Bussy Days

The last days have been very bussy and it is time to report the places I have been.

On Thursady I was visiting Madrid and I went to have lunch to Calle 54. It was a recommendation by Helena Martínez. My first suprise was that they belong to Group Paradis, that is always a quality assurance. The food was correct as expected, not expensive. The wine list is correct in variety and prices. The service was correct.

• Calle 54, Paseo de la Habana 3. 28036 Madrid. Tel +34 902141412. Decoration is stylish and the food is correct, not expensive. The wine list is correct in variety and prices. The service was correct. They have live jazz at nights. They have a valet service. A recommendation by Helena Martínez. Last visited 2006.
  

Friday, in Barcelona, we for lunchtried Indigo a restaurant at the Hilton Diagonal Mar.

• Indigo, Passeig Taulat, 262-264. 08019. Barcelona Tel +34 93507000. A new place in town. They have a set menu 30€ and magnificient terrace. The list of wine is interesting, including entries from new producers but very expensive. The service was perfect. We were there to try Indian food, there it was a taster menu, but it was dissapointing.
  

For dinner we tried Gurú an ethnicrestaurantclub.

• Gurú, Noude la rambla 22. 08001 Barcelona. Tel +34 933180840. A Chill-out lounge with restaurant. The food is irregular but I have a general positive opinion. I had a very nice strawberry gazpacho and a black rice. The wine list is short but in the right order of prices. The music and ambiance is chill-out. A lot of young people around. It deserves the try.

Just before writing this entry I tried Bubbles at Gate C in Schipol Airport.

• Bubbles, Schipol Airtport Gate C. This an extraordinary Oyster Bar. Good quality, good prices.
  

Tapas v/s Raciones

Yesterday, I was visiting TapaÇ24 with Morgan, my cousin from Illora. I like to bring an issue for discussion: in Barcelona you pay for tapas so therefore they are raciones and not tapas. In Granada when you get yourself a drink, in a bar, they offer you for free a tapa. If you like a larger portion you pay for it. This catalan version of tapa is somehow missleading.

• TapaÇ24, c/Diputació 269. Barcelona 08007. Tel +34 934880977. Created bu Carles Abellan after the success of his Comerç24. The most interesting was patatas amb wasabi. This local follows the same aesthetics as Inopia (and prices).
  

Zure Etxea

I just have lunch there with Alfredo Villar. The place keeps a very high standard. They had change the menu and also the taster's menu (now 40€, without wine). The wine list is reasonable. A place to re-visit to rediscover. The original entry was:

• Zure Etxea, c/ Jordi Girona Salgado 10, Barcelona 08034. Tel: + 34 93203 83 90. Fax:+ 34 93280 31 46. Basque. It is pleasure to visit the place (be sure to have a reservation) there are only 10 tables. Menú de degustación, from 50€. It is a must in this list.

Al Volt

One of the discoveries this summer was this small restaurant in Riva del Garda. I tried a menu based on fish from the lake. Tradicional Italian cuisine with some interesting innovations. If you are in the area deserves the visit. Last visit August 2006.

• Al Volt, Via Fiume 75, Riva del Garda (TN). Tel + 39 0464552570.
  

Sekitei

Yesterday, as happy ending we tried the Sekitei restaurant at the Dharmawansa. The decoration and ambiance are perfect. This is the original entry:

• Sekitei, Jl. Brawijaya Raya No. 26, Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta 12160. Tel. +61 21 - 725 8181. A splendid Japanese restaurant. We tried a Shabu-Shabu a traditional do-it yourself soup. A must. Visited in 2006.

Photos will follow.

Dharmawangsa

I have no doubts it is one of the best hotels I ever visited. Dharmawangsa has an unique style of comfort. Located in Jakarta offers tradition, style and comfort. I you like to enjoy a piece of paradise this is the place to be. Visited September 2006.

L'aliança d'Anglès

It is not necessary to travel so far to discover and enjoy nice restaurants. For example, in the old town of Anglès, a small Catalan village, you can find a modernism style restaurant (formerly the local trade union), managed by Feliu brothers, which combines modern with traditional cuisine at the best quality-money ratio. You should definitively try it.

Restaurant L’aliança d’Anglès
Lluís i Josep Mª Feliu Martí
Carrer Jacint Verdaguer nº 3
17160 Anglès
http://www.restaurantalianca.com/index.html

Tel. 972.42.01.56
Fax. 972.42.33.22
l_alianca@restaurantalianca.com

Nippon Kan

This is the Japanese restaurant at The Sultan Hotel, in Jakarta. Open from Monday to Sunday. Lunch 11:30 until 15:30 and Dinner 18:00 until 22:30. I tried twice the Teppanyaki house. It is expensive but the offer a high quality and magnific service. Visited in 2006.

Airrazab

estudioenlaventana01
Originally uploaded by airrazab.

I like her photographies. If you are thinking in reproduce them please read carefully the following advice

"Prohibida la reproducción sin mi permiso. Si quiere utilizar una fotografía escríbame a airrazab@mixmail.com
No me señale como contacto si no tiene fotografías publicadas o si su contenido es pornográfico. Gracias."

PuertoFuy

PuertoFuy Av. Nueva Costanera 3969, Vitacura, Santiago. Tel: 208 8908/206 7391. Identified by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the four best restaurants in Latin America. Cuisine inspired by Ferran Adriá. The tasting menu is remarkable and exceptionally good value too at CLP 25,000. Wines reasonably priced. http://www.puertofuy.cl. Last visit August 2006.

Rediscovering Tapas

Yesterday, we re-visited Inopia, a small and fancy tapas bar. With a very sophisticated decoration, located in the left part of L'Eixample. The owner is Albert Adrià. Try it! You will re-discover the concept of tapas.

La Kasbah

Last Monday I was in Brussels again and revisited one of my favourites. The original post was

• La Kasbah, Rue A Dansaert 20. Bruxelles 1000. Tel + 32 2 5024026. A bit of Morocco in the middle of Brussels. A great Couscous and Tajin. The cellar is correct with interesting Marrocan wines. A fine contribution by Mercé Griera.

Another recommendation in Brussels is:

• Le Varietes, Place Ste. Croix, 4 (Flagey). Bruxelles 1050. Tel + 32 2 6470436. Open 7/7 from 12:00 until 14:30 and 18:30 until 24:00. A contribution by Mercé Griera.
  

Italian tapas

Osteria del Bugiardo. C.so Ports Borsari 17/A. Verona. Tel +39 054591869. A very interesting place with a very simple but effective formula: good materials (food and wine), nice combinations (small portions), good service. I had burrata and parma jam with a Valpolicella. Sweet onions with cheese.