Bullfights! San Fermin! Food! Yippeeyieyay!

This weekend one can find bulls in Tulare (Saturday) and Stevinson (Monday). I might go to Stevinson (it is the Hilmar D.E.S festa). Tulare is just too far to drive. The Stevinson ring is a good one, and the cartel is Eddie Costa of Los Banos and Cesar Castaneda of Tijuana. Castaneda is capable of good work, but he is uneven. I was very enthusiastic about him a number of years ago, but the last few times I saw him I was less than satisfied. Someone told me that it was a goring that challenged his nerve. Maybe so, but many others bounce back after a goring. I have always liked his attitude in the past and he seems to have had technique.

Meanwhile, for those of you in the area (or willing to travel) please mark your calendars for my annual San Fermin barbecue and party on July 10th in sunny Oakland, California (in the neighborhood where Gertrude Stein grew up in, Jack London lived for a spell, and one of the Wells Fargo founders lived). I cook food from the areas of the world where bullfighting flourishes: Spanish, Basque, Portuguese, Catalonian (nyah, nyah, nyah you limp-wristed animal rights creeps in Barcelona, stronghold of Commies and heretics), Camarguese, Mexican, Californian, Bourdeaulaise, Peruvian, Venezuelan, Colombian, as well as the food of Greece and Italy (historic nod to the taurine contributions of the Minoans and Romans). The fun starts at 4pm and goes late into the night (paella is served at midnight). For out of towners, there is crashing room in our place (nothing luxurious, we are talking about a patch of floor after the coveted couches are snagged), and we can probably quarter folks in friends' places as well, if need be. In the morning we can have breakfast and walk to the Latin Mass (either Tridentine or Novus Ordo, both Latin, both reverent).

The traditional dress for San Fermin is white with a red sash and bandana. I am usually the only one so clad, so obviously it is optional. Feel free to bring musical instruments, although I have plenty of Iberian and bullfight-related music on CD. At some point we will probably look at some bullfight videos, for those who are interested. I don't have a huge collection, but I have some good ones.

The usual crowd is an interesting mix of folks, from radical Berkeley leftists to radical Berkeley rightists. We even have had Libertarians show up. As long as they appease the Jefe with offerings of wine, they are tolerated. No one else should feel the least bit obligated to bring anything but an appetite (except for actual Commies. They need to appease the Jefe as well - this Jefe can be bribed. If you want a clean and noble saintly Jefe, you will have to look to Francisco Franco. I am more like Nixon in a funny hat. Very bribable).

One note: the sangria is stronger than it seems at first. Go easy on it!

If you want directions or would like to reserve one of the coveted couches (at three am I cannot guarantee anything, but can try to remember who has dibs on the best perches. I will have been cooking for something like 14 hours straight, though), please drop me a line! All St. Bloggers are invited. For out of towners who would like one of my tours of the Bay Area, please plan on staying through Monday, as I will be too tired after mass on Sunday to show people the sights (other than the gelateria or the taqueria, as the last thing I will want to do is to cook).