Rogelio

I haven't comented it because there was no point. Giving credit to Michelin in Spain is not knowing the spanish gastronomy. They seem to have a different scale to measure the restaurants in every different country. When will the Roca brothers get their third star? What about the second for Ca Sento? etc.

I agree with you, that sweet wine sucks.

Sandly this branch has closed. It was away of the dining routes and the dark setting didn't help bringing new patrons.

Bob mentions some of our all time favourites. In and around the area where you're staying: - La Ancha (behind the congress) is a family runned restaurant serving comfort food at it's best. - Europa Decó, in the ultra modern Urban Hotel is one of the top restaurants in Madrid nowadays. - Casi en Huertas: It's a very modern and fashion tapas bar and restaurant with a superb wine list. - Las Bravas, la Trucha and el Abuelo in the Santa Ana square surroundings are some of the classic tapas bars that every visitor to Madrid should try. - Casa Lucas, El Tempranillo and Orixe are three of my favourite tapas bars in the traditional (and now rediscovered) Cava baja street (Same as Julián de Tolosa) Enjoy them

There is always a chance to compose a half portions menu with the dishes that you want. My advise is to keep close to the traditional and product focused dishes. And the wine list is worth a drink.

El Serval, La Mulata, Cofiño, El Nuevo Molino are among my favourites, but all of them are worth the visit in very different price ranges and styles.

Re Cantabria: In Santander bay area: El Serbal Calle de Andrés del Río, 7. Santander. Tfno: 942 222 515. Bar del Puerto Calle de Hernán Cortés, 63. Santander. Tfno: 942 21 93 93. La Cúpula del Rhin Avda. de la Reina Victoria, 153. Santander. Tfno: 942 27 43 00. La Bombi Calle de Casimiro Sainz, 15. Santander. Tfno: 942 21 30 28. Machinero Calle de Ruiz de Alda 16. Santander. Tfno: 942 31 49 21. Bodega Cigaleña Calle de Daoiz y Velarde, 19. Santander. Tfno: 942 213 062. Zacarías Calles de Hernán Cortés, 38 y del General Mola, 41. Santander.Tfno: 942 21 23 33. El Marucho c/Tetuan 21. 39004 Telf. 942 27 30 07 La Mulata C/ Andrés del Río Tfno: 942.363.785 Out of the city: Cenador de Amós Plaza del Sol. Villaverde de Pontones. Tfno: 942 50 82 43. Casa Enrique Paseo de la Estación, 20. Solares. Tfno: 942 52 00 73. El Nuevo Molino Ctra. Santander-Torrelavega, km. 13. Puente Arce. Tfno: 942 57 50 55 Los Avellanos (942 711642) in Torrelavega. La Presa in the hilly Vega de Pas Casa Enrique in Solares La Villa in Cabezón de la Sal Miramar in San Vicente de la Barquera La Ermita 1883 in Puente San Miguel. Restaurante Pascual Playa de San Martín, Santoña BAR LA FUENTE Nuestra Señora, 8 Castro Urdiales. Teléfono: 942863461 for the anchives and spanish tortilla Casa Tomás, Ogarrio de Ruesga Joseín in Comillas Hostería Calvo in Puente San Miguel outside Torrelavega And another recco from vserna in this very site:

It is not in Barcelona, but in Arenys de Mar, a few miles North of Barcelona.

Kathleen, your place is Maruzzella in Raimundo Fernandez Villaverde. A solid trattoria at afordable prices with a good selection of pizzas.

Casa Solla in the outskirts of Pontevedra and Casa Marcelo (there's a review somewhere here in eG) in the very centre of Santiago de Compostela are my current favourites. Other Highligts are Pepe Vieira in Sanxenxo and Playa Club in La Coruña.

Hi all, We have spent a week in Sicily the last week of September. The trip was great but we made the mistake of trying to see the whole island in just one week, we didn't realize how big and hilly the island can be. We started in Palermo, a decadent city that we loved. The street markets, like in all Sicily, are great. Somewhere between Africa and Europe but with superb and affordable product. Vuccira market is fin but overly touristic. Our favourite market was Il Capo. We had good meals in trattorias like Ai Cascinare, near this market, where we had very good comfort food, a sperb caponata and good pasta al nero di sepia, but nothing outstanding. Othre good direction was La Cabussa in Piazza Marina where we had good fish though overcooked and superb pasta con le sarde But the best single dish that I've had had in Sicily was the cous cous. I had read a lot about sicilian cous cous before but you really have to try it to believe it. We made all the way to San Vito lo Capo to visit the Cous cous fest, sponsored by Slow Food, that was taking place on those dates. We had a great version at the Kous Kous café. Next step was Piazza Armerina where we had lunch in La Ruota, another Slow Food recomended trattoria, close to the roman ruins, where we had a superb rabbit stew. Then to Siracusa/Ortigya where we had a reasonable good meal at Da Mariano And an awful dinner at La Foglia, we were told that they were famous for cooking vegetables but everything was bad conceived and worst executed. The market at Ortigya is cute and tiny, but with very good product. We found the best markets in Sicily to be the ones at Catania Then we moved to the very touristic Taormina, were we had a wonderful dinner at Le Naumachie a product focused restaurant runned by the young Francesco and serving with superb fish cooked at the very perfect point. Something not that easy to find in Sicily. But I failed to pcture it. Just one special mention for the Modican Chocolate:

Eskina and El Ancla do admit reservation, and in Altamirano is easy to get a table in weekdays, weekends is busier.

It is touristic but there are a few interesting spots: Altamirano in the Plaza de Altamirano is a fun, crowded and popular bar and restaurant specially for seafood. Eskina is an small joint, just six tables, serving interesting innovative cooking in the very centre of Marbella. El Ancla in San Pedro de Alcántara is an interesting restaurant to try the popular espetos de sardinas.

Viridiana would be more adventurous and Santceloni the more classic. La terraza's menu starts with a fire works tasting and ends with real food. La Broche would be in the middle of all these. Take a look at their web sites and choose.

Both are very good, more in the Adrià nueva cocina style. In fact La Terraza is Adrià's asisted Madrid branch and Sergi Arola, from La Broche, was formed at El Bulli.

Santceloni serves catalan influenced haute cuisinne. Viridiana on the other hand serves creative fusion cooking based on traditional cuisinnes from all over the world.

I'd go to Viridiana, they usually have amazing menus paired with great wines for those special evenings. If you read spanish here's a comprehensive list.

Sorry, In Spanish

Thanks Ian, great report. I tend to think that Hilario's cooking is better in autumn and winter during the game season. He's also a master of sauces. And not as good with modern influenced dishes.

I'm also heading to Sicily next month, and I'm taking notes of all the reccos that you're doing, so please keep them coming, and not only in the West, Agrigento, Siracusa and Taormina are in our itinerary too. Thanks in advance

Black cod and yoghourt.

You're right Victor, it was argan oil. It tasted like almond, and like you I didn't like it much.

Try Hofmann in Barcelona: http://www.hofmann-bcn.com/

Yes, that will be fine. Don't worry.

Average cost is about 100€. And thay have just opened this new branch and now it's not difficult to get a reservation, it will be harder in a couple months.