Por Redaccion 
Mijas hosts one of the semi-finals of the XI Costa del Sol Espetos Contest
April 22, 2025
- The event will take place on Saturday, May 24, from 6:00 pm to midnight, at Torreón Beach in La Cala de Mijas
- The day will include a professional espeto contest, a large popular espetada, live music, and a festive atmosphere for residents and visitors
Mijas, April 22, 2025.- The Mijas Tourist Office was the setting today for the official presentation of one of the semi-finals of the XI Espetos Contest, a gastronomic event of reference on the Costa del Sol that this year will feature an important novelty: the celebration of two semi-finals, one in the eastern part and the other in the western part, with Mijas being the chosen location to host the latter.
The western semi-final will take place on Saturday, May 24, from 6:00 pm to midnight, at Torreón Beach in La Cala de Mijas, and will feature the participation of espeto chefs from municipalities such as Manilva, Estepona, Marbella, Mijas, Benalmádena, or Torremolinos. In addition to the professional contest, there will be a large popular espetada, live music, and bar service, making it a festive event open to residents and visitors.
The President of the Mijas Business Circle, Adolfo Triguero, highlighted that «this year we will have 12 semi-finalists competing on our beaches, consolidating the contest as a gastronomic event already recognized throughout the province.» Triguero especially thanked «the involvement of the Mijas City Council and the Tourism Councillor, Francisco Jerez, who have provided us with all the means to make this semi-final a reality in a municipality with great potential.»
For his part, the Tourism Councillor, Francisco Jerez, emphasized that «it is an honor for Mijas to be part of this initiative that values our most authentic gastronomy. We enthusiastically join this proposal of the Business Circle, providing all the necessary resources from the City Council.»
Jerez wanted to highlight the importance of preserving the local culinary heritage: «We are living in a moment of great richness and diversity in gastronomy, where innovative proposals coexist with others deeply rooted in our identity. The espeto is one of them, a symbol of our coast and our way of understanding cuisine, which deserves to continue to occupy a prominent place in our tourist offer.»
«We want the espeto to regain the prominence it deserves, both as a living tradition and as an attraction for visitors. It is not just a gastronomic event, it is a celebration for residents and visitors that reinforces our identity,» he concluded.
The jury for this edition will be composed of experts in the gastronomic and technical fields, who will evaluate both the sardine espeto and a second free piece chosen by each participant, such as squid, octopus, snapper, or sea bass, following the criteria set out in the contest’s regulations.
With this initiative, Mijas consolidates itself as the epicenter of traditional Andalusian gastronomy, betting on events that promote local culture, boost tourism, and strengthen the business fabric.