Tenerife Restaurants & Wines

Canarian cuisine is unusually colorful. Like a patchwork quilt, it consists of unique pieces. It was influenced by the volcanic origin of the island, the special climate, nature and, of course, location.

The island of Tenerife is located at the junction of three continents, so the Canarian cuisine has become a reflection of the combination of traditions of the indigenous people of Guanche, Spanish conquerors, immigrants from northwest Africa and Latin America.

The Guanches ate a lot of meat and cereals, Hispanics instilled a love for potatoes, corn, bananas and sugarcane, Africans added spice and flavor to traditional dishes.

Now in Tenerife are very popular institutions, which are called - guachinche. These are small family restaurants serving simple, traditional Canarian dishes and homemade wine at fairly affordable prices. Local residents will always be happy to tell you where these places are, because you cannot find them on the map or in the guidebooks.

Features

Local cuisine is full of diverse tastes, colors and even textures. Traditional dishes are simple, but tasty and unusual, mainly due to the fact that they are made from products produced in the Canary Islands and grown on volcanic soils. In recent years, Tenerife's cuisine has gained a new sound through fresh interpretations of ancient recipes, the creativity of Spanish chefs and the use of modern technology for cooking.

Diet basis

In the Canaries, rich and thick soups with meat or fish, stews and stews, which are both the first and second dishes, are very popular.

The cuisine of the island of Tenerife is rich in meat dishes, mostly from pork, rabbit and goat meat. The meat is fried over an open fire or in a pan, stewed and boiled. In Tenerife, often cooked and poultry, mainly with vegetables or ... dates.

Canary gastronomy is unthinkable without vegetables, in particular, potatoes brought to Tenerife at the beginning of the 16th century and served as a side dish for most local dishes.

Of course, crossing the Atlantic Ocean and coming to the island of Tenerife, you should definitely eat as much fish and seafood as possible. There are rockfish, shark, parrot fish, monkfish, merlus, mackerel, tuna, cod, mackerel, sardines and other fish. Seafood is especially delicious crabs, lobsters, octopuses, squids and, of course, shrimp. Freshly caught fish and seafood are grilled, stewed, boiled, dried and marinated.

The island has a huge variety of fruits, mostly tropical and exotic. For example, a cactus pear, or prickly pear, papaya, guava, figs, figs, avocados and, of course, the famous local bananas that the islanders love to use in all kinds of desserts.

Canarian dishes worth a try

Some of the most popular dishes in Tenerife will help you to feel the unique taste and aroma of a peculiar local cuisine:

Papas arrugadas (Papas arrugadas) or "wrinkled potatoes" - young potatoes, boiled in sea or just very, very salty water. It tastes like baked to taste, it is served with the famous Canarian moss sauce.
Cazuela de Pescado (Cazuela de Pescado) - fish roast with the addition of aromatic herbs and spices.
Puchero canario - stew from different types of meat or fish stewed with sausages chorizo, beans, cabbage, corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, zucchini, saffron, with the addition of chickpeas. It can be served with fried bran flour or chopped fried cereals (escaldon de gofio).
Conejo en Salmorejo (Conejo en Salmorejo) - rabbit stew in a spicy marinade of garlic, paprika, hot pepper, olive oil and spices, stewed in a clay pot, usually with potatoes.
Mojo (Mojo) can be red - with chili peppers and paprika, green - from cilantro, garlic and saffron.
Tiras de cazón (Tiras de cazón or cazón) is a type of small shark whose meat is cut into strips, salted and dried.
Bienmesabe cake is a traditional dessert made of biscuit, almonds, beaten eggs, sugar syrup and lemon. Translated from Spanish - "good taste."
Goat cheese and honey produced by endemic species of bees collecting pollen from the endemic flowers of Tenerife.

Wines of Tenerife

The first vineyard was planted in Tenerife in the 15th century by an enterprising Portuguese who appreciated the fertility of volcanic soil, which gives the grapes a special taste and aroma. Now there are five wine regions on the island: Abona, Icoden-Daute-Isora, Valle de Guimar, Valle de La Orotava and Tacoronte Asentejo.

In Tenerife, unique grape varieties grow that are not found in other countries, and five wines have a protected name by origin. In a word, Tenerife has a delicate and aromatic wine with an Atlantic and volcanic character, which is not found anywhere else in the world. Guests of the island can visit a tasting held in one of the hundred wine cellars in Tenerife, and enjoy a glass of fine wine surrounded by enchanting landscapes.

Fans of red, pink and white wines can easily find a taste in Tenerife. Most appreciated here are the white wines that first appeared on the island. They have a slightly anise flavor with fruity and floral notes, as well as a pleasant bouquet structure. White wines from Malvasía grapes are considered the best. In the period from the XVI to the XVII century, it was exported to Europe and the main royal houses of the continent. The rich taste of Malvasía goes well with local cheeses and goes well with desserts.