No sooner arrived than fed. Our first action was to have a menu del dia as soon as possible to refresh the hardy travellers. And the Maratime did not disappoint as starters of mussels were devoured with relish and Ceri was able to have his much anticipated rabbit as a main course.
The short walk along the beach paddling our way past the hordes of holiday makers was one of the rare times that I actually got sea water on my body.
The real irritation was that the print of Venice was not hanging in place to greet Ceri and Dianne. To rub salt into the wound Mary phoned up to say that her print had come back from the framers and was looking splendid! With one of those touches of irony that almost never happen outside of the pages of badly constructed novels my framer phoned up almost immediately afterwards and we two went post haste to get it.
Ceri approves of the frame (which is a relief!) and it now hangs in the living room – directly opposite the large charcoal of the cleft in the rocks. Most satisfactory!
Our late dinner was in the Argentine restaurant after a frustrating period of trying to find a taxi. We went through the entire (six entries) list of taxis in Castelldefels before we found one firm that was prepared to answer, let alone provide a vehicle.
We sat at a table for four – the only available table for four – and were able to watch others turn up and find nothing. Considering we did not book we took a certain risk but our luck held.
Which is more than can be said for the venue. I have been here twice before the first time with Irene when our appreciation of the food was limited by the amount of cigarette smoke. We appeared to be the only people in the place not to indulge. We vowed never to go there again. And that vow would have stood but for the enlightened legislation in Spain which banned smoking in enclosed places. We ate our next meal exultantly, secretly sneering at those around us as we imagined their frustration at being unable to blow their noxious fumes about!
Imagine my horror when I noticed an ashtray on the table!
The restaurant has responded to the legislation by opening up the entire roof! The material had been concertinaed to one side and therefore the restaurant was officially outside and consequently smoking was permitted.
I think that their action frustrates the intention of the act and makes a mockery of the legislation. Luckily only a few inconsiderate people smoked, but I will still be disinclined to go back there.
After some discussion of the advisability of having starters we decided to go straight on to the main meal. I have to say that it was a bloody good thing that we did so. Certainly in my case.
For the first time for years I ordered veal (putting firmly out of my mind the way in which it was produced) covered in breadcrumbs and then further covered by layers of ham and cheese.
When the dish finally arrived I was flabbergasted. I am tired of hearing people describe the largesse with which they have been treated in restaurants one has never been to. We are told that an expansive feast awaits us as they describe the amount of food that they were given with all the enthusiasm of a mendacious angler.
I now find myself in that position. Ceri and Dianne had steaks in a creamy sauce and Toni had ribs. When they arrived they were positioned on the plates and they looked appetizing and fully edible. When my dish arrived it was impossible to see the plate as the meat extended from one side of the plate to the other and then overlapped the sides. It was impossible to carry the plate other than by putting the fingers underneath.
For the first few moments I merely stared at the food and gazed at the sheer expanse of cheese covered ham. In the space where there might have been a space it was actually filled with chips.
For almost the first time in my life I was unable to finish my meal and was grateful for Toni taking all the chips which were not “tainted” with cheese and Ceri for eventually finishing off what would be a normal portion of the meat in any other restaurant which I was unable to eat! A truly extraordinary meal.
It reminded me of the sort of meal which you can get in some restaurants where if you can eat all of the meal you can have it for nothing. I would have paid!
After the taxi ride home we were ready for bed and Ceri informed us that we should not be worried if he woke early and went for a walk along the sea front. He told us that he often woke as early as 4.30 am and could never get back to sleep. We explained the keys to use to get out and went to bed.
I put it down to the combination of white, red and Cava that Ceri did not leap up to greet the dawn and made a sheepish entrance at some advanced hour of the morning!
As Ceri is looking forward to a “gastronomic experience” the day started with fresh coffee from the Nespresso and much discussion about whether to purchase one to take back to Cardiff.
We visited (I need little encouragement) our local branch of MediaMarkt and looked at the various machines available. The girl in charge of the section turned out to be an English speaker and directed us to a Nespresso bar where they were giving away a “free” drink. As I tried to emphasise to Dianne as she looked impressed at the gentleman in front of the sleek commercial enterprise with elegant backdrop and Modernist décor that was distribution centre for the coffee, to buy a Nespresso coffee machine was to buy into a life style not just a drink maker.
Having visited the Temple of Coffee in Barcelona which is the marble clad sanctum of Nespresso I can vouch for the fact that drinking coffee is perceived as an exciting life-affirming event nowadays not just imbibing a hot dark liquid for a quick boost!
Lunch (life does seem to be a series of meals now) was in the new Basque restaurant. Drinking in the middle of the day does demand a siesta. Which I had and much enjoyed – almost as much as the meal!
Our dedication to the Ruta de las Tapas only resulted in one extra tapa stamp being entered on Irene’s sheet – we went to La Fusta and had our usual round of “proper” tapas and had a thoroughly satisfying meal.
At some time or other I will have to do something other than wake up and then start eating – no matter how delicious the temptation may be. To say nothing of drinking too!
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