Teguise hosts the Enogastronomic Festival this Saturday, which is experiencing its first day and which this year celebrates its third edition. Activities began at 11:00 a.m. and the influx of public grew until reaching a significant influx, estimated at several thousand people between approximately 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. A massive influx that in this edition has not been synonymous with overcrowding or discomfort due to the design of the event, which is wider and with several different thematic spaces, according to the Cabildo.
In a statement from the Institution it is stated that "this year there is more quality, more variety, as well as the extra effort on the part of the exhibitors to offer wider and more comfortable spaces for those who come to try their products." Equally significant is the effort of the organization, which has brought to Lanzarote prominent chefs and cooking and pastry professionals from all over Spain to explain, while preparing them, the elaboration of their specialties. These live cooking demonstrations ('show cooking') are broadcast live on a large screen located on one side of the large square that hosts the Festival.
Also significant was the 'Chinijo' Chef Classroom initiative, a space for introducing the little ones to cooking, led by chefs Pep Nogués and the very young MasterChef finalist from TVE1, Fabián León. On the first day, they taught the numerous participating children how to prepare a good breakfast, a picnic, how to make delicious salads and they also experienced a blind tasting.
The morning began with the first event scheduled for this Saturday, the presentation of the awards of the school contest 'From the land to the table', which took place in the tent next to the 'Chinijo' Cheff Classroom. Surrounded by all the participating posters, which will be exhibited so that they can be seen throughout the Festival weekend; with the announcer, María Ángeles González as the presenter of the event and with numerous children and relatives watching, the presentation of recognitions began with the Special Jury Prize, won by the students of Transition to Adulthood of the Special Education Center Nuestra Señora de los Volcanes, by the island councilor of Energy and Industry, Rocío Arredondo.
The deputy mayor of the host municipality, Lourdes Cabrera, presented the third prize, which went to the students of CEIP Alfonso Spínola. The new president of the Regulatory Council of the Designation of Origin wines of Lanzarote, Ascensión Robayna, was in charge of presenting the second prize to the fourth-year students of the Antonio Zerolo school; and the councilor of Agriculture and Economic Promotion, the driving force behind this event, Francisco Fabelo, presented the prize to the winners of the contest, the students of CEIP La Garita.
After the event, the authorities toured the different stands of the Festival, greeting the restaurateurs, winemakers and pastry chefs, asking about their products and businesses, and trying some of them. This delegation included, among others, the aforementioned councilors of the Cabildo Francisco Fabelo and Rocío Arredondo; the Councilor for Tourism, Carmen Steinert; the mayor of Teguise, Oswaldo Betancort; his deputy mayor, Lourdes Cabrera; and the Councilor for Tourism, Antonio Callero.
This Sunday a second and very intense day of the Enogastronomic Festival is expected, in which an even greater influx is expected, since it will coincide with the traditional Sunday market in Teguise. Also, tomorrow there will be two peculiar events. On the one hand, an act of recognition to two great professionals linked to the primary sector, with exemplary careers. On the other hand, the first 'Potato Broth' contest, which will reward the best elaboration of this traditional recipe and will also serve to highlight the excellent quality of the Lanzarote potato.
And all this without diminishing the live cooking activity in the Taste Classroom and in the 'Chinijo' Chef Classroom, as well as the tastings in the main tent and in the other two large tents that the organization has installed.
