Lunch in Haro, Spain

After checking into my hotel in the village of Ábalos, we drove a short distance west to the town of Haro, Spain. Here the various wineries operate tasting rooms and gift shops. The town itself is worth a stroll, which we did, ending at a little bar for lunch.

Bar/restaurant Madrid in the town of Haro, Spain.

Bar/restaurant Madrid in the town of Haro, Spain.

Inside, we found the usual bar with various tapas under the glass.

Interior of bar/restaurant Madrid in the town of Haro, Spain.

Interior of bar/restaurant Madrid in the town of Haro, Spain.

We sat at one of those round tables you see on the left of the photo above. And here’s a look at just a few of the tapas we enjoyed:

Various tapas at bar/restaurant Madrid in Haro, Spain.

Various tapas at bar/restaurant Madrid in Haro, Spain.

There were several more rounds of tapas, including this batch:

More tapas at bar/restaurant Madrid, in Haro, Spain.

More tapas at bar/restaurant Madrid, in Haro, Spain.

This was another great local meal, the kind that I prefer. I only had a few minutes to chat with the lady operating the place. Next time, I plan on lingering longer to learn some Spanish and experience the local scene a little more.

 

Published in: on June 21, 2014 at 7:11 am  Comments (1)  
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Lunch in Belchite, Spain

While roaming about Spain, of course one of my favorite things to do is enjoy a “local” meal. There’s hardly a bar-restaurante, truck stop, roadside stand, or snack shack that doesn’t catch my attention. That being the case, I have to make a selection and take my chances. Well, while in the tiny town of Belchite, Spain, I found the perfect spot. A corner place, with an awning and a few tables outside where the local older gents were having a chat. To this day, I’m not sure of the name of this place, but here’s a photo of the outside:

Exterior of a great little corner bar/restaurant in Belchite, Spain.

Exterior of a great little corner bar/restaurant in Belchite, Spain.

Going inside, I found several more guys at the bar, enjoying a tapas-style snack.

The tapas bar at a local joint in Belchite, Spain.

The tapas bar at a local joint in Belchite, Spain.

This place had a fine variety of tasty tapas, and I ordered several to make a meal.

Tortilla española and more at a local joint in Belchite, Spain.

Tortilla española and more at a local joint in Belchite, Spain.

Note the ice-cold Coca-Cola backing up the tapas. And there were plenty more, including these:

More tapas at a local joint in Belchite, Spain.

More tapas at a local joint in Belchite, Spain.

This was a great meal, served by a friendly lady who ran the place with a smile. I asked a few questions about the town, the bar, and such, which she was happy to answer, thereby giving me some local insight. Amazingly, the whole adventure cost me less than 15 euros. That’s an incredible value and a fun way to spend a few hours. Enjoy every meal!

Published in: on June 19, 2014 at 7:18 am  Comments (1)  
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High Tech Lunch (Aruba)

Compared to the previous post, lunch today was decidedly downscale. Still, it was very good. Since I was alone, I like to catch up on my reading and video viewing (something I would never do in the company of others.) Hence, I tote the iPad along. Here’s a view of the BBQ lunch at Lady Face a Chinese bar/restaurant in Paradera, Aruba, DWI.

Chicken, ribs, rice, and iPad at lunch in Aruba.

Chicken, ribs, rice, and iPad at lunch in Aruba.

Took a seat at the bar and took my time eating all that food, which is a typical Sunday BBQ in Aruba. Here’s another angle of just the food:

Sunday BBQ platter from Lady Face Bar/Restaurant, Paradera, Aruba.

Sunday BBQ platter from Lady Face Bar/Restaurant, Paradera, Aruba.

Normally, people stop by and get this to go. I’d rather enjoy it fresh from the grill, which is why I stay at the bar. You get about 1/3 of a chicken, several ribs, fried rice, coleslaw, and a bit of corn on the cob all for the current price of 15 florins, about US$9. You have to pace yourself to eat that much, which is the reason for the iPad. Some leisurely reading will take you through the whole meal. Enjoy!

Published in: on February 16, 2014 at 6:31 pm  Leave a Comment  
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McSorely’s Old Ale House, NYC

McSorely’s Old Ale House has been an New York City institution for more than 150 years. It’s on East 7th Street, and not hard to find. Certainly worth a stop for a glass of ale.

McSorely's Old Ale House, New York City, USA.

McSorely’s Old Ale House, New York City, USA.

The place has quite a history, having been visited by presidents and other dignitaries. Sorry for the shabby photo, but the interior is old-school barroom as you can kind of see here:

Interior corner of McSorley's Old Ale House.

Interior corner of McSorley’s Old Ale House.

Plenty of old photos, newspapers, even record albums hanging on the wall, meaning there is plenty of eye candy to keep you busy. You can order light ale or dark and you get two glasses per round as you see next:

Light ale at McSorley's Old Ale House.

Light ale at McSorley’s Old Ale House.

Two at a time also keeps you busy. Then there’s a short menu of food items chalked on the board:

Menu at McSorely's Old Ale House.

Menu at McSorely’s Old Ale House.

After all that drinking, you may need the toilet, and it’s old school as well. Check out these urinals:

Urinals at McSorely's Old Ale House.

Urinals at McSorely’s Old Ale House.

All in all, quite an establishment. Worth your visit for a drink or to linger with friends and chat. Maybe you’ll meet someone new or find a piece of memorabilia that fills in an historical blank. Enjoy the journey.

Published in: on January 14, 2014 at 12:18 am  Leave a Comment  
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