They will be able to taste it indefinitely in the restaurant that Victor Valenzuela runs in Viveiro
The list of “octopus medalists” also includes the athlete Adrián Ben, a resident of the town
“It is a humble way of recognizing their effort,” the Portuguese hotelier told NIUS
He woke up one day and read that an Indonesian bar was offering free coffee for life to badminton gold medal winners, so he thought: “ Well, a Galician will have to be offered octopus free for life” Thought and done. The innkeeper Víctor Valenzuela has made his purpose come true: Galician medalists in Tokyo 2021 will be able to taste this typical dish whenever they want at their restaurant in Viveiro, in the Portuguese region of A Mariña.
”For the values that transmit in a close and honest way, motivating future generations illusion for elite sport” So reads in the statement made public by the hotel business the reason for the initiative. Victor specifies in his conversation with NIUS even more why: ” See what they do, see them compete, how they express themselves and, ultimately, how they are. Just seeing them excites. They have made me experience these Olympic Games in a different way, ” he acknowledges.
Adrián Ben too, ” who is from home ”
This professional from the natural hospitality industry of Xove, also in the province of Lugo, has run the restaurant O Muro de Viveiro for 14 years. He tells us that he already has the ” octopus medals ”, by way of humble memory: ” They will have the shape of the cephalopod, anagram, the logo of the restaurant and also of the Concello de Viveiro ”. The distinction will also be accompanied by a personalized card that he will deliver to each of them: “I still can’t show NIUS anything because I just ordered them and they are making them for me,” says Víctor.
The gift does not expire. It will be free and for life: ” Whenever they want, it will be a pride for us. Now they are in a lot of trouble between training sessions, tributes … ” says Víctor, getting an idea of what the days after being an Olympic medalist must be. On the 4th the restaurant announced that the distinction would go to Ana Peleteiro, Teresa Portela and Adrián Ben, and now the list is completed by the rest of the winners. Even so, remember the professional of the sector that ” winners, they are all those who were there ”.
At the fair, on the grill or with prawns
A la ‘feira’ following the tradition, grilled or in a clay pot accompanied with prawns. The Champions they can choose the mode of preparation they want. In the business it is one of the specialties, although they are not far behind with the scallops arriving from the port of Cambados as fresh as the octopus that arrives directly from the fish market. They claim to serve quality even in the dressing: “My father was from Lopera, in Jaén, and the oil comes from there.”
Almost everyone has already answered, “ surprised and grateful ”
They give their word to accept the invitation as soon as they can, and it seems an honor: ” But the honor is mine! ” Valenzuela insists after receiving a response by private Instagram message. “With Ana Peleteiro, Adrián is already talking so that he can come as soon as he can.” For Victor this it is not a marketing campaign, because he assures us that “ whoever enters the town, almost stumbles upon the place, and this is something that comes from the heart”.
Hunger is the only thing they must carry
In short, this is how it would look the equipment to sit at the table with toothpick and wine from the country (a popular saying in Galicia ensures that the octopus should not be served with water): Nico Rodríguez, Carlos Arévalo, Rodrigo Germade, Iván Villar, Rodrigo Corrales, Ana Peleteiro, Teresa Portela and Adrián Ben. Eight diners they will have octopus like post-workout recovery whenever they want. Or if you prefer, on rest days.
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