ANDALUCÍA - CÁDIZ - SANLÚCAR DE BARRAMEDA - CASA BALBINO

CASA BALBINO

Sanlúcar de Barrameda (or simply Sanlúcar) is a city in the north-west of Cádiz province, part of the autonomous community of Andalucía in southern Spain. Sanlúcar is located on the left bank at the mouth of the Guadalquivir Riveropposite the Doñana National Park.

Sanlúcar de Barrameda is one of Spain's three better-known sherry-producing towns. (The other two are Jerez de la Frontera, for which sherry is named, and El Puerto de Santa María.)

Although a seaside town, Sanlúcar de Barrameda is also home to the oldest horse races in Spain and some of the oldest inEurope. The races take place just before sunset along the beach at the mouth of the river Guadalquivir every August before thousands of spectators. Contested at distances of 1500 m and 1800 m, these were the first regulated horse races in Spain; the riders wear distinctive colours and caps.

Casa Balbino is very much a Sanlucar institution, a traditional self service tapas bar. (you need to order at the bar and take your food and drinks to the table yourself).

It is most famed for its amazing Tortillitas de Camerones (very small shrimp mixed in crispy batter fritters) and the langoustines wrapped in aubergine.

Also try:

Dressed whole crab

Prawns in garlic

Stuffed aubergine

Salmorejo (a purée consisting of tomatoes, bread, olive oil, garlic and vinegar originating from Cordoba)

You can pick your food from the items displayed in the cold cabinets and ask for them to be cooked.

Eat them with a bottle of local Solear Manzanilla (dry salty sherry served cold) or a cold beer.

You can eat inside standing at or around the bar or outside overlooking the Plaza del Cabildo whilst people watching. You will be sprayed with a fine mist of water at the tables on the terrace on hot days (which is most of the time!).

There is also an excellent selection of Jamones.