Birds are for summer

The lightest, most nutritious, tasty and versatile meat is served grilled and with a Spanish accent.

Madrid, June 6, 2025The coals are ready, the tables are filled with friends, and the kitchen relaxes without losing a single bit of flavor. Summer invites us to eat better, lighter meals, with local produce and dishes that adapt to the rhythm of long days and endless nights. And in that equation, Spanish poultry, certified with the Aves de España quality seal, is positioned as the star product of the summer.

For all these reasons, AVIANZA, the Spanish Interprofessional Poultry Meat Association, invites you to rediscover the benefits of chicken, turkey, and quail during the summer season: healthy, light, nutritious, economical, easy to prepare on the grill, in the oven, or cold, and perfect for sharing at any summer gathering, from an informal dinner to a meal in the garden.

And since action speaks louder than words, AVIANZA wanted to once again celebrate its traditional barbecue, where grilled poultry took center stage. The gardens of the Bancal restaurant mansion were the perfect setting to enjoy a top-notch menu prepared by chef Miguel F. Vidal, proving that summer, if it tastes like anything, it tastes like poultry. The entire menu featured nods to Galicia, the chef's hometown, and, as expected, its award-winning empanada (Best Galician empanada at Madrid Fusión 2025) couldn't be missing, which this time was reinvented with chicken and mushrooms.

Poultry is an important source of high-quality protein and vitamins (B3 and B6), with a low calorie and cholesterol content. This white meat is a pillar of the Mediterranean diet and a healthy diet. Highly digestible, it provides phosphorus, iron, and potassium, and also contains essential amino acids for our bodies.

A fresh and fun menu, like summer

The menu kicked off with three grilled dishes: Turkey lollipop with country-style egg yolk and dashi, Chicken skewer with yogurt sauce, and Quail marinated with garlic, honey, and rosemary.

These recipes were followed by a wide variety of savory pinchos designed to reinterpret classic summer cuisine with a poultry twist: from surprising quail and truffle croquettes to turkey meatballs in green sauce, nuggets with mustard and honey sauce, Galician chicken empanada with mushrooms, and, the icing on the cake, a roast chicken filloa with San Simón béchamel and poblano mole, which will be added to Bancal's menu starting next week throughout the summer.

"We want to encourage a return to the essentials, to quality, local, and flavorful products. Chicken, turkey, and quail are a smart and delicious choice for summer. These initiatives are an invitation to enjoy more, cook better, and eat meaningfully," explains Avianza. Spain is one of the largest producers of poultry meat in the European Union, with nearly 1.7 million tons annually and a network of more than 5,000 farms and integrated companies that generate more than 40,000 direct and indirect jobs. A value chain that not only feeds millions of homes but also contributes to territorial balance, rural development, and the economic sustainability of many regions.

This summer campaign not only champions responsible and local consumption, but does so with style, flavor, and creativity. Because if you have something to celebrate this summer, do it with birds.

Turkey lollipop with country yolk and dashi.