Seaside Gazette » food

Ventura Flamenco

David Darby — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:38:20 +0000

Quite a few people have mentioned to me just how much they have enjoyed the Flamenco evenings at La Ventura in Almuñécar.
Well now, it’s going to be bigger and better! With the patio to the rear of the premises having had a stage installed, there will now be live Flamenco music and dance every Thursday and Sunday from 20.30h.
They are even putting on a special menu for the Sunday show.
So, if you want to get down with a bit of Spanish tradition and culture, pop along any Thursday or Sunday evening.
With their extremely popular menu del dia, and now these Flamenco evenings, no wonder La Ventura is becoming the place to be seen!

Father’s Day Laureles

David Darby — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:35:57 +0000

Sunday June 20th is Father’s Day, and to celebrate, Mark is creating a five course menu for just €15!
So don’t let the old fella down by missing out this year, book early and make this Father’s Day a special one for the dad in your life.
You can also catch the Los Laureles team at the Feria Gastronomica where you can sample some of the fantastic dishes available in this special Almuñécar restaurant. They will be at their stall daily on 11th, 12th and 13th June.

It’s Gastronomy Time

David Darby — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 17:32:17 +0000

It’s June, and that means it is once again time for the Feria Gastromónica (Gastronomic Fair), in the Majuelo Park in Almuñécar during the weekend of 11th, 12th and 13th.
Those of you who have been to this event before will no doubt be paying another visit, and if this is one of the annual ferias you have not yet visited, then you are in for a treat.
Dozens of small stalls are set out in the park, each being run by one of the top restaurants in the area. You’ll see most of the names that are familiar to Gazette readers, as a great many of them advertise with us.
Joaquin from Chamboa de Joaquin in La Herradura will be there, as every year, with his giant paella and barbeque food.
With each stall trying to outdo the next with the very best of their dishes on display, we, the public get to benefit and taste some truly exceptional tapas or raciones.
Definitely worth a visit, especially if you haven’t experienced this event before.

Volunteer Kitchens

Dave Nichols — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:58:38 +0000

My apologies to those of you who volunteered the help with the proposed project to help feed the unemployed. Deathly silence from the Town Hall. Nothing. I’ll keep pushing, and if I hear anything, I’ll get back to you all.

Great Gallinero

David Darby — Sun, 02 May 2010 08:21:19 +0000

Driving out of La Herradura on the N-340 towards Cerro Gordo, I realised I hadn’t been for a meal in the fantastic Gallinero for quite a few months! A colleague of mine has been recently and took her family along, reporting back the food was as good as ever, with chicken dishes to suit every taste.
When I took my daughter to eat there, I can still remember how much we enjoyed the Honey Glazed Chicken dish.
But what I really love about the place is Margarita, the owner and sweetest front of house person you could ever meet. Against the odds, and through extreme adversity, she has made this great little restaurant the success it is today.
Even with the fun ‘chicken theme’ of the place, it doesn’t detract one iota from the standard of the food or service.
If you haven’t been there, or haven’t been in recently, get over there and have a bit of fun (especially in the gents toilets!), Margarita has a smile for everyone that comes through the door, and even based as I am now in Almuñécar, I will be over there very soon!
Gallinero, La Mezquita, N-340, km 307.3. La Herradura. Tel. 958 618 109. Open Wednesday to Saturday from 1900, Sunday 1300 – 1700. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Zarcillo

David Darby — Sun, 02 May 2010 08:06:00 +0000

All you lovers of good food and fine wines are in for a special treat with this place. Situated on the Paseo de la Esplanada in Motril, Álvaro and Manuel have managed to marry tradition and modernity to create a spectacular restaurant.
At this point, I must confess to just going there and having a couple of beers with accompanying tapas. But I did have a walk around the dining area, which is beautifully decked out with carefully chosen artwork, and an intelligent feel for interior design, and the food coming from the kitchen looked spectacular.
But, as I mentioned, I haven’t actually eaten there, so here is a little bit of input from our good friend, Heloise Nolan, who is lucky enough to have sampled the food:
A well thought out small menu in Spanish at present, although the owners say they will be getting a translation into English at some point in the near future The menu is changed four times a year through the seasons. Nouvelle Cuisine, so big eaters may need to have a starter, main and dessert to fill up on but all are delicious and extremely well presented. The present menu has a wonderful, slow-oven-cooked duck leg, which just falls off the bone and is presented with fruit sauces or try the baby lamb legs placed on a bed of shell pasta, drizzled with a mustard and sweet sauce.
If you are a fan of desserts then you will be in heaven as their delicious range has plenty to choose from. Don’t be afraid to ask for potatoes or vegetables, as we are training the restaurant to add additional side dishes
The Zarcillo restaurant has at last managed to raise the bar several notches here in Motril and their restaurant has some lovely touches to the decor and the overall presentation and service is excellent.
You can rest assured readers, it will not be long before I force my wife to treat me to a meal here, and if you beat me to it, we’d love to hear what you thought. I for one am very excited that such a top venue should appear in Motril and let’s hope the owners get all they deserve from such a venture.
If you want to have a walk around the place, without actually going there, check out www.restaurantezarcillo.com it’s fantastic!
Restaurante Zarcillo, Paseo de la Esplanada 2, Motril. Tel. 958 824 887 or 635 945 769 or 686 455 992.

Restaurante Dante

Mette Owens — Sun, 02 May 2010 07:51:47 +0000

Everyone should be as lucky as I am – I’ve got one of the very best Italian restaurants in Almuñécar at my doorstep. I am ecstatic that Ciro Guarrancino decided to re-open his Restaurante Dante again after a 7-year hiatus.
He and his food are as Italian as Italian gets! He is originally from Naples and has been in the restaurant business his whole life. It’s no wonder he knows what makes his customers happy. One of Ciro’s specialties is his pasta dishes, which vary from spaghetti with fresh clams in a white wine sauce to handmade pappardelle (similar to fettuccini) in a porcini (mushroom) sauce. He also serves delicious vegetarian lasagna with special béchamel sauce, flavoured with nutmeg, cloves and bay leaves.
His selection of pasta dishes is vast and all are simply divine. Another specialty is his thin-crust pizza. They taste so heavenly because he bakes them in a clay oven (not in a mould as most places do) and only uses 100% mozzarella. Naturally, he offers a variety of fresh fish and meat on his menu as well.
However, unlike many restaurants, all his main courses are garnished with fresh, wedged baked potatoes and tossed stir-fried mixed vegetables (no frozen veggies here!). Both the food and the prices are fantastic. Two people can easily dine for a total of €20 – drinks included. Almost unimaginable but true. His prices are unbeatable. In fact, he has actually reduced his 2003 prices by 30%. Next time you are in the Cotobro area, do yourself a big favour and visit Restaurante Dante. You can enjoy the perfect Italian meal seated inside or outside. You deserve it. Located at Paseo de Cotóbro, Edif. Los Ramos 7, Almuñécar. Tel. 697 864 385

Super Spar

David Darby — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:41:49 +0000

Have you been down to the Spar shop in Calle Bikini, Almuñécar lately? If not, you really should do. The shelves are jam packed with brilliant items you would only normally see in the UK, although they do have plenty of goods from Scandinavia as well.
Normally, you have to plan your food trips around the bread shop, followed by the fruit and veg shop, then you have to chose where to get all the other stuff… well take a look at Spar next time. You can purchase fruit, veg and all those ‘hard to find’ items you miss so much, as well as your daily fresh bread.
The other thing to remember is that if you don’t see what you want on the shelves, have a word and Dave will make sure he gets it in for you next visit.
If you want that wider range of stock, at competitive prices on those difficult to find items, then get yourself down to Spar.
Spar, Calle Bikini 3, Almuñécar. Tel. 26 467 655.

El Chaleco Easter

David Darby — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:38:50 +0000

Every year Renaud and Lydia come up with something special for Easter, and this year is no exception.
From the 31st of March you can partake of their Easter six course menu which is available for just €24.95. Lydia told me she is expecting a lot of people to take advantage of this Easter treat, so make sure you book early!
El Chaleco, Avenida Costa del Sol 37, Almuñécar. Tel 958 632 402 email elchaleco@terra.es elchaleco.com

Los Laureles Spring

David Darby — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:31:31 +0000

Well, the clocks have gone forward, so it must be officially Spring at last, and as we dare to put all thoughts of that rain behind us, we can now look forward to the fantastic new Spring Menu at Los Laureles.
With exciting dishes that include Rack of Lamb, or if you prefer fish you could try a beautifully prepared Hake dish, although, these are just a couple of the culinary treats available, so you should really pop up to Los Laureles in La Ribera Baja, Almuñécar and check out the full Spring menu.
Mark and Sandra assure me that Fridays will still feature the constantly changing Weekly Tasting Menu, and of course the popular Menu del Dia is still available.
Los Laureles, La Ribera Baja 14, Almuñécar. Tel. 958 069 132 or 691 909 267. www.loslaureles.net