Palma.The historic market exchange of La Llonja, having recently undergone extensive restoration, is playing its part in providing attractions to visitors and residents during the low season.
As well as the building now hosting a series of exhibitions, a variety of street markets are being organised along with live music and displays of regional cooking.
There are 40 bars and restaurants spread along the six historic streets of La Llonja which in the summer months are a favourite haunt of the tourist community. Offering the public tasting sessions of locally produced food is just one way of businesses showing that they are not shutting up shop until the next high season comes around.
The gastronomy scheme, presented yesterday by the President of the Bar and Restaurant Association Alfonso Robredo, and Palma's Commerce Councillor Esperança Crespi is also being supported by six Regional Associations (from Asturias, Galicia, Euskadi, Murcia, Castilla León and Valencia) which have established cultural networks in the city.
Various stands have been set up in the streets of La Llonja from which, for a price of between 2 and 3 euros, the public can sample the different regional food and wine.
In the restaurants themselves meanwhile, a full variety of dishes complementing the samples are on offer at fixed prices.
Customers are invited to pay one euro more than the recommended price which will go directly to the drug rehabilitation charity, Proyecto Hombre.
Next week a Christmas olive tree will be erected in La Llonja under which people can place gifts of non perishable food. Items will go to the Balearic Food Bank.