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Out of the blue I received an invitation from Steve, our host, to join him for a dinner party at the restaurant Olvido,  Nerja.  In my innocence, I thought it might be for four of us but the party was for ten and I had the opportunity to meet some nice new friends who already appeared to be in a party mood.

Having been greeted at the door and asked if we had booked a table (very politely), and assured the owner that we were not gatecrashers but indeed, we were part of a larger party, our coats were taken and we were shown to our table.

The usual introductions were made and  I tried very hard to remember all of the names but I think I only managed about two thirds of them and had to ask for names to be repeated.  I put it down to age and this excuse seemed to work.  One of the few benefits of being gray haired I think.

A  waiter came and took our order for drinks.  A difficult job because we were all busy chatting away, and with the cacophony of chatter from the other tables and our indifferent Spanish vocabularies, (with the exception of Steve, our host, and Aiveen, who has kissed both the ´Blarney Stone´of Ireland and the Spanish equivalent, who can both chat to any one in any language), we gave our orders and hoped that we had picked the right ones.

The head waiter followed and we all listened carefully to what others on the table were ordering to see if we could pick up tips as to what we should select.  The choices available to us were legion in number and as a consequence I became confused and asked the charming young lady to my left to help me.  She told me that the lamb cooked in French style was delicious so I ordered it.  I should have been a little more cautious because the sheer quantity was a little overpowering.  Delicious it was, but there is a limit to the amount you can eat in one sitting and I had to ask if the remainder could be put into a doggy bag.  (My  dog was very pleased that I had limits to my apatite because he manged to enjoy the rest of the meal for the next four days!

Delicious food with a great variety of choices, fabulous ambiance, excellent service and a table of wonderful company; the whole evening left us with a feeling that we had made new friends and I had found a restaurant that I would want to revisit.  It was just joyful!

For those with a GPS you can find Restaurante Olvido here:-

36°44′55.04″N  3°52′22.69″ W

Posted under Restaurant Reviews

A land steeped in history and rich in culinary tradition, the Axarquia is a food-lover`s paradise. Forget any preconceptions you may have of Malaga as the sole preserve of the 18-30 crowd – this is Malaga at its unspoilt best.  A land of verdant hills dotted with fruit and olive groves, the Axarquia (pronounced `a shar key-a`) bears the culinary and architectural imprint of the many cultures that have settled here. While Romans and Phoenicians, along with Carthaginians, are among the ancient cultures to have settled in the Axarquia, it was the Arab Moors who had the biggest impact on the architecture and agriculture of the region and many traditional dishes of the region bear the culinary imprint of the many years of Arab rule.

The name Axarquia itself is Arabic, meaning `territories of the east`. Famous for its olives and olive oil, as well as the grapes that are used to produce Moscatel wine, the Axarquia is dotted with sheltered, irrigated valleys where almonds, lemons, avocados, peaches, figs and mangos are cultivated and local cuisine makes much use of these natural, fresh ingredients.

Lying along Spain`s Costa del Sol, the Axarquia also benefits from an abundance of fish and seafood, which are used to good effect in many local dishes. Cured and dried meats, cheeses, moscatel raisins and honey are also produced in the region and much appreciated by foodies across the globe. Andalucian cuisine is famous worldwide and one of the most enduringly popular dishes of the region is Ajoblanco – garlic soup. The dish was in fact created in the Axarquia by the Moors and here grapes are often added to the soup, which combines garlic, bread, almonds and seasoning.

While the Axarquian diet is rich in healthy and delicious fruits, vegetables and olive oil, canivores needn`t panic – there is plenty of meat on the Axarquian menu too. Goat is one of the more unusual meats to make an appearance on menus in the region, with young goat served in a garlic and almond sauce a very popular dish here.

Ajoblanco was first created in Almachar, Axarquia by the Moors. The combination of fresh fruit and dried fruit was classical Moorish culinary practice and became one of the most popular dishes of the time. Ajoblanco remains one of only two white soups worldwide in which no dairy product is used. Cordero Asado al Horno – lamb marinated in herbs and brandy and then roasted – is another meaty treat and beef stew is also a staple dish in homes and restaurants in the region.

The Arab influence has left a spicy legacy in the cuisine of Axarquia and Gambas al Pil-Pil (prawns in a spicy sauce) is a delicious dish that combines prawns with chilli, garlic and other seasonings. The proximity to the Mediterranean makes Axarquian food a delight for seafood lovers and no visitor should leave without trying that most famous of Spanish dishes – paella. In Axarquia, meat as well as fish is often used.

Axarquia has so far been spared the mass influx of tourists that has hit much of Malaga and visitors are more likely to stay in rustic farmhouses or little bed and breakfasts rather than vast resort hotels. Camping is also popular and is a good way for budget travelers to see the best of beautiful Axarquai.

Most international visitors will arrive at Granada or Malaga airport and the rural setting makes car hire a popular option among independent travelers. It is possible to arrange car hire at both international airports car hire  and a hired car gives visitors an opportunity to get off the beaten track and explore this beautiful area of Andalucia.

Submitted by:-  comparecarhire

Posted under Featured Articles

I set off from Velez-Malaga full of anticipation at enjoying an evening with friends at the Bistro.  Of course, completely in character, I managed to get lost even though I was using SatNav to find the place.  Eventually some charming Spanish people gave me directions and I arrived to find an entertainer with a wonderful singing away.  As my eyes slowly adjusted to the subdued lighting I gradually recognized friends that I had not seen for a while and I was pleased to find that although I was about thirty minutes late, nobody had started to eat yet.  In fact orders had not been taken.

The ambiance was really nice and I was quickly into the spirit of the evening.  Everyone was out to have an enjoyable evening and the entertainment was very good.  I had decided that I would wait until after the first course before asking anyone to have a dance but it was not very long before a couple broke the ice and were showing us how it was done as they strutted their stuff on the dance floor.  The dance area was not very big and the more flamboyant amongst us were going to find it just a little restrictive.  However as the evening wore on it soon became clear that close proximity to others was not going to inhibit some of the ladies who gracefully demonstrated, even with the constraints of the dance floor, they could perform some amazing and ingenious dips and twirls.

As the food arrived and served with impeccable style, I became more engaged in the interesting conversations around me and the food was everything one could wish for.   I had elected to start with a tuna salad and it was a fresh well balance starter with just the right amount of fish and salad that had not been overwhelmed by lettuce.  This was helped by a generous helping of red wine from my friends,  Steve and Carol.  As I had decided to be very sparing in the amount of alcohol that I consumed this was sufficient for the whole evening.

Of course, as this was a dinner dance evening, each course was followed by a dance or two or three.  This was definitely an evening where you could burn off your calories as you consumed them.

I had elected to have the chicken in mushroom sauce as my main course and I was served with a generous helping which kept me from dancing for about thirty minutes unlike some of my table companions who were were much quicker off the mark and had eaten their meal and were dancing the night away with enthusiasm.  (I did not know that anyone could eat that quickly.)

The desserts arrived and mine was waiting for me as I came off the dance floor.

Eventually, the singer had decided that he had entertained us long enough and bade us goodnight.  He was generous enough to concede an encore and sang us one more song and then it was time to thank the organizers and be on our way at something like 12.45.  However, not before the restaurateur had played us a song with his guitar.  It was a little while before we realized that it was the song about living next door to Alice.  Some of my friends were quite  imaginative with the  wording.

We made our way to our respective cars and prepared to go home, knowing that we would really like to revisit the restaurant, having had a really good night out.

The whole evening was organized by Tony and Judith from Move to the music If you ever fancy a good night out dancing then try them.  Good music, good dancing and very good company.  Note:  They have changed their venue.

Bistro The Gallery,Avenida Del Prado 4, Aloha
29660  Nueva Andalucia, Marbella

Telephone 952 818 262
Mobile 661 826 652

For those of you with GPS you can find it at:-

36°30′1.17″N  4°57′35.95W

Posted under Restaurant Reviews

One of the most reputable gourmet restaurants in the Axarquia area is located in Torre del Mar. I’ve dined at the El Salmon restaurant before, but this was the first time I had sampled their lunch time Menu del Dia. Prior to the first course we ordered a large mixed salad to whet our appetites. The customary fresh warm bread rolls with butter portions also arrived. The first course consisted of either a vegetable cream soup, tomatoes filled with seafood or a crepe filled with mushrooms in a creamy sauce. All starters were faultless in flavour. The second course was a choice of white filleted fish in a creamy sauce or marinated pork ribs; both dishes came with fresh vegetables and chips. The food was well presented and more than ample (I had to ask for a doggie bag for the leftovers). I personally found the ribs to be over-salted, but this is perhaps only because I rarely use salt in my home cooking. The dessert was a choice of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, flan or kiwi fruit. The entire meal was excellent value for money at a cost of 8.95 Euros. The service was excellent, as usual. One of our party was an invalid with a walking frame, but the restaurant catered for this with their toilet facilities being on the ground floor with no stairs or other obstructions. El Salmon also caters for special occasions and large parties – book in advance, as this is always a busy restaurant.

Avenida Andalucia 56
Torre del Mar (Malaga)

Tel. 952 965 424 / 662 086 854
E-mail: guillebenitez7@hotmail.com

Posted under Restaurant Reviews

I went on a visit to the restaurant Viuda because it was recommended as a very good restaurant with fabulous fish dishes with my good friend Michelle from axcespropertydirect.com. The outside was very unobtrusive, unostentatious, indeed I have driven past many times and not seen it before.  Having been told it was wise to book first and in particular, for a Saturday night, I had taken the advice and went and found it and booked a table for two.  On arrival I could see that my informant had given good advice because every table was occupied and there was a happy, chatty atmosphere.  The spectacle that awaited us as we were shown to our table was breathtaking.  The beginning of sunset at around 8 pm had begun and nature’s artistry was at the very height of its glory.  We were looking over the sea and towards Malaga and the colours displayed were awesome.  Awesome is not a word that I would use very often but frankly, it is the only word suitable for the sunset display that we were witnessing.  All we had to do was wait and see if the food was as good as the ambiance.  I ordered a prawn tortilla and my companion, a prawn cocktail.  The waiter was very tolerant of our poor Spanish, but our food and wine arrived after a few minutes and we started to really enjoy selections.

For a second course I had ordered a mixed grill of fish and Michelle ordered a single fish dish as we chatted.

It was some time after 11 pm that we finally took our leave and I think we were the last to leave but at no time did the staff seem at all impatient.  They just busied themselves with whatever restaurant staff do when they are anticipating going home.  We had had a thoroughly enjoyable time and would highly recommend a visit.  But…. one word of caution.  The helpings are generous and in order to do justice to the food it is wise not to eat anything for six to eight hours before arrival because you will never be able to complete your meal which is beautifully cooked and served with the minimum of fuss.

For those of you with a GPS  the restaurant can be found at the following:-

36°44′40.67″N  4° 2′30.77″W

Posted under Restaurant Reviews, Videos