Santa Cruz' first 'Wine and Ham Fair'

Santa Cruz' first 'Wine and Ham Fair'

Santa Cruz is hosting Uvas y Bellotas, la I Feria del Vino y el Jamón (its first Wine and Ham Fair), offering Canarian wines and Iberian hams, from this Friday 13 to Sunday 15 December in the Plaza del Príncipe. Hours are Friday from 2 pm to midnight, Saturday from midday to midnight and Sunday from midday to 6 pm.

Santa Cruz acoge 'Uvas y Bellotas, la I Feria del Vino y el Jamón'

Candidate for Junior Carnival Queen in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2019 Adriana María Méndez

Whether looking back once more at Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2019, or forward towards Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2020 - which takes place between Friday, 21st February 2020 and Sunday, 1st March 2020 - we can't resist another look at the candidates who aspired to become carnival queens in 2019.

Eleven year old Adriana María Méndez García appears in a costume entitled, "HOLA Y ADIÓS" (Hello and Goodbye), designed by Santi Castro and representing Dream Forest and Refarquitec S.L.

Adriana María Méndez | Gala Reina Infantil | Carnaval S/C Tenerife 2019

Flavours of Christmas in La Laguna: Solomillo al Aguere (Pork Tenderloin Aguere Style)

Pork Tenderloin with Pedro Ximenez sauce 

Dried fruits turn up in Christmas recipes from so many different parts of the world that it's easy to see how this too epitomises the flavours of Christmas. This recipe is for Solomillo al Aguere: Solomillo translates to sirloin, in this case of pork, Aguere style (Aguere is a district near the centre of La Laguna, nearest tram stop La Trinidad.)

Ingredients for 4 people:

4 pork tenderloins
1 large onion
250 ml of chicken stock
125 ml of Pedro Ximénez wine
5 tablespoons muscat raisins (about 80 grams)
1 tablespoon flour
olive oil
salt and black pepper


Method 

Peel the onion and cut into thin julienne strips. Place over medium heat with 8 tablespoons of oil in a large pan (into which the sirloins and the sauce should fit afterwards). Let the onions poach until they're transparent. If they should begin to burn, lower the heat and if necessary add a tablespoon of water.  Put the raisins to soak in a glass of water.

Season the pork tenderloins with salt and pepper on both sides. In a large pan, brown two of the tenderloins over a high heat. When they're golden, remove the tenderloins and add the other two. When ready remove the tenderloins, but leave the pan on the heat.

Pour the Pedro Ximénez wine into the pan. With a wooden spoon (or a wooden spatula), stir the wine through to deglaze the pan. Turn off the heat and set aside.

At this point the onion should be well poached. Add a tablespoon of flour to the onions and stir well (taking care that the flour does not stick) for a few seconds so that the flour becomes colored (and cooks through). Then pour the Pedro Ximénez wine and meat juices from the pan onto the onions. Stir for a minute, add the tenderloins and the hot chicken stock. Drain the raisins and add them to the sauce. Let the sauce simmer until it thickens to your liking. Try the sauce and season if necessary. And that's it.

Translated from: Sabores de La Navidad lagunera. Solomillo al Aguere

Adeje at Christmas 2019

Adeje at Christmas 2019

The Town Hall of Adeje has organised program of events for the festive season, culminating on Sunday 5 January with the arrival of the Three Kings at 5 pm to the Adeje football ground (Av. Palo Mayor, 12, 38670 Adeje) by helicopter with their procession, along with characters from children's cinema and television, on the Calle Grande from 7 pm.

Among the list of events are three big concerts, the first being a Concierto Cantos a la Navidad (Concert of Christmas Songs) performed by various Adeje folk groups. That is on Thursday 12 December at 8:30 pm in the theatre of the Cultural Centre.

The now traditional Christmas Concert by the Banda de Música del Mando de Canarias (Military Band) and the Banda del Regimiento de Infantería Tenerife 49 (Band of the 49th Tenerife Infantry Regiment) takes place in the Plaza de España at 8 pm on Saturday 14 December.

The third of these big Christmas Concerts is with the Banda del Patronato Musical de la Villa de Adeje (Town Band), the Escuela Municipal de Música de Adeje (Municipal School of Music), with performances by Ballet Beanky and the Asociación Timba Acoró takes place on Thursday 19 December in the Plaza de España at 8 pm.

In addition to these activities, the program includes other musical performances such as the The Latonius Gospel Choir on Friday December 13 at 8:30 pm in the Adeje Cultural Centre (Entrance €5), the El Cardón Group on Calle Grande on Tuesday 17, the international carol meeting in Callao Salvaje on the night of the 23rd and the songs of Christmas carols through the streets throughout the coming weeks.

"Adeje lives Christmas" in the town center from 5 pm to 1 am, includes the Christmas market located in the Calle Grande, but there will also be numerous musical performances in addition to dance classes, acrobatics, fashion shows, role-playing games, theater, children's workshops, bouncy castles, crafts ...

Santa's visit to Plaza César Manrique is on Sunday, December 22 at 5 pm.

The end of the year will be celebrated in the Plaza de España accompanied from 11 pm by the orchestras Sensación Gomera, Toque Latino and Maquinaria Band.

More information at www.adeje.es

Arona, a Christmas for the whole family

Arona, a Christmas for the whole family

Arona Council have prepared a program of around a hundred activities for the whole family, especially for the little ones, for the month of December and the beginning of January and aims to bring the Christmas spirit to every corner of the municipality.

Activities such as the Christmas Farmer's Market, the Canarian Folk Fest festival, Concerts, the XIII Canary Islands Gospel Festival, An Afternoon of Kings in which the pages of the Magi will collect letters from the kids, a Christmas Concert, Great New Year's Eve Party on the night of December 31 from 22.00 hours outside the Center Cultural de Los Cristianos and the Grand Cavalcade of the Magi from the East, which will begin at 5:00 pm on January 5 with the arrival of His Majesties by helicopter.

Full information can be found at www.arona.org

Christmas nativity route through the historic city center of La Laguna

The City Council of La Laguna is promoting a route of nativity scenes that invites citizens to visit these displays in various emblematic buildings the municipality. 

The itinerary starts at the Casa de los Capitanes (House of the Captains), in Calle Obispo Rey Redondo, 5, with a biblical nativity scene that opens its doors this Friday, December 6, at 12:00 hours, made by the Board of Brotherhoods of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, and can be visited until January 7: Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., except on December 24 and 31, when it will open only in the morning. On December 25 and January 1 it will remain closed.

The next stop is the Nativity of the Aguere 70 Scout Group in the Casa Mesa (down a side from Calle Viana), open from December 15 to January 6, and can be visited from Monday to Saturday, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on Sundays, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Another point on this tour is the nativity of the Parroquia Matriz de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (Parish of Our Lady of the Conception), Plaza de la Concepción, 10, 38201 San Cristóbal de La Laguna. It will be open from December 8 to January 8, while its hours will be: Mondays, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and on Sundays, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The headquarters of the Real Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País de Tenerife (Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country of Tenerife) [ED: Tenerife is a country? News to me!], on Calle San Agustín, 23, will open its nativity scene from December 16 to January 3, from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. On December 24 and 31 it will be closed.

The tour also includes the biblical nativity scene of the Hogar del Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna (Old Folks Home), on Viana Street, 64. It can be seen from December 8 to January 7, every day, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Finally, the Cathedral of La Laguna, in the Plaza de Los Remedios, will show a holographic nativity scene whose projections will take place from December 10 to January 7, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

El Ayuntamiento de La Laguna elabora una ruta navideña de belenes por el centro histórico de la ciudad

Carnival Queen Candidate in Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2019 Thalía María Ruíz Martín

Whether looking back once more at Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2019, or forward towards Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2020 - which takes place between Friday, 21st February 2020 and Sunday, 1st March 2020 - we can't resist another look at the candidates who aspired to become carnival queens in 2019.

Thalía María Ruíz Martín in a costume entitled "SUBLIME", designed by Jonathan Suárez López and representing Gabinete de Estética África & Vicky.

Thalía María Ruíz Martín | Gala de la Reina | Carnaval S/C Tenerife 2019

Turrón de gofio (Gofio nougat) recipe for a Canarian Christmas

Turrón de gofio (Gofio nougat)

There are many ways to eat the Canarian staple, gofio (here are nine others), but in the run up to Christmas, what better way than as the traditional, seasonal sweet, turrón.

Ingredients:

100 gr gofio de millo (corn gofio)
75 gr of honey
125 gr ground almonds
50 gr of sugar

Method:

1. Toast the gofio in a nonstick pan over a low heat, stirring. Once toasted remove from heat and let cool slightly.
2. Meanwhile, put the sugar in a saucepan on the heat and allow it to caramelize. When the sugar acquires caramel texture, add the ground almonds and stir for a few minutes.
3. Place baking paper into the mold you have chosen for the preparation of this nougat (you can use a rectangular silicone mold or half of a simple milk brick).
4. Pour the almond and caramel mixture onto the baking paper, and let cool slightly.
5. When it is cool enough to handle, add the gofio and honey and knead so that it is well integrated.
6. Put the dough back into the mold lined with baking paper, flatten the entire surface, cover with more baking paper and place in the refrigerator for a few hours.

Translated from: Turrón de gofio: 2 recetas de Navidad canaria

Tenerife Fiestas in December 2019

A huge array of Christmas sweets

In December 2019 there is a national public holiday on Friday 6 December for Día de la Constitución Española (Constitution Day). 8 December - Inmaculada Concepción (The Immaculate Conception) - already falls on a Sunday. This weekend traditionally sees Christmas decorations being put up in homes in Spain. 

There are no municipal public holidays in December 2019.

The holiday period will kick off with El Gordo (The Fat One), the Spanish Christmas Lottery, which is drawn on 22 December, with kids singing out the numbers. 

Christmas Day, Wednesday 25 December is a public holiday. For Canarians, this is often recovery day after a big family gathering on Christmas Eve that involved a whole barbequed goat kid and lots of turrón and other traditional Christmas sweets.

On 28 December, beware of El Día de Los Santos Inocentes (Day of the Innocent Saints), when the press will publish even more fake news than usual.

On 31 December, get ready to party in brand new clothes. Underneath, you'll need red underwear. And see in the New Year by eating twelve Uvas de la suerte (lucky grapes), one on each chime of the clock at midnight - washed down by cava. 

Third Matron of Honour in Santa Cruz 2019 María Dolores Miranda Pérez

Whether looking back once more at Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2019, or forward towards Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival 2020 - which takes place between Friday, 21st February 2020 and Sunday, 1st March 2020 - we can't resist another look at the candidates who aspired to become carnival queens in 2019.

María Dolores Miranda Pérez, with the fantasy "Castilla" (Castile), designed by Alexis Santana Rodríguez, representing the Santa Úrsula Open Shopping Area

María Dolores Miranda Pérez | Gala de la reina de los mayores | Carnaval SC Tenerife 2019