Rogelio

I've seen this that might be of interest.

The Week of Februry the 13th, 2006 Fernando Point takes a visit to Middle Class Restaurants praising two good examples: La Castela and Fábula. Alvaro Lerena discovers Pinchos del Norte a new tavern specialized in basque style tapas. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Exotic Brochettes El País Jose Carlos discovers Enrich a modern restaurant in the luxurious Moraleja enviroment that encloses the recipes of a sensitive gourmet . La vanguardia 5 a taula visites the traditional Can Rafael in Barcelona. El Correo Rafael García Santos pays a visit to Es Molí den Bou an ambitous restaurant in Mallorca. RGS also praises the kindness properties of the plancha cooking technique Others Caius Apicius writes about the much talked Adrià's Manifesto.

The Week of Februry the 6th, 2006 Fernando Point visites two gastronomic shops with a restaurant in their premises: Lavinia and Semon-L'Indret. Alvaro Lerena discovers Odre y Hogaza a fast oven-food restaurant in Ibiza stret. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Brochettes El País Jose Carlos Capel pays a visit to Amparito Roca, Guadalajara's top rstaurant is better than ever with a true respect for the local products and cooking. La vanguardia 5 a taula visites Ibai a modern ostería in El Garraf area. El Correo Rafael García Santos pays a visit to Balzac in Madrid where Andrés Madrigal has settled dow for good. Others Caius Apicius elebrates his 25 years as a critic writing about the imagination without food

The Week of January the 30th, 2006 Fernando Point reviews a bounch of Italian Trattorias that are hiting the spot: La Piazzetta, Boccondivino, Per Bacco, Casa Marco, Vecchia Milano and La Nonna. Alvaro Lerena discovers Taberna Algorta a tapas bar in northern Madrid with a wide tapas selection. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Pumpkin. El País Jose Carlos Capel pays a visit to De La Riva, the epytomous casa de comidas. La vanguardia 5 a taula visites Chicoa the barcelonian temple of Bacalao (codfish) El Correo Rafael García Santos pays a visit to Ca L'Isidre, this product driven restaurant in Barcelona is as good as ever. Others Caius Apicius takes his view on Tasting Menus.

It's really a wide and strange trip the one you are going to do, many of them are suburban and residential areas so I'm going to give you some recos for some of them but bear in mind that others like Toledo, or Alicante have been well reviewed here, you'd better try a serch. Here we go: Leon: Vivaldi is the best (michelin starred) local restaurant with a unmissable tapas bar at the entrance. Logroño: Bar Tahití in the (famous for tapas) Laurel street serves great comfort food and a superb tortilla. Another good option is La Taberna del Tio Jorge in Galicia 11 St. Vitoria: Sagartoki (Prado, 18) is the best modern Pintxos (Basque tapas) bar in Vitoria, good product and great technique. Pozuelo: Bodega la salud is the place, simple food with superb product, great meat, good fried peppers and a delicious tortilla and croquettes. Talavera: Bar Mingote is a bit hidden but worth the search to taste good local product simply prepared. They own also a seafood restaurant (if you miss it so far away fro the sea) called El Esturión. Lugo: La Barra serves delicate seafood, terrific meats and dilicious desserts. Villagarcia near there, Casa Boveda in Carril is one of the best seafood restaurants in Spain, weel praised here by Victor. Burgos: El Ángel, c/ Paloma, 24. serves castillian food with a modern aproach and a good wine list. Cadiz El Balandro is a big bar with a few tables where they serve incredible cheap tapas with very good product. Murcia Virgen del Mar in the cosy Plaza de Las Flores serves delicious seafood and shellfish simply prepared. I don't want to abuse so I'll leave some cities for the rest.

The Week of January the 23rd, 2006 Fernando Point visites the new location of the classic Korynto continues serving seafood as fresh as ever. Alvaro Lerena discovers the hiden seafood tapas at El Puerto in the popular Moratalaz area. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Besugo La vanguardia 5 a taula visites the new and interesting AQ in Tarragona. El Correo Rafael García Santos pays a visit to the curious and personal Taberna Zaharra in Bergara, the Basque Country.

The Week of January the 16th, 2006 El Mundo's Metrópoli magazine Fernando Point visites Las Tortillas de Gabino a modern tavern with great omelettes. Alvaro Lerena discoversLa Colonial de Goya, a cosy tapas bar in the Salamanca district. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Baby Scallops El País' El Viajero Jose Carlos Capel pays a visit to Sudestada, the most authentic asiatic restaurant in Madrid. La vanguardia 5 a Taula pays a visit to the renewed Colibrí. El Correo Rafael García Santos visites Gaig in Barcelona, where Carles Gaig shows his techinc and catalanicism. RGS also praises the wonderful Sicilian gastronomy Lo Mejor de la Gastronomía Rafael García Santos discovers L'Escalata in Alicante where the new generation leaded by Kiko Moya is taking the plac of his father. Others Caius Apicius cries the shortness of Caviar

Just a few more recs: - Tasca Angel C/ Estameñería Vieja, just a few meters from the Mercado Central is a delicious spot on the wall serving wonderful sardines at ridiculous prices. For a top tapas place Taberna Alkazar in Mosen Ferrandes serves superb seafood and a few simple dishes at high prices. The locals usually buy in neigbourhood markets like El Cabanyal, with better prices than Mercado Central and very close to it you can Find the above mentioned Casa Montaña where they serve good tapas with a great wine list.

The Week of January the 9th, 2006 El Mundo's Metrópoli magazine Fernando Point visites Casa Piluca a classic tavern keeping the essences of the old Madrid. Alvaro Lerena visites the centenarianCasa del Abuelo where the garlic prowns are as good as ever. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Roasted Kid El País' El Viajero Jose Carlos Capel visites Zaranda, the new restaurant in Madrid leaves the critic with mixed opinions. Capel also recomends Living in London a tea saloon with nice english dishes in Madrid. La vanguardia 5 a taula visites Ottimo, an atractive italian restaurant in Barcelona. El Correo Rafael García Santos visites La Terraza del Casino in Madrid where Paco Roncero is more than the ebassador of Adrià in Madrid. Others Caius Apicius writes about his New Year proposes.

The Week of January the 2nd, 2006 El Mundo's Metrópoli magazine Metrópoli starts the year with their traditional Madrid dinning awards 2005, being the winners: Restaurant of the year Winner: LA BROCHE. Finalists: El Mesón de Doña Filo (Colmenar de Arroyo) and Casa José (Aranjuez). Best newcomer Winners: (Ex Aequo) El Antojo and Zaranda. Finalists: Asiana and El Patio de Leo. Tradicional Restaurant Winner: Asador Imanol. Finalists: La Lonja (Pozuelo) and Asturianos. Foreign restaurant Winner: Yuán. Finalists: Boccondivino and Petit Bistrot. Outskirts of Madrid Winners: (Ex Aequo) El Mesón de Doña Filo (Colmenar de Arroyo) and Casa José (Aranjuez). Finalists: La Lonja (Pozuelo) and Urrechu (Pozuelo). Up-and-coming chef Winner: Ricardo Sanz (Kabuki) Finalists: Fernando del Cerro (Casa José) and César Rodríguez (El Antojo). Best maitre d' Winner: Leoncio González (Txistu) Finalists: Fernando González Ortiz (Yuán) and Ángeles Giménez (Nicolás). Best sommelier Winner: Juan Antonio Herrero (Lágrimas Negras). Finalists: Manuel Rosell (Bodegas Rosell) y Gerardo Giménez (Gaztelupe). More than a restaurant Winnerr: Nueva Fontana. Finalists: Asiana and Lavinia Espacio Gastronómico. interior decoration Winnerr: Lágrimas Negras. Finalists: Arola Madrid and Europa Decó. Tapas / Wine bar Winner: El Quinto Vino. Finalists: El Fogón de Trifón and El Gorro Blanco. Gastronomic shop Winner: Raza Nostra. Finalists: Pastelería Internacional and Supermercados Nativo. Fernando Point ends the year discovering Sudestada the new Madrid branch of this asiatic-argentinian restaurat. And acording to the critic the food is authentic, fresh and terrific. Point also visites new and young fussion restaurants like the promising Sushi Olé and Nagoya, and the not so convincing Assia in Wok . Alvaro Lerena visites Prado Cuatro a classic café turned into a tapas bar. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Oriental Lobster El País' El Viajero Jose Carlos Capel discovers Loft 39 a faraonic bistro in the Salamanca area of Madrid. La vanguardia 5 a taula visites Magatzem to discover that is much more than a traditional food house. El Correo Rafael García Santos pays a trip to Torrijos in Valencia to prove that the restaurant is moving in the good direction. Lo Mejor de la Gastronomía Rafael García Santos revisites Mugaritz in Rentería, Guipuzcoa and explains the downgrade that this restaurant has suffered in his guide. Xavier Agulló writes about Fabian Martín a surprising pizza restaurant in Llivia, a catalonian city located in France.

The Week of December the 26h, 2005 El Mundo's Metrópoli magazine Fernando Point visites the classical seafood and beef places that are still up in the list of the old madrileñians, places like Alborán, La Dorada and Casa Juan remain he essences of the traditional dinners. Alvaro Lerena visites Ene a creative restaurant in the old Latina area. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Tiraditos, the peruvian speciallity. Metropoli also list the restaurants serving the traditional New year's eve dinner El País' El Viajero Jose Carlos Capel discovers Coure the newest and most talked Barcelonian restaurant La vanguardia 5 a taula visites Jaime Drudis a honest restauranteur in Torredembarra Lo Mejor de la Gastronomía Rafael García Santos visites La Sucursal in Valencia, the sensible restaurant placed at the IVAM Museum. Others Caius Apicious ilustrates us about historic hens

Please, try a search at previous threads like: Tapas, Akelare, Arzak and Mugaritz San Sebastian recomendations big and small

The Week of December the 18th, 2005 El Mundo's Metrópoli magazine Fernando Point visites the renewed Boccondivino, this sardinian restaurant has a new decoration and is as good as ever. Alvaro Lerena visites El Pescador, the most traditional tapas bar serving fried squids in the Puerta de Toledo area. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Beef Tongue El País' El Viajero Jose Carlos Capel discovers Llantén a promising restaurant in the outskirts of Valladolid. EPS magazine includes an interesting article about the biggest four Cava families. La vanguardia 5 a Taula pays a visit to L'Excellence the best restaurant in Andorra La Vella. El Correo Rafael García Santos visites Europa Decó in Madrid where Joaquín Felipe is doinga very sensible job. Lo Mejor de la Gastronomía Rafael García Santos visites El Celler de Can Roca where the Roca brothers are cooking better than ever. Others Caius Apicius writes about the Cava wines that he is going to drink on christmas.

The Week of December the 12th, 2005 El Mundo's Metrópoli magazine Fernando Point discovers Dominus the new restaurant runned by Antonio and Mateo ex-Cuenllas cook and maitre d' is a foodies destination. Alvaro Lerena visites Gabi Etxea a basque tapas bar in the new Camilo José Cela street. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Beef Cheeks El País' El Viajero Jose Carlos Capel discovers Azurmendi in the outskirts of Bilbao where the young Eneko Atxa is becoming one of the most promising cooks in the Basque Country. La vanguardia 5 a Taula pays a visit to Hofman where May Hofman is creating a cooking school and a great restaurant at the same time. El Correo Rafael García Santos visites El Real Balneario in Salinas, Asturias where they serve superb product with great cooking technic. The guide Lo Mejor de la Gastronomía writen by RGS has been very polemic this year due to the downgrade of very famous restaurants as it is been said here Lo Mejor de la Gastronomía Rafael García Santos visites Sant Pau where Carme Ruscalleda is cooking better than ever. Others Caius Apicius writes about Gastronomic photography

The Week of December the 5th, 2005 El Mundo's Metrópoli magazine Fernando Point discovers Oam Thong a hiden Thai restaurant with authentic dishes. Alvaro Lerena visites Según Emma a tapas bar near the Plaza Mayor. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Kidneys El País' El Viajero Jose Carlos Capel visites the renewed Boccondivino, a wonderful sardinian restaurant in Madrid. La vanguardia 5 a Taula pays a visit to L'Esguard and define the cuisine of Miguel Sánchez Romera as unique in the world. Lo Mejor de la Gastronomía Rafael García Santos visites El Poblet where Quique Dacosta is growing as a superb cook and califies him with the highest rate 9,25. Others Caius Apicius writes about the VII Lo Mejor de la Gastronomía Congress

The Week of November the 28th, 2005 El Mundo's Metrópoli magazine Fernando Point discovers Zaranda, the best new opening in Madrid for 2005. Alvaro Lerena visites the moving Taberna de Cospiradores now located in the traditional Cava Baja. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Pig Trotters El País' El Viajero Jose Carlos Capel discovers La Mifanera in Bercelona where they are cooking some of the best rices and not only the traditional paellas. La vanguardia 5 a Taula pays a visit to the traditional Casa Joana in Barcelona, praising the food and charming owners. Sara Sans informs that november is the best month to buy fish on the friday's market section. El correo Rafael García santos visites Rio Asón in Cantabria after Enrique galarreta passed away, his wife and daughters have taken in charge of the kitchen and is as good as always. Others Caius Apicius writes about Carme Ruscalleda's 3rd Star The Lo Mejor de la gastronomía VII conference is reviewed as well as the news and awards of the event in their page. Also Calima, Dani García's new haunt in Marbella is reviewed in the same page. And this is available in english.

I've been to Casa Consuelo wich is a crowdy road restaurant with good product and superb fabada, and L'Alezna, a nice and modern hard to find restaurant near Oviedo. I've heard good reviews about Juan de la Tuca which is a navarrian restaurant runned by two sisters with good codfish dishes. Taverna Viavelez closed a few months ago.

Exactly.

It is what it seems, ETA is a terrorist and gangster band that not only kills but also blackmails the basque companies including chefs (remember last year scandal) and wineries, bear in mind that a big part of Rioja DO is in the Basque Country (Rioja Alavesa). Shame.

The Week of November the 21st, 2005 El Mundo's Metrópoli magazine Fernando Point discovers Mombay an indian fussion restaurant at affordable prices. Alvaro Lerena visites A 2 Velas an original tapas bar in the Malasaña area. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Cocochas de merluza (hake cheeks). El País' El Viajero Jose Carlos Capel revisites Koldo Miranda a terroir restaurant located in Castrillón (Asturias). La vanguardia 5 a Taula discovers El Racó in Sant Climent de Llobregat where they are crazy about cherries. El correo Rafael García santos visites Andra Mari in Galdákano to see that Isidro Arribas, their new chef, keeps the esence of the restaurant. RGS also writes about octopus. Others Caius Apicius claims for a proper sherry stem istead of those awful catavinos. The Michelin stars are here, find the upgrades at El Periódico. El Mundo publishes it's traditional Wine issue

Bada Herrero seems to be the most consistent producer, maybe you can contact (985 845919) and visit them.

Pie azul (blue feet)

The Week of November the 14th, 2005 El Mundo's Metrópoli magazine Fernando Point discovers El Chile Verde, a modest mexican restaurant in the Moncloa area. Alvaro Lerena visites Taberna Maripepa halfway between a comfort food restaurant and a tapas place. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Patatas a la Importancia a classic castillian potatoes stew. El País' El Viajero Jose Carlos Capel discovers Casa Marco, a secret trattoría serving the best truffles with wanderful prices. La vanguardia 5 a Taula discovers Can Vallés, comfort food in the centre of Barcelona. El correo Rafael García santos visites El Llar de la Campana in Asturias, the joint venture of Nacho Manzano and manuel Bobes fussions tradition and modernity. RGS also criticises the obssesion for the wow in every single dish of the young creative cooks. Others Caius Apicius praises the wonderful Very Old Sherries And if anybody wants to chat with Adrià, Berasategui Dacosta or Andrés...Here's the chance at Lo Mejor de la Gastronomía Congress web page. And The Wall Street Journal includes an interesting article about Bilbao and San Sebastián.

Many has been said about the wines from Priorat, fruit bombs, mineral wines that they were going to fall down in few years, ultra expensive bluffs... But they were very original wines with real caracter and some of them really outstanding. despite it's price L'Ermita is one of the world's best greenache wines. Some of this things were right, but not as a whole. The best producers are still the five original clos (Mogador, Dofí/L'Ermita, Martinet, Clos de L'Obac and Clos Erasmus) and a few following bunch like Mas Doix and El Vuit. Albeit all the names mentioned above it surpriese me that none has written about Rene Barbier and his Clos Mogador, one of the finest and until last year relatively afordable. The 2001 is one of the best spanish wines that I have tasted.

The Week of November the 7th, 2005 Fernando Point has been eating Tapas and gives the best selection in Madrid: Txirimiri, La taberna de Laredo, Asturianos and Taberneros. Alvaro Lerena discovers the last ultrafashion tapas bar in Zetacafé. Top Metrópoli goes for the best restaurants serving Morcillo Jose Carlos Capel visites Entrebastidores a promising restaurant in Zaragoza runned by chef Cristina Palacios. El País includes a tapas guide through Cadiz 5 a Taula, the gastronomic critic group, pay a visit to Coure the new Barcelona sensation. Rafael García Santos visites El cenador de Amós in Villaverde de Pontones (Cantabria). Caius Apicius writes about Cheeses.