The gastronomy offered by La Aldea de San Nicolás to its visitors is very rich and varied, thanks to its locally sourced products: tropical fruits, vegetables, tomatoes, fresh fish and meat…

There is plenty of home made food available in our municipality, including salads, stews, goat’s meat, pork, locally grown potatoes including the famous Canary papas arrugadas, fresh local fish including sea bream, parrot fish, moray eel, sea bass, tuna, octopus and squid. There are
also many other typical dishes, such as sancocho, fish in boiled mojo sauce or in marinade, fish salad and ropavieja.

Most of these dishes can be combined with red or green mojo sauce, cheese or with gofio cornmeal. Not forgetting bread and crispy bread made at local bakeries, as well as sweet pastries and buns from local confectionary shops.

A valid reference for the region’s wide gastronomic range is the Gran Canaria Biosphere Reserve Recipe Book, a publication containing 28 different recipes that highlight the culinary value of local products from the Reserve.

There are a total of seven full menus with tapas and snacks, first and main courses and desserts, one menu corresponding to each municipality (Artenara, Tejeda, Mogán, La Aldea de San Nicolás, San Bartolomé de Tirajana, Vega de San Mateo and Agaete).

Recipes have been contributed by neighbour associations, local groups and individuals who have preserved or brought back many original flavours and/or customs from their local area. Special mention should go to the dishes created here at this municipality: Octopus ropavieja
and tomatiao salted fish from Tasarte, and home made egg flan for dessert.

The Tomato Fair

The month of April sees the municipality La Aldea celebrate its annual fair in honour of its economic mainstay, the tomato. This event is part of a range of initiatives that the municipality is organising as it looks to project its image, and to strengthen the ‘La Aldea’ brand, through an attractive display of its gastronomic, natural and leisure and entertainment values, among others.

Farmers’ market and craft and accessory fair

On the first Saturday of every month, the town’s church, Alameda de La Aldea de San Nicolás, is the setting for the municipality’s farming and craft market. Here, visitors can purchase a wide assortment of textiles, jewellery, wooden and stone carvings, basketwork, prints and engravings, toys, and of course food products.

The market is a hub of local commercial activity, as it is situated within the shopping area in the middle of town. It is both a commercial and festive event which is accompanied by a range of activities: music, competitions, exhibitions, open days at the museums, children’s fun activities, all of which encourage the active involvement of local residents and visitors.

On several occasions throughout the year, the market is the site for fairs to see in different equinoxes, such as the Summérgete, Spring Sensations and Christmas Fairs, all of which feature engaging programmes and attract large crowds.