Semana del Queso: 28 tapas por Murcia

The Consejo Regulador de las Denominaciones de Origen Protegidas Queso de Murcia y Queso de Murcia al Vino will stage its Semana del Queso from May 18 to May 31 with 28 cheese-based tapas across the Region of Murcia, according to the regulator’s event materials and local reporting. The program combines a public tapas route with the VI Jornadas Gastronómicas and the VI Concurso de Cocina con Quesos DOP. Participating bars, restaurants and training centers will serve dishes built around the three protected cheeses: fresco, curado and al vino. The cheeses are made with milk from the Murciano-Granadina goat, according to the denomination’s website. ### Where do the 28 tapas fit into the event? La Opinión de Murcia reported on May 15 that 28 establishments from across the region will take part in the route, with venues in municipalities including Murcia, Cartagena, Caravaca de la Cruz, Calasparra, Molina de Segura and Jumilla. The newspaper said the tapas range from croquettes and buñuelos to canelones, cheesecakes and dishes paired with aubergine, sobrasada, honey and local wines. (laopiniondemurcia.es) The regulator’s rules for the gastronomic days say the event is open to hospitality businesses and hospitality schools in the Region of Murcia, with a cap of 30 hospitality participants. Those rules also say the public-facing jornadas must run for at least two weeks, from May 18 to May 31. ### Which cheeses are being promoted? The denomination’s website lists three protected cheeses under the Murcia label: Queso de Murcia fresco, Queso de Murcia curado and Queso de Murcia al vino. (laopiniondemurcia.es) The cooking contest rules require each tapa to use one of those three cheeses as a relevant ingredient, either directly or after culinary preparation. The regulator says Queso de Murcia al vino is a pressed, washed cheese, while Queso de Murcia curado is a pressed cheese with longer maturation and Queso de Murcia fresco is sold without maturation. (quesosdemurcia.com) The council says 150 farms with about 70,000 Murciana goats in production and seven dairies are registered to produce milk and cheese under the denominations. ### How is the cooking contest set up? (quesosdemurcia.com) The VI Concurso de Cocina con Quesos DOP is a tapa-format contest for restaurants and hospitality professionals in the Region of Murcia, according to the official rules. The same rules define a tapa as a preparation weighing less than 100 grams that can be eaten in a couple of bites and say miniature plated dishes are not allowed. (quesosdemurcia.com) May 11 was the deadline for entries, and the regulator said it would select eight finalists that day. On Monday, May 18, those eight finalists are due at the Centro de Cualificación Turística to prepare their tapas before a jury, with check-in at 8:30 a.m. and cooking starting from 9 a.m. at 10-minute intervals. La Opinión de Murcia reported that the jury will include representatives of the Consejo Regulador, the regional tourism department, Jecomur, UCAM’s gastronomy degree and food journalism specialists. (quesosdemurcia.com) The newspaper said the top three prizes are 1,000 euros, 750 euros and 500 euros, plus a trophy and a professional knife. ### Who is backing the promotion? La Opinión de Murcia said the program is being held in collaboration with Jecomur, the Centro de Cualificación Turística, the regional government and the “1.001 Sabores Región de Murcia” food brand. The regulator’s rules name the Consejo Regulador as organizer of the jornadas and say the contest is run with the Centro de Cualificación Turística. (laopiniondemurcia.es) The regulator says one of its functions is to promote the image of Murcia cheeses through tastings, talks, media campaigns and food fairs. The same body says it is independent of any single company or industrial group and represents farmers, dairies, agricultural unions, consumers and the administration. ### What will diners and venues get during the two weeks? (laopiniondemurcia.es) The jornadas rules say participating venues must display event posters at their entrances while the Consejo Regulador promotes the establishments and dishes on its website, social media and in media coverage. The same rules say each participating establishment will receive three 2.5-kilogram cheeses — fresco, curado and al vino — valued at about 120 euros in total to prepare dishes and tapas for the event. (quesosdemurcia.com) May 18 is the next fixed date in the program, with the eight finalists due to cook live at Murcia’s Centro de Cualificación Turística, while the tapas route is scheduled to continue through May 31 across participating venues in the region. (quesosdemurcia.com) (quesosdemurcia.com)