OK, I know that I sometimes poke fun at the local fiestas, under the banner of “any excuse to celebrate”, but even I was a bit puzzled by the latest – the Ribadeo Festival of India. Perhaps all the ideas for fiestas have finally been used up – chicken, sardine, cocido and even the odd Oktoberfest, but India? As far as I’m aware many Spanish people don’t even like very spicy food! For example, there have been several Indian restaurants popping up locally in recent years, but then they have all disappeared, almost as quickly as they arrived.

I’m actually quite a big curry fan, and regularly make them for myself during the winter months. I say for myself, because although Angela loves the smell, she finds even my very ‘mild’ versions too hot to digest. I’m afraid I’m just the opposite, I make Madras and Vindaloo in my kitchen, albeit that neither of these two styles originate from India! Madras style is actually a restaurant invention (like the infamous tikka masala), and is really just a hotter version of a standard curry. Vindaloo is a dish of Portuguese origin, which over time was spiced up by the people of the ex-Portuguese colony of Goa. It’s name originates from the two main ingredients which were “vinho”, wine/wine vinegar, and “alhos”, garlic.

I doubt very much if the Spanish will be inventing curry dishes any time soon, although this latest Indian Festival could be a step in the right direction.OK, I know that I sometimes poke fun at the local fiestas, under the banner of “any excuse to celebrate”, but even I was a bit puzzled by the latest – the Ribadeo Festival of India. Perhaps all the ideas for fiestas have finally been used up – chicken, sardine, cocido and even the odd Oktoberfest, but India? As far as I’m aware many Spanish people don’t even like very spicy food! For example, there have been several Indian restaurants popping up locally in recent years, but then they have all disappeared, almost as quickly as they arrived.

I’m actually quite a big curry fan, and regularly make them for myself during the winter months. I say for myself, because although Angela loves the smell, she finds even my very ‘mild’ versions too hot to digest. I’m afraid I’m just the opposite, I make Madras and Vindaloo in my kitchen, albeit that neither of these two styles originate from India! Madras style is actually a restaurant invention (like the infamous tikka masala), and is really just a hotter version of a standard curry. Vindaloo is a dish of Portuguese origin, which over time was spiced up by the people of the ex-Portuguese colony of Goa. It’s name originates from the two main ingredients which were “vinho”, wine/wine vinegar, and “alhos”, garlic.

I doubt very much if the Spanish will be inventing curry dishes any time soon, although this latest Indian Festival could be a step in the right direction.