Cachitos, Rambla de Catalunya, Barcelona: a Review

On my fourth day in Barcelona, with the wonderful heat, I felt sufficiently well to leave the barrio of Poble Sec and explore the city; although, admittedly, pushed in my wheelchair by my ever sturdy assistant.

Initially we thought of dining in the restaurant of El Corte Inglés at Plaça de Catalunya; but on arrival on their top storey, we discovered that only a self-serve cafeteria was available, requiring one to queue for each and every course and drinks separately. For a chap in a wheelchair, even with an assistant, this would have been an arduous experience. It was a no-no.

So, we set off to explore Eixample, the shopping area of the city. It is also nicknamed Geixample (pronounced gay-shample) due to the concentration of LGBTI businesses and residents. Obviously any eatery we selected had to be wheelchair-accessible in the first instant, but also it had to appeal to the tastes of two different individuals. After a wonderful amble, we stumbled across Rambla de Catalunya. This had covered terrace eateries up and down its length. My pusher pushed and we scoured menus. We spotted a lovely fish restaurant and held it in reserve. However, there was a table on the edge of the covered - thus shady - terrace, which meant I could tuck under the wheelchair and transfer to an ordinary dining-chair, so Cachitos it was.

[Image description: the writer, his wheelchair at his side, at table with a glass of cava rosé]

The maître d' was warm and welcoming. Funnily he assumed I was French and my chum English. Not the first time my Spanish has been assumed to be spoken by a Frenchman. Richard glanced through the wine list and made his selection. Alas, the poor waiter had to return to inform us they had run out. Rico opted for a Juvé y Camps Cava rosé. This was priced at €22, approximately double its price in a Spanish wine-merchant's.

We were not so hungry that we wanted a three-course repast. I selected tuna tartare on an avocado base (below, top left). My companion opted for lamb cutlets with potatoes (below, bottom). Both meals cost €24 each. To share we chose a goat's cheese & pomegranate salad at €10.90 (below, top right), which was very tasty and priced about right for a city centre.

My plate was delicious, the quality good; but was definitely not worth the price paid. This was no cordon-bleu dish. My companion ate all his ration; but, similarly, it was the kind of dish that can be bought for far less in many a Spanish eatery.

For dessert I had to try crema catalana (image above). The vanilla custard was exquisitely light. The sugar-toffee topping ultra-fine. By far the best example I have ever had in Spain or anywhere for that matter. At €5.30 completely worth the price.

Richard chose cheesecake with a blackcurrant coulis (image above). At €6.00 this is more expensive than pâtisserie prices. It was good - but again, not that good, so did not represent value for money.

Service was very good and both our waiter and the maître d' were extremely enthusiastic about their offerings: we were made very welcome. The service level was spot-on, neither too lax nor too fussy.

The total bill with gratuity came to €100. Admittedly we were sitting in a wonderful location and really enjoyed our meal; but the price compared to the standard & quality of cuisine, with hindsight, was far too high.

We had a lovely time and do not regret the experience. However, I cannot recommend Cachitos to you, unless of course money is no object to the reader.

Amigos Restaurant, Málaga: A Review

It being my friend's birthday, our choice of dinner eatery was his decision. He opted for Amigos, an Indian & Mexican (!) offering. When we turned up just after nine and a table for two had been saved outside on the terrace. We were quickly given menus and just about had time to select a bottle of delicious Cava when the waitress returned for our drinks order.

 [Image description: external signage]

We scoured the extensive menu. My chum was salivating at the thought of his lamb Madras and I also at my lamb Korma. Unfortunately it was not to be, for me at least. Prior to choosing Amigos we had been advised that everything could be made without garlic, to which I am seriously allergic. However, the waitress returned to advise that all the lamb had been marinated in garlic. Yikes! She suggested a beef fajita. A tad disappointed at not getting to have curry, I settled for the suggestion. Alas, not for long. Next up, the manager was next to the table advising that all the beef had also been marinated in garlic. He then apprised that the sole dish I could have at the restaurant was a rib-eye steak.

(To be honest, I sometimes experience similar issues with Indian restaurants in England. However, I have found wonderful eateries that cook everything from scratch, where a garlic-free curry is no issue whatsoever.)

The birthday-boy wolfed down his aromatic dish. He passed on that the pillau rice was one of the lightest he had ever had. A Sikh chap & his wife to one side of us and a Norwegian couple on the other also cleaned their respective plates. Empty plates are surely the highest compliment one can pay to a chef!

[Image description: steak & chips]

My steak was full of flavour and surprisingly for rib-eye lacking in gristle or excess fat. The outer reaches of the flesh were succulent as well, but the centre of the steak - whilst still delicious - had a rather dry texture.

 [Image description: empty plates]

Service throughout our dining experience was fast, efficient and very professional. The slowest part was waiting for the portable card-reader in order to pay.

My companion would return in a trice. I of course, due to my food allergy, would prefer to go elsewhere.

The Wheatsheaf, Old Glossop: a Review

It snowed yesterday (Saturday). Of course, where I reside in south-west Manchester snow rarely lasts, as the climate is too mild. Fortunately we are only a few miles from the Pennines, the so-called backbone of England. The journey towards the High Peak of Derbyshire was enchanting as the sky shone down from a perfectly azure sky turning the scenery into one gigantic piece of jewellry, dazzling with opals and diamonds.

[Image description: the pub cum restaurant's front façade; © The Wheatsheaf]

My companion, my assistant for the day, and I had set course for Glossop to meet an old, mutual chum. I could find no mention on Tripadvisor so had to look elsewhere. Google’s top recommendation for lunch on a Sunday, with 4.8 out of 5, is The Wheatsheaf situated close to the parish church in the conservation area of Old Glossop. We were greeted warmly by the family-run and family-friendly staff. Service throughout the repast was affable and for the most part efficient (and for those of us into redheads, an absolute æsthetic delight!).  The village pub cum restaurant is not only popular with locals but also with the many walkers that pass through to or from hikes on the high hills. Lunch on a Sunday is served from midday till eight in the evening (food last orders).

We arrived at one to find the place fairly empty; ninety minutes later there was not a seat to be had and standing-room only at the bar. There were families with babies/toddlers, retired couples, groups of young mates, a couple of gay chaps, middle-class posh car types, walkers in their paraphernalia, as well as locals. This rather suggests a place with an all-round good reputation. Our friend had dined there several times on previous occasions and pointed out that we would not be disappointed.

A warning for those allergic to pet hair: the pub allows dogs in the bar area, though I saw none in the eating side.

I tucked into a hearty sunday luncheon of half a dozen large and succulent slices of Mettricks' ‘High Peak’ (the local reared high hill) lamb with roasties (roast potatoes), Yorkshire pudding, and dark, thick gravy served with a side-dish of juliennes of tasty and unblemished orange carrots with florets of cauliflower and broccoli. This I washed down with a pint of Wren’s Nest (which I later discovered is brewed quite literally round the corner at Howard Town Brewery), a real ale (artisan-created as opposed to mass-produced), with a pale amber hue, a mild flavour and an oh-so-smooth texture. The beer’s flavour complemented the nutty flavour of the lamb just so.

[Image description: a bottle of Wren's Nest; © Howard Town Brewery]

For dessert, I selected home-made bread-and-butter pudding and opted for the custard accompaniment (one could also have chosen, cream or ice-cream). The pudding was laced with raisins and glacé cherries, so it may have been constructed from panettone slices. Whatever, it was totally delicious. The little jug of piping-hot custard was thick and the right side of lumpy - exactly the way I like it. Interestingly, the barman-cum-waiter (a very fetching ginger!) expected me to select custard. I wonder whether he is a fellow custard-lover! To accompany the sweet, I opted for a black coffee. There was no hint of bitterness; indeed, the blend was naturally sweet and mild; spot on with the creaminess of the bread-and-butter pudding.

A little aside here: I hate it when one orders black coffee and end up with a stained cup; the bowl in this instance was spotless, save for a few drops of the caffeinated nectar I was unable to swallow. Clean crockery! And on the subject of cleanliness, the cutlery was not watermarked - which either means the kitchen had a very expensive dishwasher or the knives, forks and spoons had been polished post-washing. The table too lacked any kind of stickiness or food detritus; neither did the menus, which also had nary a trace of residue on the covers nor on the laminated pages.

This might also be the appropriate juncture to point out the pristine state of the gents’ WCs. The sanitary-ware was unmarked and there was no malodorous aroma in the urinal area. The floor was clean and dry. There was pump-dispensed soap by the sink. And, although the hand-dryer was kaput, a supply of paper-towels and a table-top bin for the soiled ones had been conveniently placed near the wash-basin. I could not see a disabled convenience (I later determined there is not one) and there was no hand-rail down/up the two steps to/from the gents and the ladies. However, they were shallow in depth and there was a handy ledge above the dado-rails either side of the steps upon which I was able to lean to aid supporting myself.

The bill came to just under sixty pounds (£60), which for two courses apiece and five drinks (including two that were alcoholic) was a very reasonable price.

Despite being packed out, we were not rushed nor made to feel that we needed to vacate our table.

I certainly would return for a meal in the future and recommend The Wheatsheaf to my regular readers.

[Image description: post-prandial stroll down Church St. South,

the parish church to the right]

*

"Irene's home cooking with Bobs passion for meat have made The Wheatsheaf Steakhouse dining room the No 1 Pub in the Glossop area for quality food."

*

Bloom Brasserie @ Bloom Live, Altrincham, Review

Recommendation

Bloom Live in Altrincham has an upbeat, affable ambience, with friendly staff and customers. When the tranquil live piano-playing is not, a DJ mixes tunes to tap one’s foot to. The cocktails, as per my previous review (q.v.) are just what the doctor ordered! Highly recommended for a drinks evening.

Unfortunately, whilst the new brasserie menu is a big improvement on the American-style burger-bar fiasco, it is just not good enough. I should happily dine on a starter again if I just wanted a snack, but a full meal left us hungry and disappointed. We hit the ‘fridge as soon as we got back home...

[Image description: the keyboard at © Bloom Live]

Service

Swayed by the 30% discount off food, my dining-partner and I turned up for early doors (around six-thirty). There were some half-a-dozen folk imbibing drinks in the central seating area. Snazzy jazz played jollily in the background. There were no diners, if one excludes a barman on a meal-break. We were quickly noticed and our attentive waitress came over to offer us a table. Naturally we wanted a cocktail first. Alas, the bar was out of a vital ingredient for pornstars; so I settled for a refreshing Jazzbaby and my companion for the ever-so-sweet Mississippi cherry pie. It was no bother to have the drinks tagged to our dining bill - although we later had to point out that the drinks had not been added (yep, too honest for our own good!). Drinks in hand, we were advised we could take any table we wished, the brasserie being deserted. Having first met my partner in a previous incarnation of the venue nearly twelve years ago, we situated ourselves next to the very pillar at which we stumbled upon one another.

Our waitress appeared to be on her own until about eight o’clock. She dealt admirably with the dozen-and-a-half diners or so, keeping a smile upon her mien and a cheery word for each time she passed our way. She and chef never kept us too long. Although in the case of the latter, I should not have minded if the delay would have ameliorated his offerings.

Starters

Pan fried Scottish queen scallops, lemon butter, pea purée - £7.00

To compare the food with the delectable cuisine served at The House Restaurant a couple of weeks earlier (see my review), I ordered scallops for my starter. For my personal pleasure they were a tad underdone, so did not reach the firm-but-pliant exquisite oral experience of the orgasmic scallops served in Goose Green. Nonetheless they were quite tasty. The four molluscs positioned at the points of the compass dotted around a dollop of the tastiest pea & mint purée with an unusually non-wet, unsloppy, wholesome consistency. Drenched in warm lemon-juice this was actually the gastronomic delight on the plate. Furthermore, for me this was the orgasmic moment and highlight of the repast.

Mini Angus beef pie, minted mushy peas, herb gravy - £6.50

My fellow diner tucked into a mini Aberdeen Angus beef & mushroom pie, accompanied by one garlic-coated, roasted cherry tomato and a single-serving-of-cream-sized jug of rich gravy. The meat was divine without a hint of fat. The mushrooms retained their structural integrity and were eaten in slow-motion to prolong the ecstasy. We fruitlessly attempted to identify the pastry-mix; but my companion did not really care for as far as he was concerned it was just perfect.

Mains

Pan fried Gressingham duck breast, orange, parsnip mash, juniper reduction - £17.50

I plumbed for the duck for my mains, incorrectly termed “entrées” on the menu. (This is US usage; but in Britain & France we use the term to mean “a dish served BEFORE the main course or BETWEEN two principal courses”.) The lozenges of duck were interspersed with segments of cooked orange, partly encasing a ramekin amount of the firm, almost fondant potato-like, parsnip mash. The anatidæic flesh - though properly pink - was dry, tough and fatty. The oranges in their overcooked state lost their structural integrity and juiciness. The dish was oddly and unexpectedly droughty. There had been a wispy hint of jus as decoration, but no sauce. I was glad I had ordered a large glass of Chilean Merlot. The cherry tomato accompaniment could have killed me, despite my having warned chef of my (true) food allergy and our lovely waitress having checked my selections were hazard-free. This plate was a delight to the eyes, an æsthetic achievement to be sure, but was a sorry disappointment to the palate. Overpriced and over cooked.

Rack of Welsh lamb, minted mash, rosemary gravy, caramelised parsnips - £17.00

[Image description: rack of lamb dish, © Bloom Live]

My guest chose a rack of Welsh lamb. This was no hearty portion, but mini-rack for a mini appetite. For me the meat was over cooked; but for my guest it was just what he ordered and just what he likes. At the end of his course he chewed happily on the small morsels of flesh still adhering to the wee bones. My partner delighted in his minted mash and his sprig of fresh rosemary. His three long juliennes of parsnip were not what could have been in any sense of the word “caramelised”, as their blanched flesh contrasted vehemently against the blackened lamb. My friend hardly felt satisfied and certainly did not consider the course worth the money.

Sides

Baby vegetables £3.00

Home cut chips £3.00

Our chips were the big, hunky-chunky variety rather than the pathetic American-style fries. Perfectly cooked, so long as one does not expect crunchy. For me, chef had sourced a really tasty potato variety. Spot on.

The side of veggies included: four small carrots - unusually my companion, who is not a carrot-lover, scoffed three before I could get to them; three incredibly and wonderfully sweet baby sweet-corns; a tablespoon of comparably flavourless mini green beans; and, the revelation of the meal, shredded red cabbage, dried fruit and a hint of cinnamon - what a combo!

Desserts

@ £5-6

Normally, I do not have room for three courses these days, but due to the not quite nouvelle cuisine portion sizing, I was still more than peckish. My companion similarly hungry also decided upon dessert. Mine was returned to the kitchen almost untouched: an arid chocolate sponge; a yellow ice that tasted of absolutely nothing; and a delicious strawberry ice-cream with a satisfying thick texture. I am no fan of strawberry-flavoured food, so this was a success - of sorts. My friend had a mint brûlée with what he described as the oddest shortbread he had ever had. Another thumbs-down dish.

Drinks

Not having ingredients for cocktails might be a little remiss, but having not one bottle of sparkling mineral water in a restaurant either indicates a cock-up or a problem. I did notice part-way through our experience a barman arrive with a couple of supermarket carrier-bags. Even odder that the bar is having to pop out for their bottled elixirs! At just under seven pounds for a large glass of fair-to-good wine, I cannot whinge. It went well with my duck. My designated driver was not too happy about having to sip at tap water however!

To summarise…

Some great points; some fair points; some bad points; some terrible points.

Bloom Brasserie has the potential to get it right if their weaknesses are addressed.

%)



For my glowing review of the cocktail bar, see here.

The House Restaurant, Altrincham, Review

My review for Tripadvisor (q.v.) of The House Restaurant in Goose Green:

[Image description: inside the dining area; © T.H.R.]

“Silenced by the scallops but not by the lamb”

We managed to get squeezed in at eight-thirty. Barring a minor contretemps with the wine waiter, the staff were efficient, helpful, polite and friendly.

The Emotivo rosé Prosecco, which accompanied well all three of our courses, was a find and worth a trip just to quaff a glass!

[Image description: a tantalising dish; © T.H.R.]

My thanks especially to the chef who produced absolutely mouth-watering and scrumptious dishes that worked around my (true) food allergy. He prepared the most perfect scallops: neither soggily undercooked nor overcooked to a rubbery consistency; they just hit the orgasmic "oh" mark. Silenced by the scallops but not by the lamb. The lamb-meat, without being the lightest bit bloody (not that I should have minded) was juicy, tasty and one's knife just slid through the flesh without the slightest effort. We shared the lightest of light Eton-Mess for dessert.

At around £75 a wonderful repast and well worth every penny. We shall return soon. I cannot recommend this bistro enough. %D

Visited September 2013

• • Value
  • Atmosphere
  • Service
  • Food