The "Guiri" Gourmet

As if we hadn't fine-dined and party-ed enough at the close of this year! And at our age! Blimey! Whatever next? Discos till dawn?

We ate well at home on Christmas Eve and also on Christmas Day in Arriate.

We party-ed on the 27th in Montejaque - a house-warming, planned to dine for the first time at a new-ish Indian restaurant in Ronda

    [LaSexta]

..... tried out a local venta that was new to my wife and ..... and we just saw in the New Year with a delicious "menú de degustación" in Fuente de la Higuera. 

There's still a celebration to come - Three Kings Day on January 5th/6th.

***

Christmas Eve (Noche Buena)

Like most Spaniards do we ate at home. Rita suggested "raclette", so that's what we had. Before the meal we opened presents, typical in Germany, where Rita is from originally.

Read more about our Christmas Eve here.

    [Apartamento Costa Blanca]

Christmas Day (Día de Navidad)

On Christmas Day we took it easy in the morning, phoned our families and got ready to go out for Christmas lunch at El Muelle de Arriate, otherwise known as Frank's.

    [LaSexta]

Frank Röttgering and his chef Isa Molinillo García had put together a fascinating fixed menu. All drinks were included for a total price of 68 euros per person.  Superb food! Great value!

Read more about our Christmas Lunch here.

December 27th (Fiesta de inauguración de una casa)

New arrivals in Montejaque, a  Hungarian/German couple, Kryszta and Karl, threw a house-warming party for the handful of friends and near-neighbours they had already got to know.

We met them shortly after they bought the house, two doors down from Rita's. In fact they visited us for Kaffee mit Kuchen at the end of November.

    [Dreamstime.com]

Karl was away in Germany for Christmas with his family, while Kryszta's son and daughter were visiting their mum in their new home.

We knew most of the people there. There were four other newcomers to Montejaque, whom we didn't know: a Belgian mademoiselle, a French/Spanish man, another Hungarian lady and a Canadian fellah.

All in all it was quite an international gathering:

• UK:               Paul, Jill, John, Steve and Marg
• Germany:     Rita
• Canada:        Kevin
• Belgium:       Karin
• Hungary:      Agi, Kriszta and Ana
• Fr/Sp:           Miguel
• Malta:          John and Lorraine

December 29th 

We had planned to go to this recently opened Bengladeshi restaurant  for the first time with our Maltese friends John and Lorraine who were soon to fly back home on New Year's Eve.

In the end none of us went. You can't go out all the time! We'll do it the next time "The Maltesers" come.

    [Facebook]

Instead Rita and I went to Venta El Pelistre in Llano de la Cruz.

I'd been going here alone a fair bit since my local - the Ronda Valley Hotel - was sold and closed for refurbishment.

[Diario SUR]    

El Pelistre has been a revelation to me, not at all like the old "spit and sawdust" place I used to frequent for lunch years ago when I worked in Arriate. 

Rita chose a tapa of salpicon de mariscos and calamares a la plancha, while I splashed out on a fresh lubina a la plancha con patatas and mixed vegetables.

[OK Diario]    

All washed down with cerveza sin tostada, although I did have a glass of verdejo with my fish. Delicious!

46 euros plus tip = 50 euros!

December 31st (Año Nuevo)

Restaurante La Cascada at Hotel Molino del Puente is one of our favourite dining venues.

The food is first class and mine hosts, Ian and Elaine Love, have become friends over the years.

Their chef, son-in-law Tom O'Connor, is an outstanding cook, with experience on the Costa del Sol and in Tenerife.

Ian, formerly the chef, has retired from the kitchen and now runs the bar and helps out with waiting at table.

    Family Photo - L to R: Ian, Elaine, Carly, Tom [Selfie]

He has also established an estate agency, LOVE Viviendas, with daughter Carly, Tom's partner.

Their office is at the hotel.

[Paul Whitelock]    

So, to New Year's Eve. This year the restaurant offered a weekend package with accommodation, breakfast, the New Year meal included plus a guided tour of Ronda and a visit to a bodega. For locals who only wanted the New Year meal the price was 100€ per head.

We thought that was quite pricey, but at least all drinks were included, even a bag of 12 grapes! And it is Christmas-time when prices are loaded in any case.

For those who had stamina, there was a free bar until 3.00 am! We were in bed and fast asleep by then!

    [Turismo de Ronda]

However, the food was outstandingly delicious, and we shifted some alcohol, I can tell you. Well, it was a long stint until after midnight.

We had an amuse-bouche, followed by four platos and a home-made dessert (see menu above left).

Rita enjoyed her glass of cava to start and the various wines which were matched to the food. No cheap supermarket plonk here! 

    Restaurante La Cascada dining room [Spain.info]    

    gravadlax y blinis [Paul Whitelock]                                       ensalada de pechuga de pato [PW] 

    "Darby and Joan" [selfie]                                  tarta de gruyere y cebolla caramelizada [PW]

    ravioli de mariscos [PW]                                  mousse de chocolate y Cointreau [PW]   

As for me, a Type-2 diabetic, who shouldn't drink alcohol at all, I made an exception last night. A beer to start with, then the appropriate wines with each course: rosado de Barbadillo (Cadiz) with the first three courses, a white from Galicia with the fish dish and finally un tinto de Rioja with the carrillada de ternera. I had a nice tawny port after the meal to settle my stomach.

I thought I would most probably regret it in the morning.

Come midnight I had my 12 grapes ready. The idea is that as the clock strikes midnight you try to "polish off" your 12 grapes. If you do, you can make a secret wish for the new year.

I failed miserably to get through my grapes, but I made my wish anyway!

   [Spain.info]

This ritual is similar to the British tradition of whoever gets the wishbone from the turkey or chicken on Christmas Day and snaps it gets to make a wish. And at midnight everybody gets to make their "New Year's Resolutions". It's similar in Germany.

January 1st, 2026 (Año Nuevo)

Surprisingly I had no hangover this morning and nor did Rita. Probably because we drank lots of water over the course of the celebration last night.

***

And something to look forward to in a  week's time .....

January 6th (Día de Reyes)

    [Calendarr]

Links:

Christmas / New Year 2025

Fine Dining at Christmas I - Christmas Eve

Fine Dining at Christmas II - Christmas Day

© The Guiri Gourmet

Pictures:

Apartamento Costa Blanca, Calendarr, Diario SUR, Ian Love, LaSexta, OK Diario, Paul Whitelock, Spain.info, Turismo de Ronda, 

Thanks:

El Muelle de Arriate, Frank Röttgering, Google, Isa Molinillo Garcia, Wikipedia, www.eyeonspain.com, www.help-me-ronda.com, 

Tags:

Año Nuevo, Apartamento Costa Blanca, Arriate, Calendarr, Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, Dia de Reyes, Diario SUR, El Muelle de Arriate, Frank Röttgering, Fuente de la Higuera, house-warming, Hungarian, Ian Love, Isa Molinillo Garcia, LaSexta, Love Viviendas, menu de degustacion, Montejaque, New Year's Day, New Year's Eve, Noche Buena, Noche Vieja, Paul Whitelock, Reyes, Rita, Ronda, Spain.info, tasting menu, Tom, Turismo de Ronda, 

á é í ó ö ú

Christmas in Spain started in earnest two days ago. That was Christmas Eve, a big deal for the Spanish, and also for the Germans. An important meal and for many, Catholics and Protestants alike, Midnight Mass at church.

    [Image courtesy of Apartment Costa Blanca]

In our case we celebrated German-style (my wife Rita is German). A pleasant dinner at home and the opening of presents.

We opted for "raclette", originally Swiss. "Raclette" is a special cheese which is used in combination with vegetables, meat and fish, heated on and under a table-top electric grill on a large "spoon".

It's do-it-yourself, so very informal.

Our raclette grill [Photo: Paul Whitelock]    

Presents

I am very traditional and love to give presents; Rita is the exact opposite. So I had prepared three large bags, one for Rita; one for me from myself; and one for our two cats, Paulinchen and Fritzi.

Rita opened her presents first. She liked the 1000-piece jigsaw featuring a cat that looked like Paulinchen; a Sudoku calendar, but the other things left her cold, eg a dictionary of swear words; an English vocabulary trainer; a purse with a cat on; audio earpieces; fun Christmas specs and Mickey Mouse tissues.

I opened my presents next. I was thrilled with all of mine! (Obviously!)

The cats showed little interest in their Christmas gifts until I lifted a cat snack out. Then Paulinchen came to life.

Fritzi remained asleep behind the sofe.

    Paulinchen checks out her presents [PW]   

Dinner 

We adjourned to the dining room where our meal was set up. A toast to Christmas and off we went.

Loading our "spoons"; putting beef, pork and salmon pieces on the hot plate; chatting away like billy-oh; and occasionally taking a glug of wine (we had a rather tasty Pata Negra tempranillo crianza from 2023 and another Pata Negra wine, this time white and as dry as a bone).

And occasionally we remembered to have something to eat. A salad on the side complemented the meat, fish and vegetables.

Our Pata Negra tinto [Paul Whitelock]

It was a long, leisurely and relaxed meal. Something we've not done for a while.

After a home-made zabaglione for dessert we adjourned to the sofa and watched some telly .....

, ..... before retiring early to bed.

Rita enjoyed it! [Paul Whitelock]    

Links

Fine Dining at Christmas II - Christmas Day

Help me, Ronda - HELP ME RONDA

Secret Serrania de Ronda | The biggest and best guide for where to stay, where to eat and what's on events

© The "Guiri" Gourmet

Pictures:

Apartment Costa Blanca, Paul Whitelock, Secret Serrania, 

Thanks:

 Eye on Spain, Karl Smallman, Paul Whitelock, Rita, Spanish, The "Guiri" Gourmet,

Tags:

Apartment Costa Blanca, aperitif, Christmas Eve, Eye on Spain, Feliz Navidad, German, grill, Karl Smallman, "Lovely Rita", Noche Buena, Pata Negra, Paul Whitelock, raclette, Rita, salad, Spanish, The "Guiri" Gourmet, vegetables, vino tinto,

á, é í, ó, ö

Two days ago, Christmas Eve (Noche Buena), we "fine-dined" at home where my outstanding chef, the missus ("Lovely Rita"), prepared the ingredients for a delightful meal - "raclette".

(See here).

Christmas in Spain [Trip Savvy]    

Yesterday, Christmas Day (Día de Navidad), we broke with Spanish tradition and went out to a restaurant for Christmas Lunch. Spaniards normally spend Christmas Day at home with their families, so most restaurants do not open.

However, the canny proprietor of "El Muelle de Arriate", number 1 on Trip Advisor, decided to offer a fixed menu to his largely northern European clients who live in the area and like to go out for lunch on Christmas Day.

[Photo courtesy of Secret Serrania and Karl Smallman]    

Frank Röttgering, a Dutchman, and his Spanish chef, Isa Molinillo García, who have clocked up more than 10 years at this former railway shed, got it right yesterday, as they invariably always do.

Takings will have been around 1400 euros plus gratuities.

    Frank [El Muelle de Arriate]                                                                                                                                                                                 

"Well worth opening," Frank told us later in his near-perfect English. He also speaks French, German, Spanish and, of course, Dutch.  

Reservations only, there were 20 people present.

The all-in menu with drinks included cost 68 euros per person.

    Christmas Day at Frank's [Paul Whitelock]    

Back to the Beginning

We had a light breakfast and watched the TV News - shocking! Just war, killings and destruction - so we turned the TV off and "pottered about" until it was time to get ready.

We had decided to dress up smartly, as it was Christmas Day. Well, Rita always does anyway, but I am usually sartorially deficient.

I even shaved off my three-day stubble and trimmed my Dennis Healey eyebrows.

   Rita and Paul all dressed-up and ready -to-go [Photos by Paul Whitelock]

We arrived early at the restaurant, so we got a choice of table. We opted for a good spot near a gas heater.

First we were invited to order an aperitif. Rita chose a glass of cava and I went for a copa de Estrella Galicia. Then the "amuse-bouche" came out, followed by two delicious starters. I opted for a glass of Verdejo and Rita un rosado to accompany these titbits.

For the main course I chose a vino tinto de Ribera del Duero to go with my lomo ibérico and Rita stayed with the rosado for her cola de rapé (Monkfish tail).

    cola de rapé [Paul Whitelock]          lomo ibérico [Paul Whitelock]

In between courses we had worked out that 14 of the diners were Spanish, 3 were English, 2 Dutch and 1 German. Somewhat of a surprise! Normally at Frank's, foreigners dominate, as the prices are too high for your typical arriateño.

We learned that the family of six opposite us were well-heeled locals, another couple down the end also. The English couple and the Dutch pair also live locally and are regulars.

Time for our desserts and coffee. Rita had chosen a dark chocolate (85% cocoa) and I went for a slice of almond cake.

    chocolate cake [Paul Whitelock]                            almond cake [Paul Whitelock]

The family of six beside us were from Cádiz. When I began to chat with them over coffee, it emerged that mum and dad now live in Puerto de Santa María, one daughter in Seville and the other three siblings in Madrid.

We told them that we knew and loved all of these places, especially Cádiz City and El Puerto de Santa María.

We also love Seville (in the winter) and Madrid (in the autumn).

Cadiz [Turismo]    

Dad suggested we exchange contact details and that the next time we go to Puerto de Santa María we can meet up for a meal.

A nice end to our Christmas lunch.

Final thoughts

Rita and I both agreed we had enjoyed a fantastic meal. It got even better, as far as I was concerned, when Rita insisted on "picking up the tab"! Her Christmas gift to me.

"Danke schön!"

Links

Bars and Restaurants at or near railway stations in the Serrania de Ronda

El Muelle de Arriate – Restaurant

Fine Dining at Christmas I - Christmas Eve

Help me, Ronda - HELP ME RONDA

Secret Serrania de Ronda | The biggest and best guide for where to stay, where to eat and what's on events

© The "Guiri" Gourmet

Pictures:

El Muelle de Arriate, Paul Whitelock, Secret Serrania, Trip Savvy

Thanks:

Dutch, El Muelle de Arriate, English, Eye on Spain, German, Karl Smallman, Paul Whitelock, Spanish, The "Guiri" Gourmet,

Tags:

68 euros per person, all-in menu, amuse-bouche, aperitif, Cádiz, cava, Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Lunch, Dennis Healey eyebrows, Dia de Navidad, Dutch, Dutchman, El Muelle de Arriate, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Estrella Galicia, Eye on Spain, fixed menu, Frank Röttgering, French, German, Isa Molinillo Garcia, Karl Smallman, lomo, "Lovely Rita", Madrid, Monkfish, Noche Buena, northern European clients, number 1 on Trip Advisor, Paul Whitelock, railway shed, rape, Ribera del Duero, Rita, rosado, Seville, Spanish, The "Guiri" Gourmet, Trip Savvy, Verdejo, vino tinto,

á, é í, ó, ö

For an article with hints about dining out in the Serrania de Ronda this Christmas and New Year, .....

..... plus information about other events and activities in the area, .....

..... please click here.

    [Grow Trees from Seed]

By The "Guiri" Gourmet

Yesterday was St Patrick's Day.

Although I don't have a drop of Irish blood in me, I am 50% Celt, being half-Welsh. I also like Guinness, Murphys and (most) Irish people I have met in my relatively long life.

As a result I often celebrate March 17, St Patrick's Day, patron saint of Eire.

[Photo  courtesy of Wikipedia]    

Dinner at the "Mill"

This year the German missus and I "celebrated" by going for dinner on the re-opening-under-new-management night of the restaurant at Hotel Molino del Santo in Estación de Benaoján (Málaga).

This fine establishment in a refurbished mill first opened its doors as a boutique hotel and restaurant in 1987.

    The welcome sign [Photo: Trip Advisor]

It has been closed since the end of November 2024 and has undergone a makeover. It has always been a favourite of ours for a special occasion.

New "owners" are Carmen and Martin. Carmen is the elder daughter of owners Andy Chapell and Pauline Elkin, who retired in 2023. Carmen was born locally and attended schools in Benaoján, Ronda and San Pedro de Alcántara, before university in the UK. 

Her partner Martin originates from Norway.

Apart from the alterations and improvements, there is a new menu, and a new website, but most of the staff remain as before.  

Andy, Pauline, Carmen and Martin [Jon  Clarke] 

Pre-dinner drinks

The new owners had gone off-duty by the time we arrived. I think they had had a busy lunchtime!

But, we were pleased to see Inma, head receptionist and last night maitresse D. The head waiter, Víctor, was "off sick", but Inma was ably supported by local "girl", waitress Andrea.

There was no sign of Andy and Pauline hovering in the background, keeping an eye on things. They truly are retired!

Nor was there any sign of it being "Paddy's Day". No green décor nor free Guinness!

In the bar we bumped into Paul and Roz, who have a house up the road in Montejaque.

I have known Roz since 2000 when we both worked together in Merseyside. Then, we ended up buying property in said Montejaque. Quite a coincidence, eh? Serendipity?

They now live in Lymm (Cheshire), my old stomping ground before I emigrated to Spain.

Paul and Roz in their new home in Lymm [Manchester World]

The meal

They were not very busy - I counted 11 covers. Apart from us four walk-ups there were two English couples and a group of three "escapees" from Trump's USA.

The first thing we noticed was that the new menu had new prices!

No worries. We both ordered fish goujons in tempura as a starter - very tasty.

Rita went for the solomillo de ternera (beef fillet steak) whereas I chose the dorada fillets (sea bream). Rita's steak was as she wanted it, ie al punto (medium rare). My fish was delightful - baked to perfection.

We washed our meal down with a couple of glasses each of Marqués de Cáceres (Rita) and La Cañada verdejo (me).

Then it was time to pay the bill - a hefty 110 euros - before braving the downpour for the 20-minute drive home.

Endword

Despite the costly bill, we had a lovely evening. From re-acquainting with Inma and Andrea, to bumping into Roz and Paul, plus chatting to an English couple who were staying at the hotel, to the exquisite food.

We were disappointed that the new hosts, Carmen and Martin, weren't there, and that there was no "nod" towards St Patrick's Day.

Also that there were no opening night "freebies".

Nevertheless, a lovely evening.

[Image courtesy of CEXT]    

 
Interesting links:

Couple loves later life in new Hawthorn Grange home

Hotel Molino del Santo under new management

SAINTS COME MARCHING IN!: Award-winning rural hotel Molino del Santo near Ronda gets set for a brand new chapter - Olive Press News Spain

Photos:

CEXT, Jon Clarke, Manchester World, Molino del Santo, Pronto, The Black Farmer, TikTok, Trip Advisor, Wikipedia 

© The "Guiri" Gourmet 

Tags:

Andrea, Andy, Benaoján, Carmen, CEXT, Eye on  Spain, Guinness, Inma, Jon Clarke, Lymm, maitresse D, Manchester World, Martin, Merseyside, Molino del Santo, Montejaque, Olive Press News, "Paddy's Day", Pauline, Paul Whitelock, Pronto, Roz and Paul Littler, St Patrick's Day, Secret Serranía, The Black Farmer, The "Guiri" Gourmet, TikTok, Trip Advisor, Víctor, Wikipedia 

áéíóú

This post has been moved to:

March 17 is St Patrick's Day

It is 45 years since 28 February 1980 when in a referendum the andaluces voted overwhelmingly for their region to become one of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions (federal states), following Spain’s return to democracy on the death of the dictator General Franco five years earlier.

Franco lies in state [Daily Mail]    

Friday 28 February 2025 - Celebrating with dinner

Yesterday was Día de Andalucía, an important día festivo down here in the south of Spain where it is a significant day in the political and cultural history of the region.

Because of the bad weather some of the outdoor celebrations had to be cancelled or moved to indoor venues. And the andaluces still enjoyed their celebrations with family and friends.

Those of us foreigners who are resident here – guiris –  will have used the day as an excuse to celebrate and many will have gone out for dinner.

    The Love family in the early days                                                 Ian, Elaine and Carly Love with head chef Tom O'Connor

The Meter Maid and I chose the nearest restaurant to our home, the excellent La Cascada at the Hotel Molino del Puente in Fuente de la Higuera just outside Ronda.

The hotel bar was cosy and warm; the restaurant also. There were 18 diners, eight Spaniards and ten “guiris”, a mixture of hotel residents and “locals”.

After opening drinks in the bar we chose our meals and shortly afterwards adjourned to our tables.

What we chose

Head chef Tom O’Connor had assembled a varied menu fitting of the occasion. Tom says: "Estoy aquí para mostrar mi pasión por la cocina y mi compromiso de traer ideas nuevas y emocionantes a nuestro menú."

Rita chose a seafood salad followed by salmon on a bed of spinach. I chose one of my favourite starters – tarta de champigñones con ensalada - and a curry tailandés.

    Salmón en espinacas                         Curry tailandés                   Tarta de hojaldre

     [Library photos]

We were both well-pleased with our choices.

After a short epilogue back in the bar, it was time to pay the bill and amble  the 50 metres back to our home.

Further reading:

Andalucía Day (Día de Andalucía) - Secret Serrania de Ronda - 2021

Día de Andalucía – Monday 28 February 2022

My Andalucia Day - a personal serendipity – 2023

Back to the “Bridge” – St George’s Day

Por qué se celebra el 28-F el día de Andalucía         

What is a guiri? It's what the Spanish call us foreigners - but is it good or bad?

                             Image courtesy of saedyn  

© The "Guiri" Gourmet

Photos:

Daily Mail, Ian Love, Karl Smallman, Paul Whitelock, saedyn

Acknowledgements:

Eye on Spain, Ian Love, Karl Smallman, Paul Whitelock, Secret Serranía

Tags:

17 autonomous regions, 28 February 1980, andaluces, Andalucía, bad weather, celebrating with family and friends, Daily Mail, death of the dictator General Franco, democracy, día festivo, Eye on Spain, guiri, Hotel Molino del Puente, Ian Love, Karl Smallman, La Cascada, Meter Maid, outdoor celebrations, Paul Whitelock, political and cultural history of the region, referendum, resident, Ronda, Secret Serranía, The "Guiri" Gourmet

áéíóú

I don't know if it's like this everywhere in Spain, but in Ronda (Málaga), where I live, bars and restaurants close and new ones open with amazing frequency. It seems to be a post-Covid phenomenon.

[Photo: Restaurantes Exitosos]

This evening we wanted to try out somewhere new, so I had a wander round the centre this morning and discovered a surprising number. And that's not counting places away from the centre or on the outskirts.

Ronda restaurant "recce"

Within 15 minutes I had discovered at least ten - on three streets, slap bang in the centre.

There was a Hindu, a Korean, a new Italian pizzeria, and a whole range of places offering Spanish/international cuisine. There were trendy places with nouvelle cuisine; cheap and cheerful; expensive; and bog-standard. There's even a restaurant boasting 2 Michelin stars.

The Hollywood film star Robert De Niro ate lunch there recently. The menu of the day was an eye-watering 200€ a head! But, I guess if you earn 10 million dollars for making a film, that's peanuts!

I shan't be going there anytime soon. Mr De Niro did report that the meal and service was excellent! I should bloody well hope so for that price! The Michelin-starred chef Benito Gómez must be a very wealthy man.

I'll let my wife choose where we go (I won't mention Tragatá - the expensive one referred to above).

I wouldn't mind giving the Indian restaurant a try. We haven't had an Indian or Bangladeshi restaurant in Ronda for some years. I'm also intrigued by the Korean place, but we'll see .....

De Niro and Gomez [DiarioSur]

© The "Guiri" Gourmet

Photos by Paul Whitelock, unless otherwise stated.

Tags:

10 million dollars, 2 Michelin stars, 200€ a head, Bangladeshi, Benito Gomez, DiarioSur, Hindu, Indian restaurant, Italian, Korean, meal and service were excellent, menu of the day, nouvelle cuisine, Paul Whitelock, pizzeria, post-Covid phenomenon, Restaurantes Exitosos, Robert De Niro, Ronda restaurant "recce", Spanish/international cuisine, The "Guiri" Gourmet, Tragata, wealthy man,

This prestigious boutique hotel in Benaoján Estación has new people at the helm. The hotel, formerly a dilapidated mill, was discovered by husband and wife Andy Chapell and Pauline Elkin some forty years ago when, as young teachers, they were on a back-packing holiday in the area.

    Photo courtesy of booking.com

What happened next?

They had a dream, bought the ruined mill, and gave up their teaching jobs in the UK, Andy was a PE teacher and Pauline a Spanish teacher, and they worked flat out to turn the ruined mill into one of the best hotels and restaurants in Andalucia.

Despite the formidable challenges, eg the bureaucracy, threats from the local mafia, and other issues, they managed it.

Their policy of only employing local people paid off and they quickly became part of the local community.

Before and after photos [Andy Chapell]

    Andy and Eddie [Jon Clarke]                                    River-side dining terrace [Htl Molino del Santo]

Andy and Pauline sired two children, Carmen and Rosi, who were born locally, went to school at an international school on the coast and completed their education at universities in the UK. Both are bilingual, of course.

What goes around, comes around

Andy and Pauline reached pension age and wanted to retire. They left the hotel in the capable hands of Ricardo and Nicole, an Anglo-Argentinian/French couple, for a while, but now their oldest daughter Carmen and her Norwegian partner Martin have agreed to take up the challenge.

Carmen and Martin are currently refurbishing the hotel and planning a new menu, with many vegetarian options. They also plan to focus on fine wines, particularly from the Ronda area.

    Andy & Pauline's retirement [JC]                     Carmen [Linked In]                                            Martin [X]

They plan to re-open Molino del Santo in April 2025. We look forward to checking them out!

© The “Guiri” Gourmet

Links:

Run of the Mills - Help me, Ronda - please scroll down to Molino del Santo

The Best “Station” in the Serrania de Ronda – Estación de Benaoján

Acknowledgements:

Andy Chapell, Jon Clarke, Pauline Elkin, Paul Whitelock, The “Guiri” Gourmet, The Olive Press

Photos:

Andy Chapell, booking.com, Jon Clarke, LinkedIn, Molino del Santo, Pauline Elkin, Paul Whitelock, The Olive Press, X

Tags:

Andy Chapell, Carmen Chapell Elkin, Jon Clarke, Martin Reymert, Pauline Elkin, Paul Whitelock, Rosi, The “Guiri” Gourmet, The Olive Press, www.help-me-ronda.com

The “Guiri” Gourmet has lived in Spain for 16 years. He must like it.

He lives with his second wife, Rita, a German, near Ronda (Málaga).

Both the GG and Rita love Spanish food, but Rita, an excellent cook, nevertheless rustles up the odd German dish from time to time.

If he were allowed to, the GG would cook the occasional English meal, but it’s rare that he gets the chance. A Sunday roast; liver and onions; toad-in-the-hole; fish, chips and mushy peas; scouse; Yorkshire pud and gravy; bangers and mash; a breakfast fry-up; tripe and onions (ONLY JOKING! The smell alone is enough to make you throw up!) would all hit the spot!

Hardly cordon bleu cooking, nor even healthy, but hey! Very British.

Spanish cuisine

To be truthful, I don’t really miss English food. La cocina española (Spanish cuisine) is very varied, very regional and very tasty. There are few dishes which are truly national. Paella, for example, is a regional dish from Valencia, fabada is from Asturias and migas are from Ronda.

What about French cuisine? Well, it’s delicious, but less healthy than Spanish cooking because the French use more saturated fat and those delicious sauces that accompany every dish are distinctly fattening and unhealthy.

Life expectancy in Spain, along with Greece, is among the longest in Europe.

What do we miss from home?

There are a handful of products that I like to have in the cupboard or pantry. These are, in alphabetical order, baked beans, Bovril, clotted cream, Guinness, HP Sauce, Marmite, and peanut butter.

Most are available in Spain, but not consistently in Ronda, so occasionally we have to go to the coast to top up supplies. Other British folk go to Gibraltar to shop at Morrisons. Not me, I hate the place! Gibraltar, I mean; Morrisons is OK.

There are also a few things Rita misses from Germany. Bockwurst, Bratwurst and Schwarzbrot are readily available in Aldi or LIDL. She sometimes finds the odd thing on the coast, but there are several things she either picks up when she visits Germany or gets sent by post.

These include Currypulver, Gemüsebrühe, German cheeses, Hühnerbrühe, mango chutney and various spices and condiments. Plus, her downfall, Toffifee.

Things she gets sent include food supplements and natural medicinal products, such as Omega 3 capsules and Magnesium tablets for her gout.

Also, make-up and hair-care products.

Drinks

I love English real ales. Before I emigrated, I was a member of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale), and often went to beer festivals. Several local pubs in the Warrington (Cheshire) area, where I used to live, were free houses and sold an ever-changing range of bitters, milds, pale ales, lagers and stouts.

Even the big brewers produced cask ales and the regionals also. And the number of small micro-breweries in the North West, Yorkshire and the Midlands was astonishing.

Decent beer was one of the things I really missed living in Andalucia.

Yet micro-breweries are catching on here too, with a few dotted around Ronda, Cádiz, Córdoba and Sevilla.

For more on good beers (and wines), check out my Eye on Spain blog, The Merry Tippler, and my Facebook Group, CAMCAC.

    CAMCAC Facebook Group [Photo: Paul Whitelock]

My second-favourite beers come from Germany. Fortunately, there’s a good range available at the afore-mentioned discounters, Aldi and LIDL.

Both Rita and I love wines from Baden-Württemberg. They are occasionally to be found in Spain but are prohibitively expensive.

Iceland

We went to Iceland last week. Not the country in the frozen north above Scandinavia, but the UK supermarket that has a branch in Marbella. I’d never been in my life, but Rita had been a couple of times with her English friend Jill.

Well, Iceland is no longer there. It’s got a new name – The Food Co. It still stocks Iceland products, but the new company (since 2019) has added Tesco, Waitrose and Co-op products.

I only went to get my staples, as listed above, but “What an Aladdin’s Cave?” I ended up buying a load of British products that I don’t really use or miss.

But, I thought, I shall be “de Rodríguez” (on my own) for Christmas*, so why not get a few traditional English/British Christmas products? (Rita is off to Germany to see family for Christmas and New Year).

Mince pies, shortbread, Stilton, Port, horseradish sauce, a number of Heinz products and a Christmas pudding went into our trolley!

Rita helped herself to tacos, poppadums, and other delights not always available in the mountains. Not German products, but she likes to cook Mexican and Indian food too.

Endpiece

Look, I’m slightly embarrassed to say this, but I enjoyed being able to get hold of these British products, even though I’m pretty hispañolizado after a more than 50-year relationship with Spain.

To the extent that, after Christmas and New Year are "done and dusted" and everybody gets back to work, I shall be starting the process to become a Spanish national with a Spanish passport.

I’ve checked, and my state and private pensions are safe, and I shall no longer have to stand in the long queue at passport control at airports and ports.

I can even travel to one more country without needing a visa than I can with my blue British passport! I don’t know which country that is, but that’s not the point!

Watch this space!

© The “Guiri” Gourmet

Links:

Christmas "de Rodríguez" - Rita’s alternative Christmas Dinner

De Rodríguez – at Christmas?

... de Rodríguez? - Secret Serrania de Ronda

Photos and Images:

Facebook

Full Suitcase

Paul Whitelock

RH Nuttall

The Food Co.

Wikipedia

Acknowledgements:

Paul Whitelock

The “Guiri” Gourmet

www.secretserrania.com

Tags:

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