COOKING FESTIVALS
“Christian cooking in the west has no larder as great as that offered by Galicia”
ÁLVARO CUNQUEIRO
Cooking is one of Galicia’s main tourist resources: the quality and variety of its local products are the foundation for the diversity of dishes that are prepared, and products served. These products, from the country, from livestock and, above all, from the sea, have their own peculiarities, and although nowadays they can be found outside Galicia, local quality is still the main feature of Gallego cooking. What is more, it should not be forgotten that one of the most prestigious elements of our cuisine has been the professionalism of our chefs, who work not only in Galicia, but can be found anywhere around the world.
Exaltations of cooking arouse the interest of whoever visits them. The origin of these fiestas is in local or district celebrations to commemorate the place’s traditions, friends’ meetings, or harvest or religious festivals, such as the pilgrimages, when fulfilling the promise to the Saint was completed with a traditional meal. On gaining renown, the fiesta attracted people from other places. Other exaltations of cooking sprang up with the tourist industry already in mind. In total, they number around 300 all over Galicia every year: on the coast, fish and shellfish are the most common; inland, the basis is meat and freshwater fish.
MAIN COOKING FESTIVALS
| Date | Product | Town | Province |
| 7th January | Rice pudding | Ferrol | A Coruña |
| 15th January | Tripe | Vilanova de Arousa | Pontevedra |
| 26th January | Botelo | O Barco de Valdeorras | Ourense |
| 4th February | Sausage | Vila de Cruces | Pontevedra |
| Sun. Before Carnival | Gallego Stew | Lalín | Pontevedra |
| Carnival Sunday | Androlla o Botelo | Viana do Bolo | Ourense |
| Carnival Sunday | Goat | Vilariño de Conso | Ourense |
| Carnival Sunday | Turnips | As Pontes | A Coruña |
| February (variable) | Gallego tetilla cheese | Antas de Ulla | Lugo |
| 1st Sunday March | Gallego tetilla cheese | Arzúa | A Coruña |
| Piñata Sunday | Filloa | Lestedo-Boqueixón | A Coruña |
| 3rd Sunday March | Gallego tetilla cheese | Friol | Lugo |
| March (variable) | Pig’s Ear | Sales-Vedra | A Coruña |
| Last Sunday March | Gallego Stock | Mourente | Pontevedra |
| Easter Week | Wine | O Rosal | Pontevedra |
| Easter Sunday | Rosquilla (croissant) | Abades (Silleda) | Pontevedra |
| St. Lazarus’ Eve | Lamprey | Pontecesures | Pontevedra |
| March-May (variable) | Ulla Aguardiente (liquor) | Ribadulla | A Coruña |
| March-April (variable) | Ribeira Sacra Wine | Chantada y Quiroga | Lugo |
| April (variable) | Ulla Wine | Sarandón-Vedra | A Coruña |
| Easter Sunday | Oysters | Arcade-Soutomaior | Pontevedra |
| April (variable) | Lamprey | Arbo | Pontevedra |
| Easter Saturday | Lamprey Pie | Padrón | A Coruña |
| Easter Sunday | Aguardiente (liquor) | Portomarín | Lugo |
| Easter Sunday | Eels | Tui | Pontevedra |
| Date | Product | Town | Province |
| Last Saturday April | Mushrooms | Ordes | A Coruña |
| End April/Begin. May | O Ribeiro Wine | Ribadavia | Ourense |
| 1st May | Filloa | Muimenta-Cospeito | Lugo |
| 1st May | Trout | A Pontenova | Lugo |
| 2nd Sunday May | Cuttlefish | Redondela | Pontevedra |
| 3rd Sunday May | Salmon | A Estrada | Pontevedra |
| 3rd sunday May | Honey fritters | Melide | A Coruña |
| Last Sunday May | Galo de Curral(Cock of the walk) | Vila de Cruces | Pontevedra |
| Last Sunday May | Trout | Pontecaldelas | Pontevedra |
| 1st Weekend June | O Sainés Red Wine | Barrantes, Ribadumia | Pontevedra |
| 2nd Weekend June | Cherries | Beade, Vigo | Pontevedra |
| Last Saturday June | Xema Roscón (donut) | A Guarda | Pontevedra |
| Last Sunday June | Lobster | A Guarda | Pontevedra |
| 1st Saturday July | Roncudo Goose Barnacles | Corme, Ponteceso | A Coruña |
| 1st Sunday July | Rosquilla (croissant) | Gondomar | Pontevedra |
| St. Benito’s Day (11th July) | Cea Bread | Cea | Ourense |
| Nearest Sun. 11th July | Tripe | Mosteiro, Meis | Pontevedra |
| Sun. before 16th July | Clams | Carril, Vilagarcía | Pontevedra |
| 16th July | Sardines | Cortegada, Silleda | Pontevedra |
| 25th July | Xoubas (small sardines) | Rianxo | Pontevedra |
| 25th July | Churrasco (Barbecued Steak) | Covelo | Pontevedra |
| Last Sunday July | Lamb al espeto | Moraña | Pontevedra |
| (Roasted on a Spit) | |||
| 1st Friday August | Omelette | Laro, Silleda | Pontevedra |
| 1st Saturday August | Herbón Peppers | Padrón | A Coruña |
| 1st Sunday August | Albariño Wine | Cambados | Pontevedra |
| 1st Sunday August | Razor Clams | Fisterra | A Coruña |
| 1st Sunday August | Mussels | Vilanova de Arousa | Pontevedra |
| 1st Weekend August | Peppers | Arnoia | Ourense |
| 2nd Sunday August | Octopus | O Carballiño | Ourense |
| 3nd Weekend August | Wine from Valdeorras | A Rúa | Ourense |
| 15th August | Ham | A Cañiza | Pontevedra |
| 3rd Sunday August | Pie | Allariz | Ourense |
| 3rd Sunday August | O Condado Aguardiente(liquor) | Sela, Arbo | Pontevedra |
| 3rd Sunday August | Clams | Campelo, Poio | Pontevedra |
| 3rd Saturday August | Pie | Bandeira, Silleda | Pontevedra |
| Sat. after 16th August | Queimada (Flaming liquor)(A Maruxaina) | Cervo | Lugo |
| 18th August | Sardines | Sada | A Coruña |
| Last Sunday August | Roast Suckling Pig | Amil, Moraña | Pontevedra |
| Last Sunday August | Corn Bread | Cabral, Vigo | Pontevedra |
| Last Sunday August | Cottage Cheese | A Capela | A Coruña |
| Last Sunday August | Pie | Noia | A Coruña |
| Last Sunday August | O Condado Wine | Salvaterra | Pontevedra |
| 3rd Sunday Sept. | Potatoes | Coristanco | A Coruña |
| Last Sunday Sept, | Eels | Valga | Pontevedra |
| 2nd Weekend Octob. | Potatoes | Vilar de Barrio | Ourense |
| 2nd Week October | Shellfish | O Grove | Pontevedra |
| Sun. after 9th October | Beans | Lourenzá | Lugo |
| Last Sunday October | Scallop | Bueu | Pontevedra |
| 1st November | Mushrooms | As Pontes | A Coruña |
| 11th November | Roast Chestnuts | Ourense | Ourense |
| 1st week December | Carne richada | Forcarei | Pontevedra |
| 1st week December | pork loin | Petín | Ourense |
| 13th December | Barbecued steak | Silleda | Pontevedra |
| 21st December | Goose | Vilalba | Lugo |
| 22th December | Goose | Arzúa | A Coruña |
| Saturday following Christmas | Rib Pie | A Rúa | Ourense |
