Rabbit, ribs with potatoes and pineapples, cod with onions, prawns, black potatoes, sweet potatoes… The conclusion left by the tour of the Mercado de The lagoon is that the traditional recipe book continues to be the protagonist at Christmas dinners. There are also, of course, those who dare with other more innovative, international or sophisticated proposals; But merchants and buyers agree that the flavors of the land continue to prevail on Laguna tables on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
“It’s difficult to change habits.” The phrase is from Venancio Diaz, better known as Nacho, veteran merchant of the Recova lagoon. From Venancio Díaz’s Congelados Herederos stand he has lived through different eras and has witnessed the transformation of the Market on the front line. He was even president of an association of innkeepers. And experience, which is a degree – and which in his case is extensive – tells him that “business as usual” continues to prevail.
“There are star products and others that support them,” he explains. Yapci Bethencourt, from La Huerta de la Recova. There he sells what is surely the product most associated with New Year’s Eve: grapes. This year their prices are high. The highest quality ones are five euros per kilo, although the usual thing the rest of the year is for them to be around 3.5.
But one thing is the identity that grapes have as a product linked to the end of the year and quite another is those others that stand out for being the base of the dinner. And it is in that other area where numerous foods come into play that are also sold in stores specializing in fruits and vegetables. Bethencourt points out that a lot of potatoes are bought on these dates, among other reasons for the preparation of ribs with potatoes and pineapples. He also mentions sweet potatoes, while specifying that the much celebrated black potatoes have a greater role on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The latter have been around 12 euros during this year’s Christmas holidays, although it all depends on “quality, sizes and origins.”
In fact, in his position sales increase globally, even in products such as mushrooms, asparagus, avocados or peppers. And the possibilities are so many and so varied – even without leaving the most traditional meals – that there are customers for everything. Let alone when the touch of innovation comes into play.
Carmen de la Rosa It is one of those that remains faithful to local customs and the flavors that have been passed down from generation to generation. «In my house we have always eaten cod or rabbit meat. Cod on Christmas Eve and rabbit meat on New Year’s Eve, or the other way around. I refer to it as the main meal, and we accompany it with things to snack on before, soup, desserts…”, explains this neighbor who was making her last purchases at the Market this Friday morning. “I have sometimes said about changing, but my children, who are already grown and even have small children, have always told me not to make strange inventions,” she points out.
Meats, a fixture
Right in front of the Yapci Bethencourt post is the Dani Butcher Shop, whose owner is Daniel de Aguiar, who points out rabbit, pork and steaks as three of the products he sells the most these days. The truth is that meat is one of the staples on these dates. They also ask for chicken, meat for the stew and, in some cases, turkey, lamb or suckling pig. According to him, meat prices have practically not changed on these dates. The clearest increase is that of rabbit, which has risen from around 9.5 euros per kilo to 10.
Another customer at the Laguna Market, named Luis, who moved from stall to stall with several bags in his hand, indicated that he had gone in search of potatoes and some pastries. “Here I am because they sent me,” this neighbor from San Benito said jokingly. And the thing is that the kitchen in his house is run by his wife. And what else will they eat apart from potatoes and sweets? “We will eat tollos, which are always very good for my wife and the rest of the family loves them,” he said. “And put in the newspaper that a very happy new year to everyone,” he added. Well, that’s it.
In the fish and frozen food area, Nacho Díaz has his establishment, where the most he sells for these Christmas dinners is cod and prawns. Although he clarifies: «Everything is sold; There are those who even make a stall with sardines. In the case of prawns, their sales increase very significantly compared to the rest of the year. “We went from working two or three references to ten of all the numbers, from various areas…”, says this merchant.
Another customer, named Rosa and who preferred not to say her last name, was also trying this Friday morning to close the menu for December 31 and January 1. «We prepare two meals; one for the end of the year and one for the new year. I take care of one and my sister-in-law takes care of the other. She’s going to pout and I’m going to make meat in sauce. Maybe they are not very common meals for these dates, as it is increasingly common for a few specific meals to be repeated, but we like to vary them,” she said. On Christmas Eve and Christmas we ate salt fish and beef steaks,’ she continued. “We are changing, but we always do things from here, from always,” she explained.
Another lagoon neighbor, Frames, stated that The custom in his house is to eat prawns and cod with potatoes on the last night of the year. “For snacks we usually put Serrano ham, white cheese, sausages… Next, and before going to the main course, we have soup,” he indicated. “And, in the end and while we wait for the grapes, we eat nougat, Polvorones, cider…” she lists. “Between one thing and another, you always end up eating more than necessary,” he joked.
