Antollos, Santiago de Compostela (June 2014)

For pinxtos, tapas, and vinos in Santiago de Compostela, Antollos is the place! This is a relatively small joint, usually jammed with locals and a few tourists on the road to Santiago or just food lovers like me. And here’s the reason why:

Tapas at Antollor, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Tapas at Antollor, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

On those two plates you have a variety that is both delicious and creative. There is the tortilla española on the left with a typical bocadillo, but also an empanada. On the right you have various fish concoctions as well as another tortilla. But there’s more such as this pair:

More tapas at Antollos, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

More tapas at Antollos, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

And there was even more, but I was too busy eating to take photos. The guys behind the counter will wander the floor, bringing out fresh, hot items for you to try with the ones you already selected. Of course, there’s plenty of wine to be had. Take your time, enjoy it all!

Published in: on July 7, 2014 at 12:33 pm  Leave a Comment  
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La Consistorial, Oviedo, Spain

La Consistorial is one of those great little bars that I’m constantly looking for while traveling.

La Consistorial, Oviedo, Spain.

La Consistorial, Oviedo, Spain.

It’s on the far edge of the plaza in the heart of Oviedo Spain. A few tables outside as you see above, and some more inside, all populated by regulars.

Interior, La Consistorial, Oviedo, Spain.

Interior, La Consistorial, Oviedo, Spain.

There was a little sign that said tapas made to order so please be patient, that type of thing. I thought to myself that’s a good indicator of quality and took a seat. While catching bits of conversation from around the room, I perused the offerings and made my selection. The lady behind the bar slipped away and produced some very fine tapas.

Tapas at La Consistorial, Oviedo, Spain.

Tapas at La Consistorial, Oviedo, Spain.

In the photo above you see a crab salad with an anchovy, a little bocadillo, then a four cheese version with a bit of marmalade. Very tasty stuff here and super fresh. Of course another round had to be enjoyed.

Fresh tapas at La Consistorial, Oviedo, Spain.

Fresh tapas at La Consistorial, Oviedo, Spain.

This time it was the salmon with cream cheese, and a jamón, peppers, and egg. Of course the freshness made all the difference. I chatted with the bartender/cook/operator of this place. We discussed the difference between fast food culture in the USA and Spain. If you’re careful, you can actually find reasonably priced “fast food” in the form of these tapas for a price that isn’t significantly more than a garbage fast food meal typical to the USA. I’d much rather have the tapas in a place as unique as this than some meal out of bag at the drive-thru window. Enjoy every meal and find the good ones!

 

Published in: on July 2, 2014 at 11:46 am  Leave a Comment  
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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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