Toledo Tapas Competition 2015 – Drool Alert…

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Today is a sad day in Toledo. Today concludes the annual tapas competition, which had us devouring a wonderful array of delicacies conjured up by the town’s bars and restaurants. Here is a small testimony to our greediness devotion over the past three weeks:

Mini curry burgers. Can't go wrong with that...

Our first tapa consumed on 5 November, the day the contest kicked off: Mini curry burgers. Can’t go much wrong with these.

Smoked beef on toast, with sobrasada (a kind of smoked meat spread) and brie. Really strong flavours, but it worked surprisingly well.

Wafer-thin slices of smoked beef on toast, with sobrasada (a kind of smoked meat spread) and brie. A brave combo of some really strong flavours, but it worked surprisingly well.

Salmon with guacamole and lemon mousse. Looks great, but didn't work. The lemon flavour totally overpowered the whole thing.

Salmon with guacamole and lemon mousse. Looks tasty, but, sadly, it was a fail. The salmon was tender but insipid, and the lemon flavour totally overpowered the whole ensemble.

Tuna marinated in soy sauce with peach alioli. Totally delicious.

Tuna marinated in soy sauce with peach alioli. Totally delicious.

I cannot translate this one. Nor can I describe it. It contained the following: deer, shitake mushrooms, apricot, gnocchi, potato. And it tasted weird. But good-weird. Could have eaten it again. And again.

I cannot translate this one. Nor can I adequately describe it. It contained the following: venison, shitake mushrooms, apricot, gnocchi, potato, cream. And it tasted weird. But good-weird. Could have eaten it again. And again. Top marks for creativity and presentation.

Octopus and potato. Very Galician, and tasted just as expected. Perfectly acceptable, but nothing to write home about.

Octopus and potato “lasagne”. There was nothing lasagne about it, it was merely a fancy presentation of a Galician staple, pulpo gallego (which I love). Perfectly acceptable, but nothing to write home about.

A very traditional Manchego affair: Pork medallion with potato, onion and a dollop of creamy mushroom sauce. Totally delish.

A very traditional Manchego affair: Pork medallion with potato, crispy leek and a drizzle of creamy mushroom sauce. Simple, hearty and satisfying. A winner.

Taken on our walk between bars: The sun catching the Christmas lights, with Toledo cathedral in the background.

I managed to take this yesterday while swaying from one bar to the next: The sun catching the newly suspended Christmas lights, with Toledo cathedral in the background.

You know me - it had to end like this! Oh my, that red berry cake was to die for...

How predictable am I… it HAD TO end like this, didn’t it?! Oh my, that red berry cake was to die for. First visit to a new cafe, but definitely not the last 😉

So, although TapaMania may be over for this year, there’s one thought that consoles me greatly: Toledo was recently voted Spain’s Capital of Gastronomy 2016 – I just can’t wait for the New Year!!!

65 thoughts on “Toledo Tapas Competition 2015 – Drool Alert…”

      3. Susan Foley

        Turkey yes, pumpkin pie no. Over the weekend, turkey risotto and turkey soup. And in spite of being sick of food I made Rye Brownies and Pecan Pie Truffles. The brownies aren’t any better than the whole wheat ones that I make. The truffles are yummy and there are going with me to a potluck I’m going to on Saturday.

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      1. linnetmoss

        So, they take the dishes you showed, and cut them up into lots of tiny servings? I guess that means tapas in Spain now is more a style of eating than of cooking… interesting. Here we have lots of restaurants doing “small plates” which is similar, I suppose.

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  8. June

    It started on Nov 5th and we’re only hearing about it now?! There could have been a post a day! The food looks delish. I love the concept of tapas, where you can try lots of tasty morsels without committing to one main ingredient. Love the sound of that beef and brie – that’s my kinda thang. Interesting camera angles – were we being arty or did we have a touch too much wine?! I missed Toledo when I toured Spain. I might just have to go back and check it out.

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    1. ladyofthecakes Post author

      I could have stuffed myself with tapas every day, believe me! I always take about 10 shots from every angle, praying that at least one of them will turn out OK. Even so, I only got acceptable photos of less than half the tapas I had.

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  9. Lynda

    Wow, that was delightful and the Tuna marinated in soy sauce with peach alioli sounded divine to me! You mentioned turkey and pumpkin pie above, and we honestly didn’t eat any. I made a pecan pie (without corn syrup) and Bob smoked one of our 7 lb. chickens we raised this this summer. Our table fare was grand, but not overdone.

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  10. Kim in Fiji

    I want a Spanish chef to visit the farm for a few weeks! (You can come along 🙂 ) We can get some of these nifty dishes, and s/he can go home with ideas of tapas with tapioca, coconut, duck egg and other exotic fare from here. If s/he happened to make one of those berry cakes, we would not complain.

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  13. Anna

    Wow, that’s so impressive for Toledo!
    I am loving all the food porn – and I am realizing just how unadventurous I was (obsessed with VIPS!!!!!!!!!!!) in terms of food when I lived in Spain. Definitely didnt take advantage of the variety 😦

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  16. TheLastWord

    No tuna for me – tuna and I fought a battle once where neither one. Now we avoid each other…

    Venison – haven’t tried it, but with apricots and things? Hmmm – wants thinking.

    Octopus? NO. It would be like eating the rubber grip off my cricket bat.

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  17. Kim G

    I hereby declare you a food pornographer. You have incited food-lust on this side of the Atlantic, and a suddenly unreasonable craving for tapas.

    For shame….shame….

    Saludos,

    Kim G
    Boston, MA
    Where we wish we could make such things. Or even buy them. But no, they are FAR out of reach.

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    1. ladyofthecakes Post author

      There is a cure, you know. May I suggest you join my special 12-step programme:

      1 bowl of patatas bravas
      2 grilled chicken skewers with mango sauce
      3 chunks of marinated salmon
      4 mini pork sausages
      5 slices of spicy chorizo
      6 slices of jamón
      7 wedges of mature Manchego cheese
      8 meatballs
      9 croquetas
      10 spoonfuls macaroni with tomato sauce
      11 handfuls of kikos
      12 Olives

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