It’s time for Fuengirola’s 8th Annual Ruta de la Tapa Erótica. (Click here for 2015 and here for 2014). If you don’t feel like looking at those previous posts, I’ll sum it up for you:
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 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!) |
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.