The first weekend in March is synonymous with the Sausage Fair in Monchique and the “pilgrimage” to the mountains to taste the delicacies that are produced there. The sausages – from the smallest to the “underground” ones – black puddings, hams, farinheiras and, this year, even paios, are some of the producers' proposals.
The sausages are joined by sweets, medronho, honey – and a combination of these in honeydew – handicrafts and mountain gastronomy, in an event that began on Friday and ends this Sunday.
The rain ended up harming the influx of public on the first day, on Saturday the scenario improved and Luís Grade, vice-president of the Monchique City Council, expects a Sunday with a lot of people, because «the goal continues to arrive to 25 thousand people».
"We've had years of ungrateful weather and we haven't lost a full house," said Luís Grade to Sul Informação.
In fact, in the specific case of the cold, the councilor even expected him to help: “I was hoping that, with the cold of last night [Friday], a little snow would fall in Fóia. That would help a lot!», he joked.
According to Fátima Varela, a sausage producer, who has been participating in the event for 23 years, despite having a smaller audience, “it has been selling well. In terms of the amount of sales I haven't noticed any difference. There are fewer people piled up on the premises, customers pass by and buy”.
For this year's edition of the Sausages Fair, Fátima Varela decided to innovate and, in addition to making paio, "which is not a habit", is selling boiled corns which, not being a sausage, are normally consumed together.
Evangelista Oliveira, on the other hand, decided to take “chouriças de metro” to the fair. «They have a kilo each. It's a meter of chorizo and it's been selling very well, because people think it's funny».
In fact, the producer doesn't complain about the lack of sales: “it's going well. Sales are not lower than last year. There may be fewer people, but whoever comes, comes to buy».
Expectations for this Sunday are good because «it is the day that sells the most». Evangelista Oliveira hopes to sell “a thousand units of sausages and 40 hams over the three days”.
After yesterday the musical entertainment was in charge of Quinta do Bill, who made the venue jump and sing in chorus, this Sunday the headliner will be Virgu. The concert is scheduled for 18:00.
See here the photos of the Sausages Fair from Martyna Mazurek | Sul Informação:
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