I just got back home and here we have it: The eagerly-awaited (by me at least) final installment of Toledo’s annual tapas competition (La Jornada De La Tapa), which finishes on Sunday. We had some pretty interesting things, let me tell you…
It certainly helps to have a really dedicated team. Just look at the concentration:
What we had: Morcilla (= black pudding/blood sausage) croquettes with apple, pistachio, matchstick potatoes and red pepper jam
Verdict: Not terrible, but not overwhelming. I found it too sweet overall, and the sweetness drowned out the flavours.
If there were an award for the most adventurous tapa in this contest, this one is it:
What we had: Coca-Cola(!) and tamarind jelly topped with potato mousse and sprinkled with shavings of fried foie gras
Verdict: Out of this world! We were a bit apprehensive at first, but the flavours worked fabulously well together. And despite having probably 10,000 calories, it was as light as a fluffy summer cloud. Top marks for originality!
What we had: Bacalao (salt cod) dumplings with saffron and olive oil
Verdict: Opinion on this was all over the place. Olga, who doesn’t like bacalao, though it was OK. I liked the texture, but found it a bit too fishy (though I do like bacalao). Carmen gave it the thumbs down.
The winner of the night for me was this one:
What we had: Deep fried squid filled with mushrooms and smoked alioli
Verdict: Totally glorious. I admit, it did not look like much on the plate, but it was DIVINE.
To view Tapas Comp Round I, click here, and for Round II, click here.
OK, time for bed… tomorrow, we’re doing a sushi raid in Madrid 🙂
Lady Of The Cakes 
Such devotion, you deserve a medal! I look forward to the sushi report. I’m just this minute home from Madrid and will be reporting on my food finds -good and bad- soon.
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For some reason, your comment went into my spam folder! Can’t wait to see them… I do love a bit of food porn 🙂
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oh man I missed round 2!! glad I could be here for round 3 tho, whew 😉 oh yum…..
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You missed round 2 and you call yourself a follower?? Shame on you 😉
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LOL!!!
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YUMM. Yeah, this definitely beats my lunch. The things I liked the most based on the description/photos (I do not eat squid 😦 ) were that crazy mousse, which I cant even imagine what it tastes like, the blood sausage thingies and the bacalao (I love fish but the reviewers seem to be underwhelmed 😉 ). I want to come participate in this!!!
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The bacalao was even more disappointing as it was the creation of a posh restaurant. You’ve got one more day!
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No….YOU have got one more day >.<
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That mousse sounded really weird…but the inventiveness of some of these dishes is amazing! Thanks for giving a glimpse of all this 🙂
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I so want that mousse again… looked like a dessert, but wasn’t. Totally weird!
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😀 😀 You are a total foodie….
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The Coca-Cola thing sounds weird but glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
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It didn’t taste of Coca-Cola… I’d never have guessed had it not been in the description. And I’d never have ordered if it had not been in the competition.
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Good old competition 😉 You would have missed out on a taste sensation!
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I think I need to run a lap around the track after just reading about these delicious tapas!
Do tapas differ in different parts of Spain? Are there specialties in different regions? Or all pretty similar no matter where you go?
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Oh my, where do I start….it’s a whole world in itself… and yes, what’s on offer varies significantly from region to region and also with the seasons.
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Wow… that Coca Cola thing sounds bizarre! If you say it’s nice I’ll believe you though…
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Ein totaler Glücksgriff 😉
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Bacalao I grew up with, a tiny sliver in a heavy soup dish… maybe. And morcilla, I have never mixed with sweet, but it does have flavor as an alone.
The squid does sound goood, and with mushrooms, interesting.
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Well, they kinda ruined the morcilla 😦 And as for the bacalao… that should have been much better than it was. Squid could not be improved upon. But it was served by my favourite eating place here in Toledo, so it would have been very surprising if they’d fucked it up 😉
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That Coke dish certainly sounds….interesting. What a weird combination!
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It is! Just read your ‘holidays’ post, that big multinational meal event sure sounds scrumptious!
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It was pretty tasty! No Coke was involved in the making of said meal though. 😉
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Ooh, I’m so jealous of you trying all those gorgeous dishes. That Coca-Cola mousse sounds fabulous. I’m a real lover of weird combinations, especially any sweet/savoury recipes. Have you tried chicken cooked in Cola? Yummy!
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Nooooo! Really?? I’d certainly try it 🙂
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I love their game faces. You guys take this seriously and I admire your dedication. And I’m sad I wasn’t a team member. Sounds wonderful. Enjoy the sushi!
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The sushi was great… pics will go up in a few days, not got round to it yet 🙂
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