Florida experiences a must-see event on the last weekend of January: the giant pout celebration, a typical Canarian dish with a special flavor in the neighborhood of The Orotava. This festivity unites the whole community, with all the vegetables used being cultivated and harvested by the locals, who also take charge of the food preparation and organizing the event.
The air in La Florida was filled with the intense aroma of firewood, not only from the stew stoves, but also from the beach bars selling skewers of roast meat.
The day started early, with friends and family gathering around tables set in the streets and bars. They enjoyed various planned events, such as the livestock fair, the procession of the patron saints, and the mass, while eagerly anticipating the time to savor the iconic stew.
In the venue, more than 50 people of all ages and from different neighborhood groups were involved in the preparations. Among them were Heriberto Hernández García, Sara Hernández González, and Haridian Hernández Hernández, a father, daughter, and niece – three generations brought together by the gigantic stew. Little Haridian, who had already participated in chopping the vegetables with her schoolmates, expressed her love for the stew, even more than the one made at home. She couldn’t pinpoint why, to which her aunt jokingly remarked, “It’s the essence of grandfather.”
Nuria Hernández and Elena González, who have been attending the stew since childhood, were eagerly waiting to begin the food distribution while sharing stories and munching on sunflower seeds. They jovially admitted the soreness in their arms but were eager to participate after involving more in the previous year’s event.
Amidst laughter, the two hesitated to disclose whether their involvement helped them “flirt more or not”, with Beneranda Luis Perdigón, Nuria’s grandmother, interjecting, “I have always flirted with the same guy and have celebrated my golden anniversary.”
Councilor Delia Escobar, a native of the neighborhood, meticulously oversaw all the arrangements. She has held the same responsibility for 15 years, playfully stating, “I remain the delivery girl; I haven’t been promoted.”
Esther Pacheco Hernández, responsible for making the mash and adding the salt, has dedicated almost the same amount of time to the stew. She coordinates the vegetable quantities and the order of addition, ensuring the stew is prepared to perfection. She detailed the meticulous process of layering the ingredients, ensuring the stew’s excellence.
Around 50 people continuously monitored the stew’s cooking process in 54 large cauldrons. It took approximately three and a half hours to cook the substantial amount of ingredients, resulting in a magnificent dish that captured the essence of the community.
At 2:00 p.m., the stew was ready to be relished, with the politicians being the first to savor this precious delicacy.
Meanwhile, diners patiently waited for hours in long lines, displaying unwavering enthusiasm to taste this grand stew, considered the greatest stew made in the Canary Islands.
The festivities culminate with the pilgrimage in honor of San Antonio Abad and the Virgin of Hope, solidifying La Florida’s identity and its status as a Tourist Interest in the Canary Islands.
