A fishy festival: Garrucha celebrates its prized red prawns

In Garrucha, a town renowned for its high-quality seafood, the sixth annual Garrucha Red Prawn Gastronomic Festival took place over the weekend of November 6-8. The event showcased the town's prized red prawns, which are known for their bright red shells and tender meat. Over the three days, 14 local restaurants participated by setting up stalls and offering a variety of dishes featuring prawns at affordable prices, €3.50 for tapas or €4.00 for tapas served with prawns.

Additionally, ten producers exhibited premium items such as seawater gin and locally grown wines, creating a diverse culinary experience.

The festival drew an estimated 25,000 attendees, with local residents and visitors relishing the opportunity to sample various dishes. Live music and interactive activities kept families entertained throughout the weekend, making it feel like a grand dinner party for the community. The highlight of the event was the traditional public tasting on Sunday, where around 300 kilograms of red prawns were served, totaling 1,000 kilos for the entire festival. Despite the massive amount of seafood consumed, there was still plenty left over.

In a unique gesture, the leftover prawns were donated to the Hermanitas de los Ancianos Desamparados nursing home in Huercal-Overa as part of the "Garrucha shares the good things" campaign. This not only extended the gastronomic celebration to the town's elderly residents but also reinforced Garrucha's reputation as a leading seafood destination in Almeria. The festival once again underscored the importance of the red prawn to the town's culinary heritage, solidifying its status as a cherished local delicacy.