A plate filled with beans, a glass of wine and a piece of bread, and for dessert a slice of watermelon. That was the menu that is served in the Royal Site of San Ildefonso to over 12,000 people who participated in the traditional ‘Judiada’, which is celebrated yearly on the festivities of St. Louis, and has become one of the most important events in the festival program.
Cooking started in the early hours of the morning; the ‘Judiada’ brings together the largest concentration of people all who enjoy a field lunch near the hospital just outside the town center.
Just before the dishing out the menu, hundreds of people waited impatiently to buy their ticket at a price of 5 Euros to latter go to the area where 18 enormous pots awaited them. First they picked up their cardboard tray fork, spoon, and slice of bread to finally get the much desired plate of beans, watermelon and wine.
The day began early for the 30 cooks who joined in to prepare the meal; all form the Segovian Cooks association. For this edition, 1200 kilos of beans were used, another 450 of pork ear, 300 of chorizo (red sausage), 100 of black sausage, 200 kilos of onion, 80 of garlic, 40 liters of olive oil, 13 kilos of paprika and 100 kilos of ham bones.
There were special rations made for the Saharawi children who like every year come to visit and are town council guests. Of course, their menu cannot include pork products as forbidden by their religion. Other people such as PSOE leader, Óscar López and CyL Agriculture councilwomen Silvia Clemente also showed up as well as other political representatives.
This massive gathering has become a real food festival, the mayor José Luis Vázquez (PSOE) explained, “it’s a reunion of friends” where everyone is welcomed. In the organization of the event, the different “peñas”, civil protection and the Civil Guard were involved.
The after lunch must also be mentioned as various bars have made a pretty penny selling coffee and other drinks to the many who wanted to extend the party a bit longer. There were also several bands playing folk and popular music around town.
