occupy a prominent place in our tourist offer".

The competition

The jury for this edition will be made up of experts from the gastronomic and technical fields, who will judge the skewered sardine, and a second piece chosen by each of them, such as squid, octopus, snapper or snook, following the criteria set out in the rules of the competition.

With this initiative, Mijas consolidates its position as the epicentre of traditional Andalusian gastronomy, supporting events that promote local culture, boost tourism and strengthen the business network. "We want the 'espeto' to regain the prominence it deserves, both as a living tradition and as an attraction for visitors. It is not only a gastronomic event, it is a festival for locals and visitors that reinforces our identity", he concluded.

Share it with this link: https://mijasint.com/?a=34217