Sabor Toledo already has its agenda: four days to eat, listen to music and discover the province in La Vega
Toledo is preparing to host the first edition of Sabor Toledo, a fair that will bring together more than 60 producers from the province from September 24th to 27th in La Vega Park, combining gastronomy, culture, and music.
Gastronomy will be one of the main focuses of this event, promoted by the Toledo Provincial Council and FEDETO. Among the names featured in the showcookings are two of Toledo's Michelin-starred chefs: Iván Cerdeño, head chef of Cigarral del Ángel, with two Michelin stars and three Repsol Suns, and Carlos Maldonado, head chef of Raíces in Talavera de la Reina, which boasts one Michelin star and one Repsol Sun.
Cerdeño will kick off the live cooking sessions on Thursday, while Maldonado will participate in Friday's program. Along with them, chefs and professionals from across the province will take part in the cooking demonstrations over the four days.
From partridge to carcamusas
The culinary program will offer a journey through various preparations showcasing some of the products and recipes most closely associated with the Toledo region. Partridge will feature in dishes such as stuffings, pickled preparations, profiteroles, chocolates, and brandade, while venison and fallow deer will appear in tacos, pastrami, tataki, and salads. There will also be reinterpretations of traditional dishes like carcamusas and garlic soup, alongside products such as olive oil from the Montes de Toledo, wines from the Méntrida Designation of Origin, Manchego cheese, pistachios, bread, and beer.
Cerdeño and Maldonado will be joined by chefs such as Esmeralda Peña, from Verde Esmeralda; Javier Muñoz, from Adolfo; and Piedad Zanchez, from Zinco Zentido, in addition to proposals from restaurants such as Hierbabuena, Jardines de Palacio, Cuchara de Palo, Delokos, Ákera or La Zafra.
The sessions will allow the public to follow the preparations live and learn about the techniques used by the chefs, as well as the origin of the products used.
From the kitchen to podcasts
Sabor Toledo's programming won't stop at the kitchen. This weekend will see the premiere of 'La Sobremesa de Sabor Toledo', a podcast hosted by Gloria Santoro, co-presenter of En Compañía, along with journalists Antonio Barragán and Rocío García.
On Thursday, 'El Vomitorio', the music and culture podcast by Mario Marzo and countertenor Nacho Castellanos, will also be recorded live. For this event, they have prepared a special format combining classical music and gastronomy.
The program will also include sessions dedicated to olive oil, specialty coffee, and bread. Ángel Ruiz, from the Ruiz Benayas artisan bakery in Maqueda, recognized as Spain's best baker in 2024, will participate in the latter. Chinese cuisine will also be featured at the fair, which will also include a workshop dedicated to the flavors of La Sagra beer, the event's main sponsor.
Concerts and afternoon activities throughout the four days
Music will be another highlight of Sabor Toledo. The program includes concerts and afternoon sessions with artists and groups representing different styles and eras. Among the scheduled performances are Lobos, a tribute band to Leiva and Pereza; El Penúltimo de la Fila, a tribute band to Manolo García and El Último de la Fila; and Guateque Club, which will provide the musical finale to the fair with a repertoire spanning the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.
The afternoon will also feature DJ sets such as BITA, a Toledo-born artist who has performed at festivals like Sonorama Ribera, Low Festival and Oasis Sound, as well as Luis Suárez DJ and Mario Campos DJ.
In addition, Thursday and Friday mornings will be dedicated to 'Little Flavors of Toledo,' an initiative that will bring approximately 2,000 fifth and sixth grade students to the venue. Through sensory, theatrical, digital, and hands-on workshops, the students will be able to explore the gastronomy, heritage, and traditions of the different regions of the province. The activity will also include a Toledo Flavor Passport and a collaborative project centered around the so-called Map of the Flavors of Toledo.
Culture also plays a leading role
Culture will be present throughout the venue with literary characters, theater, medieval music, and performances of popular traditions from the province. Among these will be the Calderonianas of Yepes, recently declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest, and the Celestina Festival – La España de Rojas, from La Puebla de Montalbán, which every summer revives the literary legacy of Fernando de Rojas through theater and other cultural activities.
With this program, Sabor Toledo offers a journey through the gastronomic and cultural diversity of the province's various regions, with more than 60 producers and artisans gathered in La Vega Park. The fair will be held from Thursday, September 24th to Sunday, September 27th, with free admission for visitors, and will allow them to combine the purchase and tasting of local products with live cooking demonstrations, music, cultural activities, and family-friendly events.
