On May 1st, International Labor Day, the city of Mijas on the Costa del Sol will host a unique culinary festival. An impressive 700 kilograms of sardines will be served up in the form of the coast’s most famous dish, ‘espetos de sardinas’. Known as the ‘sardinada’, this event will take place in La Cala de Mijas.
Actividades festivas
For those eager to indulge in free ‘espetos’, head over to Plaza de Torreón along the promenade. There, twelve skilled ‘espeteros’, chefs expert in grilling sardines on an open fire, will ensure these little fish are perfectly cooked. Additionally, the local community association, Santa Teresa, will offer a variety of snacks and drinks at reasonable prices from a bar.
A large tent will be set up for visitors, and the day will be enhanced with live music, making for a lively gathering dominated by the distinctive aroma of grilled sardines. Silvia MarÃn, the councilor in charge of festivities in Mijas, extends an invitation to both locals and tourists to join in this special experience, where everyone can enjoy the region’s most famous dish and the renowned Andalusian hospitalidad.
Espeto de sardinas
If you’ve visited the province of Malaga and haven’t tried an ‘espeto de sardinas’, you’re truly missing out. Considered the ‘king of summer in Southern Spain’, grilled sardines are a must-have during the summer months, particularly when there’s no ‘r’ in the month. With about 1,200 beach bars in Malaga, it’s almost guaranteed that you can find this dish being served. The ‘espeteros’ typically skewer 6 to 8 fish on a stick and grill them over an open flame, using converted old fishing boats or their modern equivalents as barbecues. You don’t need to meticulously remove the tiny bones, as they are often soft enough to eat.
