RESTAURANTE CA N'ESMERALDA This restaurant has been in operation for a few years. It is situated in a secluded location, hidden away from the main town area of Sant Antoni de Portmany (San Antonio Abad), near the end of Cala de Bou, overlooking San Antonio Bay. We popped in for a light lunch (do we really have light lunches?) and tried the following. Pan con aioli Papas asadas, alioli, hilos de chile y nuestro ingrediente especial (roasted potatoes, aioli, chilli threads, an

A FEW DAYS IN PLASENCIA - CÁCERES Our initial reason for going on this trip was to see the almond blossoms, but unfortunately, we were a little too early, so we spent our time in and around the town. Plasencia, a walled market city in the province of Cáceres in Extremadura, has a population of around 40,000. Situated on the banks of the Jerte River, Plasencia has a historic quarter, a result of the city's strategic location along the Silver Route (Ruta de la Plata), which gua

CANTO We came to Canto, a recent creation of Simon Shaw, of El Gato Negro Tapas fame, on an unusually sunny Sunday Lunchtime In Manchester, for a meal before going to the football at Old Trafford later that day. You will find this younger sibling of Simon's in the heart of Manchester's latest to be redeveloped neighbourhood, Ancoats, on Cutting Room Square. It is quite a stunning, ample space with blue Portuguese tiles that reminded me of a recent visit to Braga. They use th

BARRAFINA One Michelin Star Barrafina moved to a new address in Soho, from Frith Street to 26-27 Dean Street, Soho, London. We thought we would try the new venue on this midweek evening in March. As usual, it was busy, so we had to wait 45 minutes to be seated. Once at the bar, we tried these dishes. Pimientos de Padrón y jamón croquetas. Paletila Ibérica Lenguado en salsa de almendra (sole in almond sauce) Solomillo Rubia Gallega (sirloin steak from Galicia) The food is

TAPEO & WINE PERMANENTLY CLOSED 2021 This was our first visit to Tapeo & Wine in Deansgate, Manchester, as a precursor to the football at Old Trafford. The restaurant was opened in 2016 in the buzzing heart of Manchester by the Mata family (The owner's Son, Juan Mata, is currently a Manchester United football player). There is a bright, modern bar and restaurant on the ground floor that looks out onto busy Deansgate. It also has another large restaurant bar downstairs, whi

CASA MONTAÑA Michelin Plate IIO A delightful old tapas bar and bodega in the El Canyamelar fishing neighbourhood of València, down by the port area, which has been serving locals since 1836. They have left the interior and structure of that period intact, keeping original barrels behind the bar. Aside from the bar area, there is a restaurant behind it, accessible by ducking under the bar counter. This must be booked in advance, and the menu is slightly more elaborate. F

TITAS GASTROBAR This is the second restaurant our friend Howard Goldsmith, who lives in the area, took us to. It was a completely...

CAMBIO DE TERCIO Under Abel Lusa's long-term, excellent hospitality and guidance, and chef Alberto Criado's (Twitter @Alberto_Criado) creative dishes, Cambio de Tercio has become a standard-bearer for Iberian food in London. Most Hispanophiles consider it the best in town. You can choose from the traditional tapas menu, an inventive á la carte menu, or the reasonably priced tasting menu. On a recent visit, we had this tasting menu. Andalusian gazpacho, steamed king prawns

AIRE GASTROBAR An attractive, trendy restaurant on two levels, Gastrobar (terrazzo y plata baja) with seating area downstairs and a more formal restaurant dining room (planta alta) upstairs. The dishes offered are very elaborate, refined and tasty, a new take and modern interpretation of Andalucian food. You can start with snacks, like the excellent ones. Croquetas baby de choco con alioli de ajos asados (baby squid croquettes with roasted garlic alioli) Samosa de cabollita

IBÉRICA CANARY WHARF UPDATED APRIL 2025 - CLOSED Chef Nacho Manzano is the chef of the three-star Restaurant Casa Marcial in Arriondas...