We travel to the south to discover the products that made Huelva the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy in 2017. Iberian ham, white shrimp, wines from the Condado... A dozen bites help to savor the flavors of Huelva. Bon appétit!
WHITE SHRIMP
The white shrimp from Huelva is the queen of Huelva's gastronomy. It has a whitish color, is especially delicious, and conveys all the taste of the sea in a small bite. It is mainly fished off the coast of Isla Cristina, but it can be found in many restaurants in the capital. Its quality makes it ideal to be eaten boiled, but among many other options, it can also be enjoyed raw in tartar or as part of a delicious salad, like in the Ciquitrake restaurant (pictured).
WINES OF THE CONDADO
Around thirty wineries make up the Denomination of Origin Vinos del Condado, where some of the most delicious wines in Spain are made. In most of its 5,000 hectares of vineyards, the Zalema grape is cultivated, a resilient variety that imparts a characteristic and distinctive soft touch to the wines of Huelva thanks to its slow maturation. Among the most remarkable for their uniqueness is the Orange Wine, also with Denomination of Origin, which has a wonderful citrus aroma.
HAM FROM HUELVA
The meadows of the municipalities of Aracena, Aroche, Corteconcepción, Cortegana, Cumbres Mayores, Santa Olalla del Cala, and Jabugo hold one of the best-kept secrets of the province of Huelva: Iberian ham. It is precisely Jabugo that gives its name to one of the flagship products of the province, as well as of Andalusia and Spain, which has its own Protected Designation of Origin. As many as 27 wineries produce the rich Ham from Huelva, which is found in almost every restaurant in the capital.
COKI
In the 70s and 80s, there wasn’t a child in Huelva who hadn’t tried a very popular meringue ice cream in the city at the time. To make sure it wasn’t forgotten, chef Carlos Ramírez, from the Ciquitrake restaurant, decided to pay tribute to it: he did such a good job that today it is his star tapa. It is called Coki and it’s a savory dish. It consists of puff pastry in the shape of a cone, Isla Cristina mackerel, fresh spring onion, and aioli, all topped with a quail egg that gives it its ice cream shape.
BOCADOS DE ACÁNTHUM
Iberian ham tartar, prawns, truffles, or sardines are some of the products from Huelva that chef Xanty Elías uses at Acánthum, the only Michelin-star restaurant in Huelva. They are part of the two menus with which this restaurant, also holding two Repsol Suns, seeks to pay tribute to the fruits of the province while telling the story of Juan Quadrado, the cook who accompanied Columbus on his first voyage to America. A true gastronomic journey.
STRAWBERRIES
Spain is the top producer of strawberries in all of Europe, and Huelva plays a big part in this: 95 percent of the national production comes from the province of Huelva. They grow near the Doñana wetlands and under the warmth of greenhouses, becoming a delicacy that is now a staple in many kitchens. Like the one led by Francisco José Díaz and Juan López at the restaurant Puro Chup Chup. Their dish Strawberries fields forever has become one of the great classics of this place, where seasonal products define a menu that changes almost daily.
MUSHROOMS
Around 600 varieties of mushrooms grow in the mountains of Huelva, mostly in the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park. About 15 percent are edible, and among them, some notable ones are tana (amanita caesarea), tentullo (boletus aereus), níscalos (Lactarius deliciosus), and gallipierna (macrolepiota procera). In carpaccio, grilled, scrambled, or in stews, the options to enjoy these gifts from the land are numerous.
CRAFT BEER
Amidst the craft beer fever, beers made in Huelva couldn’t be missing. The brand Tartessos was born three years ago, and during this time, they have already developed up to seven varieties, including one with strawberry as the main ingredient. Also in the capital, Odiel has already developed three wheat-based beers and one rye beer. These and many other options can be enjoyed at the El Tercer Tiempo brewery, where there is a wide range of beers.
