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The restaurants I've been to!

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Alexandria » Thu Apr 11, 2019 11:27 pm

Thursday Evening the 11th of April ..

This is our last evening in the Madrid Capital, as we are going
home on Friday afternoon.

Our dinner was at our favorite Italian Restaurant
in Spain:

Ristorante Da Giuseppina
The Madrid Capital

Our starter was Burrata di Bufala i Pummitori (tomato)
similar to what is called
a Caprese Salad.

Our main which was prepared for two, was, The
Calamaretti Ripieni Con il Suo Intigolo, which is
Stuffed Calamar stuffed with Italian Red Prawns.

We had a lovely Prosecco to top off the
amazingly sensational regional Italian cuisine we
shared.

The sins of delight for dessert were 2 desserts
which we shared, The Tiramisú and The
Cannolo Siciliano with Sheep´s Milk Ricotta
and Sicilian Marsala.

In our opinión, it is the best Italian Restaurant
on the Iberian Peninsula and the most
authentic as all the products are bio and naturally
grown in Italy.

The ambiance is like a historic woodsy truly Italian Ristorante with shelves
filled with wine bottles, Italian olive oil bottles and the gourmet Italian deli
provide a traditional touch .. Truly, one almost believes that they are in Italy.


Have a lovely evening. :wino
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby karadekoolaid » Fri Apr 12, 2019 2:44 am

I´m awfully envious of you all.
I don´t think I´ve been out to a restaurant in Caracas for about 5 years; thanks to the glorious robolution. And now we have a far more sinister addition to the tale: power cuts. We had another one on Tuesday evening, which, in many parts of the country, meant 12 - 20 hours without electricity.
Add insecurity, lack of petrol, little or no water supply and a government that only cares about itself, and you have a recipe for " Let´s stay home tonight".
When I first arrived here, in the early 80s, we used to go to a different restaurant every week. Caracas was blessed with some excellent restaurants, especially French Cuisine. Jean Provost managed the Gazebo as if he were in Paris. Competition was fierce, so each restauranteur made a special effort to welcome you. There was an area in the city ( La Candelaria) chock-a-block full of Spanish Tascas - we´d go there on a Sunday and browse our way through tapas, fine wines, excellent seafood. Venezuela has a huge Italian community, so there were a myriad of Italian restaurants, from the simple home-made comfort foods to the height of Italian gastronomy. There were Chinese restaurants on every corner; but one, in particular, was truly phenomenal. Best Peking Duck I have ever eaten. The owner would spend 3 months every year travelling - mostly to San Francisco and to China - to learn new recipes. And the Grill/Meat restaurants were amazing; even though I eat very little. The attention was always first class; it was common, if one were a regular customer, to get a complementary Scotch on arrival.
These days, it´s all turned to dust. Even McDonald´s is empty.

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Alexandria » Fri Apr 12, 2019 9:07 am

Karakoolaide,

Thank you for sharing this with all of us, who may know very
little about Venezuela or just travelled there years ago, and / or
had spent some time there.

Our company has a lovely Lady Venezuelan Lawyer ..
She has revealed similar ..

Truly, time for a change on the political front.

I am pleased that Spain has taken in uncountable
Venezuelans in the last few years, and the majority are established
in professional sectors now and / or returned to universities.

Their case Asylum, is handled in a special way and they have
received their residencies (NIE Residency Cards ) quite rapidly.

Have a lovely weekend.
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Alexandria » Mon Apr 15, 2019 7:54 pm

Monday the 15th, Lunch ..


Santiago de Compostela, Galicia ..

The Abastos Market ( Mercado de Abastos )

A true gem of a Central & Farmer´s Market.

The highlight here, is the fresly caught baby octopus served
on a wooden board with Galician Cachuelos (Potatoes) dressed
with Smoked Pimentón (Smoked Paprika from La Vera) and a drizzle
of Evoo and a sprinkle of sea salt .. And to pair, an Albariño grape
mono varietal White wine.

Brothers Marco and Iago who run Abastos 2.0, "sort of a true traditional Galician bar,
sort of a hole in the wall, providing a time of yesteryear",
that forms part of the Market, are keen to serve up the freshest wild shellfish,
seafood and vegetables on a daily basis.

Definitely a true treat !

Have a nice evening. :thumbsup
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Alexandria » Tue Apr 16, 2019 8:23 pm

Tuesday .. 20.10 ..

Santiago de Compostela ..

Santiago de Compostela is a vibrant food destination
with an intriguing history and a unique culture all its own.

Today lunch with the Tourist Group was at
Restaurant Enxebre, at the Santiago de Compostela
Parador Hotel, which was originally built in 1499 and
served as the city´s hospital.

The Menu for Peregrinos ( Pilgrims on The Santiago Walk is 20 Euros per person.)

The Group Rate is 30 Euros a person and The Gourmet Carte is 43 Euros per person.

Lunch today started with an exemplary selection of appetisers:

Vieira a la Gallega ( wild sea scallops ) Served on seashells.
Empanada Gallega ( a Galician pastry filled with a variety of fish, onion, red bell, tomato )
Octopus a Feira ( baby octopus served on a wooden board with Cachuelos (Galician Potatoes) & Smoked Paprika (Pimentón de La Vera).
Fresh Wild Clams and Fresh Wild Oysters ..

My main was:

Wild fresh turbot (rodaballo) oven baked in Albariño White Wine.

My Dessert:

A cheese and fresh seasonal fruit board.
The cheeses were: Arzua, Cebreiro (shaped like a Chef´s Hat, 60% Raw Cow Milk & 40% Raw Goat Milk ) and Smoked Da Costa San Simon.

Absolutely Extraordinary ..

Have a lovely evening.
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Alexandria » Wed Apr 17, 2019 5:26 pm

Wednesday the 17th - 17.00

With all of the coastal inlets of the Rias Baixas, the horizon has
the same broken shape as the coast. Isolated, saw tooth
headlands intermittenly pierce the lines of the confined sea.

With the variable climate ( now 10 Centig degrees) and
foggy, and the vaporous clouds and snippets of fog, the
fishermen were crossing the sea. Amongst the route south
from A Coruna, to Pontevedra, the sea tide is coming in
and the the long sand beaches to one´s right and the green
hills to one´s left going south.

Lunch brought us to:
Casa De Baron
The Parador Network Hotel Restaurant
In Pontevedra Capital.

The Paradise of classic wild fish dishes, set in
a stone Manor House furnished in its época.

Lunch was:

Appetiser: The wild grilled baby squids (chipirónes) ..
Served with made on the premises
Ali oli.

Main: Wild Sea Bass served on a bed of Galician
field greens called "Grelos", indigenious to Northern Galicia.

Dessert: An Easter dessert called a "tor ri ja" (tor ri ha)
which is similar to a French Toast, however,
the nuances are:

The Bread: Raisin Bread or Torrija Egg bread are used.

The Sauté Treatment: Evoo ( not butter )

Wine: It is dipped in egg and wine ( not milk )

Sprinkled with cinammon and powdered sugar.

Quite splendid once a year !! :wave

Have a nice evening. Happy Holidays.
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Alexandria » Thu Apr 18, 2019 5:53 pm

Thursday 18th.

The Cíes Islands, Galicia.

Intact despite their proximity and being ignored for years, despite their
breathtaking beauty, these three gems were one of Spain´s best
kept secrets on the Ria Vigo. Now they are renowned for
their National Park and one of the hottest destinations
in both Galicia and abroad.

As with most coastal inlets of the Rias Baixas,
the unspoilt virgin beaches are bountiful.
Rodas Beach is a 1.200 Metre long White sand
beach that links the islands of Monteagudo
and O´Faro.

These islands are a true Paradise of cliffs, White sands and
clear dark turquoise and royal blue Waters.

For centuries the three islands, that make up the
Cíes Islands were home to Monks, provided a base
for the pirates and later a base for lighthouses on
the treacherous coast.

Unpopulated since the XX Century, and separated
from Vigo´s industrial coast by two narrow
stretches of sea, the 1970s have made them
a comeback destination.

Relatively protected, from the burdens of modernity,
the islands have been conserving their marine
life and terrestial treasures.

The only way to reach the Cíes, is by Ferry or
boat .. There are no hotels, no beach promenades,
no fashionable chefs, no luxuries.

There a few shoreline beach bars and a campsite.

The number of visitors has had to be limited by
The local Galician Government to protect the islands.

The shellfish available are:
Goose Neck Barnacles
Octopus
Crabs
Mussels
Turbot

Rodas and Dos Nenos Beach
are breathtakingly beautiful.

Vigo´s Galician Shellfish Bars was our
destination for lunch ..

Have a lovely day and holiday season.
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Gillthepainter » Fri Apr 19, 2019 9:23 am

I feel you need your express your love of holiday trips on a thread, Member 461.
Where you and others can have a narrative about the places you take your tours to, and holiday destinations we visit too. With extraordinary food.

If you want to start one, I'll move your recent posts over for you.



Back to those restaurants I've been to.
Tonight, I've booked the new brasserie in town, the Ivy.
I've been to the original in London, and was frankly disappointed. But my boss was paying ;) - funny how you can find yourself valuing things less when they are free.
I felt the same about Roules, when Tony and I went, and we were paying. Roules left abiding memories of being stuffy and rude.

It will be nothing like those old school places, and the menu is modern.
The only report I've heard is the portions are tiny. https://theivycheltenhambrasserie.com/w ... AM_WEB.pdf

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Alexandria » Fri Apr 19, 2019 8:30 pm

Gil.

Shall do ..

Thank you for the suggestion and the
assistance in relocating the posts.

Sorry to hear that you had an
unpleasant restaurant experience.

Have a lovely Easter holiday weekend.
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Joanbunting » Sun Apr 21, 2019 4:53 pm

Mannu came up trumps with lunch.
Amuse bouche was chicken and green peas en gelee - flavoured with tarragon

Starter was a creamy egg with green asparagus and wafer thin pieces of olive oil cooked bread, Our friends had white asparagus and grvadlax

Mains were either aberdeen angus beef fillets with a rich red wine jus with artichokes and baby potatoes. M had rack of lamb with asparagus and other spring veg and discs of cruchy poato discs. I had monk fish with fresh morels and baby vegetables.

One of us had a local cheese selection, another roast pineapple with pina colada icecream. M had a chocolate and orange filled canneloni with orange sorbet and I had local strawberries on featherlight tuiles with lemon balm cream and icecream.
Cooking for those you care about is the most profound expression of love - Anne-Sophie Pic

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Alexandria » Sun Apr 21, 2019 5:35 pm

Joan,

Sounds extraordinary. :thumbsup :thumbsup

Joyeuses Pàques. :wave
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Gillthepainter » Mon Apr 22, 2019 8:35 am

Was the choco and orange cannelloni pasta, or pancake Joan?

Didn't get to the Ivy after all.
My table was booked just a little late in the evening for us, so I moved the reservation by 2weeks, at a more reasonable time for us.

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Stokey Sue » Mon Apr 29, 2019 10:59 am

Stokey Sue wrote:Thinking of getting another Thai cook book, Baan by Kay Plunkett Hogge, I’ve seen a few recipes and they are well explained, she grew up in Thailand but now lives in London so well placed to teach Brits Thai cooking

Just bought it because I checked and the Kindle version is 99p at the moment. The hardcover version is down to £11.99, I’ve a sneaking suspicion Kay will be at sStokey literary festival so doing my homework

Just looked though it, love her writing and the recipes look very easy to follow as long as you have a wok and are prepared to use it

She lives in W London, so no unobtainable ingredients. The o lay thing I don’t have to hand are the lime leaves, easy enough to get

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Joanbunting » Mon Apr 29, 2019 2:20 pm

Gillthepainter wrote:Was the choco and orange cannelloni pasta, or pancake Joan?

Didn't get to the Ivy after all.
My table was booked just a little late in the evening for us, so I moved the reservation by 2weeks, at a more reasonable time for us.


It was a tuille Gill so a crunchy sweetish wafer-thin tube.

Shame about the Ivy but If you are like us eating late just doesn't do these days.
Cooking for those you care about is the most profound expression of love - Anne-Sophie Pic

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Renee » Mon Apr 29, 2019 2:28 pm

Sue, I saw packets of fresh Kaffir lime leaves in Sainsbury's yesterday.

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Stokey Sue » Mon Apr 29, 2019 3:21 pm

Thanks Renee
Easy enough to find in London, but I’ll check the big Sainsbury if I go in

In the past I’ve done well with supermarket packs containing lime leaves + galangal + Thai chilliest etc. I suppose expensive per 100g but enough for me over a few months, and very convenient

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Joanbunting » Mon Apr 29, 2019 8:41 pm

We are apparently going to research a newly taken over locall place for lunch on Friday.
it is getting good reviews from locals as well as on line so we'll just have to see.
Cooking for those you care about is the most profound expression of love - Anne-Sophie Pic

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Gillthepainter » Tue Apr 30, 2019 8:35 am

Thanks Sue. I've put it on my mobile phone kindle app.
I see she has a few noodle recipes - great!

We get used to late on holiday, but not restaurant eating.
Our resto time in 7:30 usually. Eating time at home is 6pm.

Enjoy that new restaurant. My next meal out is 11th May.

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby WWordsworth » Wed May 01, 2019 8:29 pm

We are a bit later than that, usually between 7.30 and 8.
I remember having a conversation about it with my late FIL.

He was astonished at how late we eat.
He had his meal at 5pm, and it moved to lunchtime once he retired.

I explained that we were unable to eat any earlier because there was nobody in the house to start the cooking until after 6 :roll:

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Re: The restaurants I've been to!

Postby Alexandria » Wed May 01, 2019 9:14 pm

My, good luck in Spain.

We eat 5 times a day !

Breakfast: We have breakfast at 6am - 6.30am.

11am Café Break at one of the Bars by our office.

14.30: Lunch - a 3 course meal and our largest meal of the day
during the week. This is our most important meal of the day and
includes legumes (a bean dish) and a salad or fish or protein based with
a vegetable and a salad or a Catalan rice dish or a classic Italian pasta dish or Risotto,
or Japanese, one of our favorite foreign cuisines ..

From time to time, we go for Moroccan, French or Lebanese or Greek.

18.30 - 19.30: Merienda, a café or wine and a tapa or light sándwich
called a " montado " ..

Dinner: Monday - Thursday, we eat very little at night. We share a tapa
and have a wine at 21.00 - 21.30 ..

Weekends, we eat dinner at 21.30 - 22.00 depending on where we are
and if we are alone or with close friends or family ..
Barcelona, soulful & spirited, filled with fine art, amazing architecture, profoundly steeped in culture & history, and it engages all your senses, and food fancies.

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