Choco festival
A feast for the palate
Redondela has been fishing for choco for more than three centuries. This cephalopod mollusc is, throughout the province of Pontevedra, a dish that identifies this municipality in the Rías Baixas, to the point that the people of Redondela have an unofficial but deeply-rooted popular nickname for choqueira and choqueiro.
Every first fortnight in May, the town dresses up to pay homage to the king of its seas and its cuisine. In the village, a marquee becomes the epicentre of the popular tasting while the catering establishments strive to surprise with their recipes.
They succeed, year after year. This is attested to by the number of visitors, who multiply each year and now number in the thousands. If, of course, the choco is the main ingredient in these dishes, the ingredients that accompany it vary as much as the imagination of each chef. With rice, stewed, in its own ink, with potatoes, with clams, in empanada, in fabada or with turnip tops are just some of the dishes that tempt any diner. As well as offering a feast for the palate, the festival becomes a test of originality among catering establishments, which compete to win distinctions for their creative or traditional dishes.
Much more than a celebration, this event is a manifestation of the importance of the cuttlefish in the idiosyncrasy of Redonda. The cuttlefish are bred in the waters of the municipality and are caught in a traditional way in the San Simón cove - where they are most abundant - using pots, with a traditional technique that has been passed down from generation to generation.
In addition to the gastronomic offer, there are many reasons to visit this village: music plays, the streets are filled with proposals and the playful atmosphere permeates everything from morning to night, when the verbena (street party) adds rhythm and fun.
And as well as enjoying the flavour of Redondela, this town in As Rías Baixas allows you to discover other treasures of these lands: the island of San Simón, the Way of St. James and landscapes, beaches and routes that are always fascinating. As far as cuisine is concerned, although choco is the star dish, throughout the year other products such as mussels and apples are also celebrated.
Finally, the Corpus Christi festivities, linked to the Fiesta de la Coca, stand out among all the festivities, in which floral carpets that are true works of art are exhibited and dances typical of this area are danced.
