Ruta del Atún 2012 in Zahara
Zahara de los Atunes is located a few kilometres from the fishing town of Barbate in Cadiz in southern Spain. The locals like to call this part of the coast “The Coast of the Red Tuna” (la costa del Atún Rojo) and, following my recent visit, I can understand why!
The population of Zahara is only approximately 1300 yet there are 115 bars and restaurants. That is an astonishing 1 establishment per 10 inhabitants. Needless to say, Zahara is a popular tourist destination, particularly for gastronomic tourism.
For the past four years, Zahara de los Atunes has hosted the “Ruta del Atún” to help promote the local bars and restaurants. This year, 2012, the event has been promoted at a national level, on the television and at tourism fairs.
The events are timed to coincide with the farming of the “atún almadraba” … this occurs in May when the tuna fish, fat and juicy thanks to the blubber built up whilst swimming in the cold Atlantic Ocean over the winter months, are caught in carefully positioned nets, as they swim to the warmer Mediterranean waters.
Last week, I had the privilege of joining the lovely Anne B from www.anniebspain.com and her friend, Maria Muñoz Melero, on a tasting session of 5 of the 34 establishments taking part in this year´s event.
Here are a few pictures of what we tasted ….
At only 3€ for the tuna tapa and a drink, it was an excellent way to try something new, exciting and different. An experience I will definitely repeat.
The Zahara event has now finished but the net event will be in Conil, who are enjoying the sixteenth edition of their Ruta del Atún: starting on May 25th until June 10th.
By Lisa Sadleir
