The Realejos will be present at the gastronomic fair Madrid Fusionwhich is celebrated from March 28 to 30 in the capital of Spain, to claim the importance of the 400-year history of the cultivation of beautiful potatoes in the townwhich was the gateway for this tuber in Europeand the rest of its products from its gastronomic hallmark: mojos, cheeses, traditional pastries, wines, honeys, black pig or gofio.
The City Council of Los Realejos, through its Departments of Tourism and Rural Developmentgo to Madrid Fusion with the idea of giving prominence to the oldest varieties of potatoes on the 400th anniversary of their first planting on the islands. It was in 1622, on a farm Icod el Altoin Los Realejos, where this tuber was planted for the first time on the islands, brought from Peru by John Baptist de Castroas collected Jose de Viera y Clavijo in its Dictionary of Natural History of the Canary Islands in 1799. This meant the introduction of the potato not only in the Canary Islands, but also in Europe, as recalled by the first deputy mayor, Adolfo Gonzalez (PP).
In the presentation of the royal expedition to Madrid Fusión, González highlighted “the opportunity of placing the royal potato, the canary potato, at the epicenter of world gastronomy in one of the most prestigious international events in this sector». The oldest varieties, those that are still grown in Icod el Alto, will be the protagonists of the product catalog that Los Realejos will present at Madrid Fusionall included in the Gastronomic Seal of Los Realejos«a geographic and quality distinction».
“We are going to place the royal potato, the potato from the Canary Islands, at the epicenter of world gastronomy in one of the most prestigious international events in this sector”
On each day of this fair, the northern delegation will offer “royal snacks” attendees, “a different way of putting traditional cakes and donuts on your table and palates, accompanied by hot chocolate made by our accompanying chefs,” González advances. To which “constant tastings of potatoes and mojos” will be added. On the closing day of Madrid Fusion 2022On Wednesday, March 30, the birthday of the arrival of the potato to the islands will also be celebrated with “a special cake for these 400 years as a star product of Canarian gastronomy.”
Three local chefs
The presence of Los Realejos in Madrid Fusión will include staff from the Municipal Tourism Office and three local chefs: Pedro Rodríguez Dios, Alfredo Marrero and Zebenzuí Acosta. These Chef will be in charge of presenting, with show cooking, an attractive menu with different dishes featuring the main royal products: a morsel of cured cheese, coriander and fruit, a fluffy chestnut honey and gofio, white lily bonbons, black pig with red wine or the 3 de Mayo chocolate.
