February brings more than one event that can be celebrated in a distinctly culinary way. While we will welcome many couples for romantic meals on Valentine’s Day, exactly one week later is Shrove Tuesday, marking the start of Lent this year.
A key date on the Christian calendar marking the period running up to Easter, Shrove Tuesday is celebrated in many ways around the world, with a variety of culinary traditions. Britons will be familiar with pancakes, but Spain has its own way of approaching the beginning of Lent, which many will visit Spanish restaurants to discover for themselves.
Firstly, you won’t find us celebrating Shrove Tuesday itself with any particular culinary tradition, because in Spain the date when special meals are eaten is the Thursday of the previous week, which means February 16th this year. Jueves Lardero literally translates as “Fat Thursday,” and kicks off a week-long pre-lent celebration known as Carnaval, ending on Shrove Tuesday.
The date has a couple of other names too, which reflect the fact that there is no one single culinary tradition. For some places in Spain, it is Día de la tortilla: the day of the tortilla, or Spanish omelette. In others it is Día del choricer, or Chorizo Day.
Regional variants include eggs and chorizo baked into bread in Cuenca or Alabacete, while in Castilla-Leon it’s all about egg and chorizo, without the bread.
All this should make a trip to dine with us a great culinary experience at this time of year, especially if you love chorizo or a Spanish omelette.
Indeed, this journey of culinary discovery will continue into the spring, for Easter is celebrated in a different way in Spain to Britain. Look out for treats like Torrijas, Hornazo and Sopa de Ajo, plus a Mona de Pascua – a traditional cake enjoyed in the Valencia and Catalonia regions.
It all goes to show that while pancakes and Easter eggs may be popular here, there are also some wonderful Spanish culinary treats to be enjoyed at either end of Lent.