Memento, Madrid

[Spud]

I've received an email from Karen, chef/owner at Memento, to say that due to continuous "red tape issues" with the local council she's going to have to close the restaurant. It's sad that someone who has tried to do something a little different in Madrid has been brought down by bureaucracy. The capital is hardly teeming with Californian cuisine. Let's hope that Sudestada manages to get through its own fight with the council. I think they finished fitting out there new space in Calle Ponzano about a year ago and still haven't been allowed to move in.

Anyway, that's the bad news. The good news (for the opportunists among us) is that there will be a fire sale this Sunday and Monday (19/20th). I've been told that everything must go. Wines will be sold off at cost price (see www.restaurantememento.com for the full list) and all reasonable offers will be accepted for cutlery, crockery, furniture, chefs' hats, little blue plasters for your fingers.

The only thing not available will be the Thermomix, as my wife has her eye on that. In the event of a bidding war, there will be only one loser: me! I've been told I have to bring it home whatever happens.

Happy bargain hunting.

[Carlos Piqueras]

As far as I know, Sudestada's problems are definitely solved, so they will open next autumn, probably in September.

[Spud]

As far as I know, Sudestada's problems are definitely solved, so they will open next autumn, probably in September.

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Carlos, I hope it's true this time but the people in Sudestada seem to have developed a standard reply to customers' questions over the last year which always seem to involve them moving "next month or possibly the month after". They seemed to be genuinely worried that they were going to go under before the move was completed as the combined payments of rent on Modesto Lafuente and mortgage on Ponzano were crippling them.

It seems odd that in these financially difficult time the local authority should seem to be picking on two of the better restaurants here. Karen says she doesn't know what she's going to do next but whatever and wherever it is, it won't be in Madrid.

[vserna]

The Madrid municipal government is a total disgrace with their attitude to restaurants and gastronomy-at-large. They persecute people who are prime movers of tourism and business income for this city. Miraculously, Diverxo has been able to overcome its own massive problems with City Hall and to move to its new location. Meanwhile, Sudestada not only is prevented from moving to its new premises but is slapped with a huge fine for having stayed open too late one night. I'm sorry to see Karen give up. She was an asset to this city.

For Spanish readers, here's what we recently had to say about this unholy mess:

http://elmundovino.elmundo.es/elmundovino/...icia=1242117837

[Pablo Carrion]

That's really a shame. I can only relate to her as I also closed my restaurant

in december after battling with the council for over 4 years.

We often discussed the difficulties we each had and tried to mutually boost morale.

Recently serge and maria have also closed pancake. Too bad how inept the local govt is here.

It really makes you want to take your business elsewhere.

The Madrid municipal government is a total disgrace with their attitude to restaurants and gastronomy-at-large. They persecute people who are prime movers of tourism and business income for this city. Miraculously, Diverxo has been able to overcome its own massive problems with City Hall and to move to its new location. Meanwhile, Sudestada not only is prevented from moving to its new premises but is slapped with a huge fine for having stayed open too late one night. I'm sorry to see Karen give up. She was an asset to this city

For Spanish readers, here's what we recently had to say about this unholy mess:

http://elmundovino.elmundo.es/elmundovino/...icia=1242117837

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