Category: culture

Tunas Galore!

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Sevilla has been inundated with Tunas recently, from all over Spain.

It seems there have been a few national competitions going on lately, and so Tuna sightings of late are not just of the usual youthful university students decked out in their strolling minstrel attire, hanging out at bars to make a bit of beer money and attract some attention of the female persuasion.

These days there has not only been an increase in the number of Tunas, but many of them include more mature members (university profs?) and have a much more professional look about them. I ran into one such group having tapas last Saturday while out on Tapeo Extremo II and found out they were from Málaga.

And last night while I was out on a Tapas Tour we came across a rather large group of Tunas taking up at least four tables outside a bar near the cathedral. So of course I had to ask what was going on, as they didn’t seem like the typical Sevilla Tunas – and sure enough, it turned out they were from Granada.

Then this morning I came across a rather swish looking group of Tunas coming down my street and I had to stop them and ask what was going on. They were on their way to the Facultad de Derecho for today’s competition and seemed very excited and I am sorry to say I forgot to ask them for a photo.

But here you can see last night’s group. A bit wobbly in parts as I only had my iPhone on me, but they were lovely guys and you can see how much fun they were having. I love the Tunas.

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vizLblyxjpw”]

#AS11

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From the opening night round table with super-chefs Juan Mari Arzak, Dani Garcia and Carme Ruscalleda to the closing cooking demonstrations by Juan Roca and Dani Garcia, this year’s Andalucía Sabor had something for everyone. It was great being able to meet and chat with Andalusian food and wine producers, as well as sample their wares, and take in the various activities scheduled on the exhibition floor (two of my favourites were the jamón slicing and best new chef of the year competitions). In the conference area you could sit comfortably and watch presentations, round table discussions and fabulous cooking demos by some of the best chefs in Spain.

Best New Chef 2011 - Rafael Arroyo Martinez

One of the real treats for me was meeting up with fellow bloggers, such as @Seville_Writer @annalibera @jorgeguitian @hollycocina @rafaprades @GuiaRepsol @elcocinerofiel @Gastronomiaycia @anaentreolivos @FerrerPepe (to name a few), many for the first time after having “known” them on Twitter for the past couple of years. It was great being able to put faces to the names. I also really appreciated having access to the Zona Blogger as a place to recharge both myself and my iPhone. Many thanks to Norma for running that.

My only complaint about the exhibition was that, especially for a food and foodie related event, the tapas on offer were both expensive and uninteresting, and after the first day we took to having our lunch break at nearby tapas bars. But overall it was a well-organised, informative and entertaining three days and I look forward to being a part of the next Andalucía Sabor in 2013.

Below are some pics taken at Dani Garcia’s closing demonstration during which he invited fellow Twitterers (seen furiously at work in the front row) up on stage to taste the various dishes he was making. Given the prominence of social media coverage this year it was a fitting way to close the show.

Other blog posts on Andalucía Sabor:
Gastronomía & Cía
Tubal
Cocina.es
Andalucia.com
Cocinando Entre Olivos

Andalucía Sabor

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So this is what I’ll be doing over the next three days – attending the Andalucía Sabor Fine Food Exhibition – which kicks off this morning with a jamón slicing competition. Though in fact it began yesterday evening with an interesting and entertaining round-table discussion with three of Spain’s top chefs (Juan Mari Arzak, Carme Ruscalleda and Dani Garcia) about the Mediterranean diet and why eating locally and in season is so important.

Last year I had wangled an invitation to the Best New Chef competition so I guess I was still “on file” because of that, and so I was happy to receive an email a few weeks ago inviting me to attend this year’s Andalucía Sabor as Press or, more accurately, one of the bloggers that will be not only be allowed entrance (normal admission price is 75 euros) but also will have a blogger’s area with access to tables and plugs for laptops, etc. This would be an ideal moment to use the iPad I still don’t have. So I will just be armed with my iPhone as both laptops are too heavy to lug around all day, especially as I’m still having to wear the “faja” to hold my operation incision together.

And as if attending a three-day conference wasn’t enough I also have Sevilla Tapas Tours tonight and Thursday night, plus a presentation meeting with a prospective social media client tomorrow evening (another instance where an iPad would come in handy). Meanwhile I still have my daily work with my other clients to keep up with…

Speaking of which, best get that done while I down another cup of coffee, then I’ll have to hit the shower and get out of here. The conference centre is way the hell out near the airport, about half an hour on the bus, but at least there is a direct route there with the stop just five minutes from my house.  So gotta run – expect a full report once it’s all over!

Martes 13

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In the cultures of Spain and Greece, and in the countries of Latin America, Tuesday the 13th  is considered unlucky, and there are still many people who have a phobia about this day (trezidavomartiofobia), and who will not travel anywhere on this day because of the superstition. It is also common for planes to have no row 13, as it is assumed that passengers wouldn’t buy tickets. And many buildings “skip a floor” from 12 to 14 so they won’t have a 13th floor.

The negative associations of Tuesday, 13 have no scientific basis, and it should be clear that it is only a myth. Indeed, many people regard it rather as a day of good luck, to the extent that on that day, gamblers often bets are made on that number. The associations are similar to those of Friday 13 in Anglo-Saxon cultures or Friday 17 in Italy.

Why the 13th?

The number thirteen has been considered ill-omened from antiquity because there were twelve apostles at the Last Supper, and Jesus Christ was the 13th, and he died. The Kabbalah, like the Norse legends, lists 13 evil spirits, and Revelation Chapter 13 is about the antichrist and the beast. In the Tarot, this number represents death.

Why Tuesday?

The combination with Tuesday is thought by some to have its origin at the end of the Middle Ages, as it was on Tuesday May 29, 1453 that the city of Constantinople fell to the Turks.

An even older possible reason is that Spanish martes (Tuesday) is derived from the name of the planet Mars (marte), which in the Middle Ages was called “the little evil” and represents will, energy, tension and aggressiveness. Mars (Ares in Greek) is the god of war, and Tuesday being ruled by Mars, is associated with destruction, blood and violence. Finally, legend says that the confusion of tongues at the Tower of Babel occurred on Tuesday 13th (or perhaps Friday 17th).

Not being superstitious I’ve never worried about these things. But even if I were I reckon that because I’m not Spanish this doesn’t apply to me, and because I’m living in Spain I’m also safe from unlucky Friday the 13th.  Win-win. But just in case…f_goodluck.gif

Rocio 2011

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Yesterday I saw the Macarena hermandad leave for the Rocio for the first time. Living next to the Cathedral for more than 16 years I was quite used to seeing Sevilla leaving on the Thursday of Rocio week, but had never seen any of the other groups. This was also the first time the Macarena passed under the Setas (aka Metropol Parasol) and I managed to get a few snaps.