ONE of the most eagerly awaited events on the fairs calendar is the Food Fair or Mostra de Cuina, which opened at the Fires i Congressos complex yesterday. It is designed as a showcase for Majorcan food, and also to encourage more restaurants to serve local dishes. It is organised by the restaurant owners association, whose chairman Antoni Gil yesterday called on the local government to promote Balearic gastronomy more outside the islands. The opening was attended by the local authorities including government leader Francesc Antich, president of the Council of Majorca Maria Antonia Munar, Mayor of Palma Joan Fageda, government representative Miquel Ramis and several ministers. Taking part are 23 restaurants on a rotation basis, two cookery schools, four bakeries, several wine cellars as well as firms specialising in water, coffee, ice cream, and fruit juice. Today's menu can be seen on the left, however, all but one of the restaurants will change tomorrow, and the new dishes will include lasagna with butifarró sausage, skate with pepper sauce, squid with meat balls and ox stew. Place: Fires i Congressos precinct in Polígono de Levante, near GESA building.
Open: 12.30 to 4pm, 7 to 11pm, until April 11.
Price: Admission, 3.50 euros (includes drink). Each portion, main dish or dessert, 2.30 euros. Special ticket includes admission and three dishes, 10.40 euros. There will be four stands selling tickets to prevent queues. Souvenirs: Recipe book 6 euros; apron, 3 euros; porcelain dish, 9 euros; ceramic dish, 36 euros.
Eagerly awaited Food Fair opens