No, not the rather lacklustre political jockeying of Spain's PP and PSOE candidates (dubbed the 'Race of the Number Twos' by racy regional rag The Olive Press). But the much more important callos conflicts to be experienced in two of Granada's finer tapas bars even as the PP's Mariano Rajoy takes up the premiership.
Make no mistake, callos or tripe is Man Food. The English translation of the Wikipedia page gets straight to the point. Guts. It's the kind of stewy chunky thing you'll find steaming in a battered pot over a two ring hob in a campesino kitchen on a chilly winter day. But just as likely to be served in a white tablecloth restaurant in the yuppier parts of Madrid, the city that claims a special affinity to the dish.
Fred is a Man, so he loves this stuff. But tonight he's a Perplexed Man. He's pondering the purist version of callos served up at Bar El Mercado today - suitably savoury and farmyard-y, certainly, but sternly presented with just a few beans in its innocent beige gravy. He remembers the more playful version he ate a few weeks ago at Granada's groovy Bar St. Germain. It sported chickpeas and - wait for it - red hot chilli flecks. And his heart (and stomach) are more inclined to this cheeky newcomer. (Maybe better not to mention his heart and stomach in this context).
I think someone should find out immediately how Mr. Rajoy concocts his callos. If he messes with the original recipe, he might have other pesky innovations up his sleeve. But if he likes his offal without waffle, then he's a man of the people and will lead Spain back to solvency through austerity.
Do you have a favourite callos recipe? And what goes in yours?
