JesusBarquin

Sorry, but no cheese nor yogurt in the real quesada pasiega. Butter, flour, eggs, sugar and a bit of lemon peel are the main ingredients. I have never cooked it, but have eaten hundreds since I was a kid. It is a plate that should be eaten very soon after baked, even a bit warm still, as it lacks freshness quickly. This is not the case of "her brother", the sobao pasiego. The best place I know for eating it, apart from some of my uncle and aunts' home, is Restaurante México in La Vega de Pas. Casa Olmo, in Ontaneda, sells also a very good version. Both in the province of Santander, of course.

Thanks, Ian

Sorry, but I have not tasted that turbot. The other main courses you have mentioned, yes, and I agree with many of your points on them. BTW, let me add frankly -not only to you and not meaning to be unkind- that I find a little bit annoying not knowing the name of the person with whom I speak. ¡Salud!

It is, indeed. Excuse me, but I guess you are mixing two different wines. As far as I can recall (20 or more years ago), Solera 1842 has been always a sweet oloroso, blend of old oloroso with PX (more or less, 60 g sugar). It is very good, to my palate, although I prefer Don Gonzalo or Solera de Su Majestad, which are quite drier.

I forgot: Regarding Iris/Iberos, I prefer the first (which is also a bit more 'modern'), but my last meal there wasn't as good as previous experiences. Regarding price, more or less the same: around 25/30 EUR a three courses meal without wine.

Right. Right, but I prefer them "a la plancha" Right Munida rugosa. A lot of information in Google. Sorry, but I am travelling in minutes. You're welcome btw and have a nice stay in Granada.

Then you should probably choose Iris or/and Iberos. Do not forget to tell us your view, please. FM is indeed "a lot" seafood oriented, and the right place to eat delicious unadorned marine monsters... But, in case you do not plan to eat crustaceans, a plate of RAF tomatoes (possibly the best you can find anywhere), and a couple of dishes of Espardenyas and Puntillitas, followed by a couple of dried Bacalaíllas would do very well. Together with a plate of Invasores, that was our last meal there a week ago. The place is to my mind a must. Buen provecho.

Do not miss Can Bonay in Peratallada. Many other interesting places in the Empordà: Pedro will tell you, as he is sort of the 21st century spirit of Josep Pla, Do not miss either el Celler de Can Roca, ask Josep Roca to serve you a whole menu, paired with the convenient wines (and remind him to let you taste some fino or manzanilla sherries in it!: those are almost the only perfect spanish whites, ) Have a nice stay!

"Lack of hunger"! Excuse me, sir, but I do not understand such notion... Ain't you the new Sancho Panza?: "I drink when I'm thirsty, and when I'm not thirsty, and when it is offered to me, so as not to look either finicky nor unmannerly". ("bebo cuando tengo gana, y cuando no la tengo, y cuando me lo dan, por no parecer o melindroso o mal criado") Don Quijote, 2nd book, Chapter XXXIII.

Ed, if no one has heard of it, no one could tell you... Well, sorry for the obvious joke. I agree with Víctor's recs: Fermando de Castilla and Tradición produce very good wines and, given that you mention Lustau, it is interesting that El Maestro Sierra used to be an Almacenista that worked for Lustau: the excellent Oloroso Almacenista Antonio Borrego came from the same soleras that today give the Oloroso Viejo 1/14 by El Maestro Sierra. Regarding medium and cream, they are not my favourite styles but in this cathegory there are several outstanding old wines that I guess you know well, such as (from less sweet to sweeter, more or less): Palo Cortado Apóstoles (González Byass), Oloroso Solera India (Osborne), Oloroso Sibarita (Domecq), Oloroso BC 200 (Osborne), Palo Cortado P Triángulo P (Osborne), Oloroso Solera 1842 (Valdespino), Oloroso Matusalem (González B.), and many others, by Williams & Humbert for instance. Do not hesitate to ask my/our opinion about any other sherry wine. Most times it is easier to comment on a concrete basis of what is actually available to you. In a recent congress in Granada, a Sherry Cream was very nicely paired with a sweet cheese dessert by Manolo de la Osa.

Agreed again, Bux. A balanced new way to present traditional tapas at a very nice crossing street, not only for a foreign's eyes. Perfect place to sit down and enjoy a long menu of tapas and different sherries (all by Domecq, btw, but that is not a major issue, as it is an excellent producer).

If you eat all this three dishes you will have no room for the rest of the trip. ← Well, you know Roge, life is not only joy and singing. Sometimes even we, the frugal people, must sacrifice our principles for the advance of knowledge, But believe me that is the menu anyone should order at Restaurante México. And I bet few people will resist the temptation eat it all. You see? Salivating again I am!

Another secret place, where I have eaten consistently year after year since I was a kid, more than 30 years ago: Rte. México in Vega de Pas - Cantabria. You have to drive there: the landscape from Vega de Pas to Las Estacas de Trueba (sources of the Pas river) is really beautiful and astounding, as well as the landscape around Selaya and Villacarriedo, and around San Roque del Río Miera. There are a lot of little places to eat good lechazo (babylamb) and cocido montañés in the area, but México is my choice. I think that their lechazo is not oven-baked, but low temperature stuffed. Anyway: delicious! I have not gone back there for a couple of years, but will certainly go next summer. I am already salivating... Have in mind that the place has little, if any, charming, but a 3 courses meal there is unforgettable if you ask for: Cocido montañés, lechazo and quesada pasiega.

I'll read it with pleasure. I like Jerez much, too, and in general agree with your (and Bux') remarks. The last time I went to El Gallo Azul I found the tapas a little below the usual level. I am happy to know that it was just the day.

I strongly support both recs, those are quality restaurants, but also kids friendly. In aq, they organize even culinary experiences for children. Bibi at La Fonda Emilio, and Ana & Quintín at aq are very nice people. Do not hesitate to comment with them any doubt regarding children, timetable or anything similar. Disclosure: I am good friends with these people.

I would also stay in another's area hotel, for the same reasons alleged, but in the Sants neighbourhood there are a couple of interesting places, such as the very "tasty" and "authentic" Carrer de Vallespir, where you can visit such a very interesting wine and delicatessen shop such El Celler de Gelida (number 65), or have a delicious breakfast or lunch at an also genuine bar more or less at the number 40 odds. Maybe it is this one: http://fotos.qdq.com/h/ad?type=f;ville=034...f/;interactif=1 but I am not sure. If you see some butts of wine on the left when you enter, that is. In this bar I had some months ago a healthy brunch of roasted artichokes, escalivada, pa amb tomaquet, anchovies, rovellons, eggs, beer and coffee, while talking about wines and wineries with the owner of the above mentiones Celler de Gelida. This meal made me happy,

You should not miss Oriol Balaguer, IMO. I recently ate his 8 Textures of Chocolate and it is unforgetable.

In fact, not many things have changed in Granada. More or less the same as always: most are not-so-good restaurants, but here are some interesting places: Chikito, Iris (though the very last time a bit disappointing: it's difficult to maintain a good level with a low level of customers), several tapas' bars... Among them, the FM bar. I had been at FM several times, but always with my wife, who is allergic to crustaceans (maybe that's the key) and never was as impressed as many other people in whose good taste I trust. But a couple of months ago I went with a colleague of the University of Granada who is a great gourmet. He told the owner to give us to eat the best he had: the meal was simply marvellous. Now I think that this place definitely deserves a visit for itself. In any case, in Granada there is also the Alhambra, what is not a minor reason to come over... Well, I know, let's forget about: it isn't eatable, nor drinkable,

Well, I'll give you some input since I see Jesús hasn't responded yet. I'm sure he will have a lot more info than me - after all, he lives next door! ← Thanks for the capote, Víctor. Neighbourhood! Let me doubt that I could have more info than you in any gastrotopic, southern ones included... Judith, AFAIK the clues of the question have been told by VS: mainly, lack of coincidence regarding the future of the restaurant between the owners and the chef. There always may be personal issues and others, but it's not kind to speculate about them. By the way, playing recently with some friends the which-was-your-best-restaurant-meal-of-2004 play, I found out that, had we not dined at El Bulli, probably a meal at FM in Granada would have been my favourite one. Everything extremely fresh and delicious, mostly seafood (quisquillas, cigalas, espardeñas, pulpo seco, ortiguillas...; I'll try to translate them later). So, Judith, I would encourage you not to miss Granada next time you come over Andalusia. Anyway, I plan on going back to Tragabuches as soon as possible, as well as to Gran Hotel Meliá in Marbella, of course.

You might also take into account that Dani García, former chef of Tragabuches (Ronda), works now at the Hotel Meliá Don Pepe (Marbella), not far from Estepona.

Just two lines to say hello and to promise some comments afterwards: now I must hurry up at work! Meanwhile, maybe someone is interested in the chronicle by our friend Gastronauta about the same dinner published in a thread at Squires': http://fora.erobertparker.com/ubb/ultimate...804.html#000000

Well trusted, Robert, and... Of course you are guilty!

Haven't eaten at Restaurante Victor, but agree that Di Vinum is a very good choice in Sevilla, and not only because of their outstanding wine list, prices and service.

Very good indeed, to my mind, the list by Saborosa. I would add maybe a dozen interesting tapas' bars (some day...), but I must insist now in Restaurant Iris (Martínez Campos, 8; tel. 958 53 68 47): have eaten there four times in the past six months and I think it is nowadays the best choice in Granada for any gastromaniac.

I live in Granada, but I have not eaten there: the references I've got about this restaurant are not good. They may be wrong, of course.