Benidorm Fest ‘enters the taste of Eurofans’

This event is celebrating its second edition following the success of the first held last year and will be extended until February 4. Combining music and gastronomy is almost a safe bet, and especially so if any of the dishes are reminiscent of spectacular moments from Benidorm Fest or one of the modern festival’s performers or its predecessor, the Song Festival.

Followers of the festival, which will choose Spain’s next representative in Eurovision, are closely following all the movements of the participants these days and the bets on who will win in the grand final on Saturday. But in the midst of all this tension, there is always time to do something to break and indulge in the taste of tapas created especially for this televised event. It is also a moment of rest for those who work non-stop to make sure everything goes perfectly these days. “We try to get away at lunchtime and try some of the ones we saw on the list. We ate two and really liked them,” said one of the festival staffers while tasting one of them. At another table a few meters away, another group of young people wearing Benidorm Fest bags are waiting for their tapas: “Let’s see how it goes, we haven’t tried it yet,” they say.

So what can be found to please the palate this year? Among the substances that make up these avocado, octopus, sweet potato, fried calamari, brioche bread, marinated beef tenderloin, fresh vegetables, seafood, calamari burger, quince and artichoke, black rice with mushrooms, local salted mousse, torreznos, chickpea ice cream, flaky pears or fresh fish. Therefore, anyone who wants to tour the businesses will need to discover how these ingredients are mixed.

The names also attract attention, there is an excellent cover. Green Room With Mexican flavors; or with tapas, referring to Vicco, who attended last year’s Benidorm Festival CavaOchentera and Pirulí Will Dance All Night or Eighties Mussel. And others related to traditional artists, e.g. Long live Spain By Manolo Escobar and someone else they carry by Raphael (1962). Visitors and neighbors can try I will fly or planner Chanel’s little boat. And we’re going back to Eurovision Diva Life, Aphrodite. The creations also invite you to enjoy: oh my mother; Enjoy Benidorm; Marchoso Roll anyone Come to Life with Salt. And he adds I would like to be a boatman; Earth, sea and fire; Passion and Vega, ballerina pate top; That day will come; between 2 waters; Pears in puff pastry; And shrimp piccolo.

Not only the taste but also the presentation

A young man who said he had already tried a long list and hoped to reach 21 or even repeat it explained to this newspaper: “The cover was very good, but the presentation also caught my attention.” “I think this contest is a great idea” point. At another local establishment, two friends try another tapas before heading to dinner; They are from Benidorm and although they do not follow the Benidorm Festival closely, they are interested in the gastronomic idea: “We tried one, we will try some more,” says Rosana Santamaría.

This is another part of “Tapa Fest”: encouraging city residents, as well as tourists coming to the festival and those on holiday, to participate in this initiative. Young people are not the only ones ordering tapas on the streets of the area known for Basques, where some of the participating businesses are gathered. Between the streets Married couples of older people with a road map are looking for the artifact that catches their attention the most. “We’re not going to the Benidorm Festival, but we decided to try the tapas,” said one tourist.

exceed 2023 sales

According to Alex Fratini, vice president of Abreca, which organizes the competition together with Conhostur in cooperation with the City Council and Generalitat Valenciana, the industry hopes to surpass the figures of tapas sold last year. L’Exquisit Mediterrani. 1,800 tapas will be served in just five days in 2023. “We hope there will be a much greater influx of tapas seekers on the weekend,” he adds. So the locals embraced this initiative, accompanied by music: “While customers are tasting one of the tapas, songs from the Benidorm Festival play in the background, which encourages them even more,” says Fratini.

And what’s up local? In the II “Tapa Fest” Competition, Malaspina, Cervecería l’Abadia, Dni Ibéricos, El Bodegón, El lineage de Castilla, El Mesón, El Puerto, El Esturió, La Braseria Aurrerá, La Cava Aragonesa, La Marina Arrocería, La Tabernita del Sur, La Tapería Aurrerá, Los Peces, Mia Social Club, Molta Pasta, Pinocchio Playa, Pintxos Aurrerá, Taberna Andaluza, Tapería La Mina and Zarzosa. The price per tapa is 3 euros.