IV VALENCIAN CAVA TASTE November 30 to December 2, 2012

From Friday 2 to Sunday 30 is held the  IV cavas sample Designation of Origin Cava of Valencia (from the town of Requena). There will also be tasting nougat and Sugared from Casinos, Requena's  Sausage, Cheese from  Benissanó and Robles de Campo.
As in previous editions, is held in the XIII century Valencian winery located in the Plaza del centenar de la Ploma, in the Carmen district of Valencia. (The entrance is on Calle Baja, 29 (next to Plaza del Árbol).
The schedule is from 10 to 22 hours during the Friday, and Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 15 hours, resumed 17 to 22 hours.
The tickets cost 5 Euros and include three tastings and one glass of Cava (fluted).

official poster, taken from the website of proava

TAPAS ROUTE IN CEDRO AREA

The area cedro, is a party zone especially university atmosphere.
Now also have aimed to fashion to give your beer a tapa (to win back customers, now scarce because of the crisis).
I have to admit that I have not gone to taste them, but from what I've seen on facebook, look very nice.

Tapa + beer 2 Euros.

logo taken from facebook

ALBORAYA FOOD FAIR ALBORAYA 6-7 OCTOBER

Unfortunately I just heard of this, the fair was scheduled for last week but was passed by weather to this weekend.

Here is its facebook link.

The schedule of the fair is up to 22 hours. And you can taste various products made from chufa (horchata, nougat, beer, oil, etc.).

The fair is located on the esplanade in front of the metro stop Peris Arago, in Alboraya.

picture taken from its facebook

FOOD TRAIL Tapas & Cocktail in Canovas Area from September 13 to october 14

30 locations Canovas zone between pubs, restaurants and others. Offered  tapa  + wine (or beer) or 1 cocktail (in pubs) for 3 Euros. Also they give you a passport, where with the stamp of 5 different local they give you a card for the area (which will serve for future promotions, also you enter into a drawing for a cruise for 2 people during 7 nights (the winner will be announced October 18) ..
Currently the website advertising does not work, have another malfunctioning web. There is no information about for what serve the card but the promotion of the tapa and caña is not bad.

poster taken from they're website

THE SAN JUAN'S NIGHT (night of 23 to 24 June)

The night of San Juan, is a tradition from time immemorial, celebrating the arrival of the summer solstice and the longest day for the collection of crops, and the shortest night for the destruction of evil.
It is a pagan ritual associated with the bonfires that were lit to give more power to the sun, as is becoming increasingly weak until the winter solstice, also used the ritual of fire as a symbol of purification for those who contemplate it.
Converted from Christianity to religious holiday (like all pagan rites that couldn't forbid are absorbedgiving them a religious character. In Spain, almost all holidays are religious among the converted in antiquity and those that thanks to the dictator Franco were Christianized).
This holiday is celebrated in many parts of Europe, but is much more rooted in Spain, Portugal (fogueiras de Sao Joao), Norway (Jonson), Denmark (Sankthans), Sweden (Midsommar), Finland (Juhannus), Estonia (Jaanipäev ) and UK (Midsummer).

In South America, is celebrated in Brazil (Festas Juninas), Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru and Venezuela (the night of San Juan).
The night of San Juan, is also related to ancient Spanish legend as "The Legend of the Haunted" (which varies according the regions of Spain and Latin America.

While in most places, is celebrated coinciding with the Summer Solstice, the night of 21 to 22 June, respecting the pagan rite, in countries like Spain and Portugal it shows the Christian influence in the change of date.

In Spain, there is a polemic regarding the date of its celebration, because the day of San Juan is the day 24 and there are areas where the bonfires are made from 24 hours a day 23 as in the case of Valencia, and in other locations like Alicante is done the evening of day 24.
In Valencia, it's usually celebrate it on the beach (who can), and about 24 hours on day 23are lit the bonfires with wood that people bring from home. It is also said that gives you good luck to have your feet soaked at 00 hours (at sea and who can't do this improvising usually elsewhere) even the more adventurous get ourshelves whole in the water as when you're entering in the water, should be make a wish.

During the celebration, people often carried the dinner and consume large amounts of alcohol during the whole night around the bonfire.
The most daring, jump the bonfires making a wish, and if they fall from the jumping standing up without burning, the wish will comply.

The party usually lasts until sunrise.

picture of people around a San Juan's bonfire taken from internet

 

SPIRITS IN SPAIN

Spain is known worldwide for its parties. From traditional festivals (eg Fallas of Valencia, Seville Easter week (which is also celebrated throughout the Spanish territory), The San Fermin in Pamplona, La Tomatina Buñol in Valencia. Etc.) to music festivals as the FIB (Festival Internacional de Benicassim in Castellon among others), or Macro-clubs (such as Pacha in Ibiza and other) to the Macro-Bottellon (large gatherings in parks, squares, car parks, universities "organized" by teenagers and young people in several Spanish cities to drink huge amounts of alcohol, listening to music in their cars.
All this gives an impression that the Spanish are a group of alcoholics. And even if it is true that the culture of alcohol is deeply rooted in Spain.
It is common to eat with a glass of beer or wine, to have a beer (or two) after work in one of the many bars. Just as consuming alcohol at festivals. That does not mean that we are always drunk and usually drink in moderation (there are exceptions).
In Spain is allowed to drink on the street, in 2002 an attempt was made to approve the law known as "anti-botellón." Prohibiting the consumption on the street and regulating the hours of alcohol sales, but for its criticisms, did not get approved. Although different regions such as Valencia, Madrid, Basque Country, among others made ​​their own legal regulations that prohibit the sale of alcohol to go, from 10 pm to 6 am and limit consumption on the street with fines of up to 300 Euros (although it is very strange that get fined if you're not doing botellon, because the standard is intended only to stop it).
Spanish law currently prohibits the sale and consumption of alcohol to under 18 years (although not successful, because the average age at which young Spanish begin to drink and smoke as the statistics are 13 years old), until about years, were allowed to consume over 16 drinks with less than 18% alcohol.
Spanish law also bans drinking alcohol on public transport in city (buses and intercity public, metro, trains and even airplanes) but it's funny because in the planes and in long-distance trains, there is usually a bar service that selling alcohol
Alcohol can be found in supermarkets, grocery stores (and other), in bars, cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs, beach bars, even in the street, we find people selling without a license some cold beer.
The most popular spirits in Spain are beer and wine (which are drunk in any situation and their consumption is not too frowned upon), cava (champagne national) usually consumed in special celebrations, although it is quite common. And the stronger drinks, usually are reserved for moments of parties (either the weekends or festivals).
In addition, each region of Spain has its own typical spirits, some of which are drunk on their own and others, accompanied with soft drinks, water or in mixed drinks or "cubatas" (drinks that generally have a part alcohol and two soft drink).

 Despite being one of the most famous Spanish beers in the world, is not one of the favorites in Spain, picture made by me