There’s good bread, and then there’s bread that gets you into a national competition.
Mario Bakes, the artisan bakery run by Mario Torres in Santa Úrsula, has won the Miga de Oro award for Best Loaf in the Canary Islands, putting him in the running for the national final of the 50 Panaderos TOP de España competition.
The Canary Islands stage of the competition was held in La Laguna in July, at the Sala Capitular of the former Santo Domingo convent.
Now Mario will head to Bilbao on 13 and 14 September for the national final at the Bilbao Bakery Forum.
From Santa Úrsula to the national final
The award recognises Mario’s work with artisan bread, sourdough and speciality loaves, and puts Mario Bakes among the bakers competing for national recognition.
The finalists will have to make loaves and baguettes live in front of the judging panel, following the competition’s requirements.
The winners will compete for the Dir-Informàtica Stars of Spanish Bakery, awarded in bronze, silver and gold categories.
It’s a nice bit of recognition for an old-fashioned trade that, thankfully, seems to be having something of a comeback.
What can you actually buy?
If you want to try Mario’s bread before he heads to Bilbao, you don’t have to go far.
His breads are available at Lalacena de la Bodeguita in Santa Úrsula, next to La Bodeguita de Enfrente and opposite El Calderito de la Abuela.
The shop also serves pastries, preserves, gourmet products and ice cream, so it’s not exactly a case of popping in for a loaf and leaving empty-handed.
There are torrijas, walnut and requesón tartlets, berlinas and croissants, among other things.
And then there’s the sandwich
One particular mention goes to the crystal bread sandwiches, filled with roast pork shoulder, tomato and rocket.
You can add a touch of chilli if you like.
That sounds like a pretty decent reason to make the trip to Santa Úrsula on its own.
The shop is currently open every day from 9am until 3.30pm, making it possible to stop by for breakfast, lunch or simply to pick up one of Mario’s award-winning loaves.
Among the breads available are the Volcanic, organic wholemeal, Lías de vino tinto, focaccia, Mario Bakes, crystal bread and Semillas de Luxe.
Tenerife’s bakers are making some noise
Mario wasn’t the only Tenerife baker recognised at the La Laguna competition.
Zulay won the award for Best Overall Baker, while Yeremy Sevilla of Panorama Bakery Coffee in Adeje took the prize for Best Baguette.
So while Tenerife might be better known for its wine, cheese and potatoes, there’s clearly some serious work going on with bread as well.
And if Mario Bakes comes back from Bilbao with one of those national awards, we might have to stop calling it a local bakery and start taking the bread very seriously indeed.