We went out last night with Tere and Miguel to Eslava, another great tapas bar a few blocks away, for a belated birthday dinner for Tere. It was another perfect evening (as is any evening spent with these two interesting, kind, intelligent, warm, loving, and excruciatingly patient friends). Excruciatingly patient with most things, but particularly with our communication skills. San Geraldo is using more and more Spanish in his conversation. It's wonderful, requires a lot of concentration, and some interpretation skills from me.
(For example, he still regularly wishes people "happy complementary anus" — feliz compleanos — instead of "happy birthday" — feliz cumpleaños.) My interpretations quite often leave something to be desired, and Miguel and Tere have never once made me or us feel like they're thinking, "Get on with it!" We're amazed at the depth of conversation we're able to have with them. And Tere is an exceptional teacher.
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| LA CARTA (THE MENU). |
The food at Eslava is unusual and delicious and surprisingly inexpensive. For our meal, we shared huevos sobre bizcocho, boletus, y vino dulce
(egg over biscuit, porcino mushrooms, and sweet wine), pudding de berenjenas
(eggplant pudding), solomillo salsa eneldo
(steak in dill sauce), and charlota de calabacin
(zucchini charlotte)... Don't ask me for recipes or ingredients. Just trust me. It was all good. Photos follow, but this post is really all about the desserts.
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HUEVOS SOBRE BIZCOCHO, BOLETUS, Y VINO DULCE.
(EGG OVER BISCUIT, PORCINO MUSHROOMS, AND SWEET WINE.) MY FAVORITE DISH. |
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PUDDING DE BERENJENAS.
(EGGPLANT PUDDING.) ON SECOND THOUGHT, MY FAVORITE. |
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SOLOMILLO SALSA ENELDO.
(STEAK WITH DILL SAUCE.) COME TO THINK OF IT, THIS WAS MY FAVORITE. |
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CHARLOTA DE CALABACÍN.
(ZUCCHINI CHARLOTTE.) WITHOUT A DOUBT, MY FAVORITE! |
The waiter suggested a sampler of all the desserts. But there are a number of those that San Geraldo doesn't like (because they have nuts). And, he really wanted the dessert he had last time, a chocolate "tarta" that is really more like a slab of fudge. Exquisite.
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| SAN GERALDO'S TARTA DE CHOCOLATE (CHOCOLATE "CAKE") |
I had to have the one I had last time we were at Eslava, just so I could take a picture and write about it. It's called helado queso viejo
(old-cheese ice cream) and that's exactly what it is, ice cream made from aged cheese. It's adorned with what looks like crystallized sugar, but is actually cheese. It sounds strange, I know. But it's served on a layer of dulce de membrio
(quince marmalade) with a large dollop of tomato marmalade on the side. It's important to take a bit of each on the spoon for the perfect experience. Just the ice cream, a little cheesy. Just the crystallized cheese, a little cheesy. All flavors together, the absolutely perfect dessert.
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| MIGUEL'S TARTA DE QUESO (CHEESE CAKE) |
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| TERE'S TIRAMISU (TIRAMISU) |
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| CAUGHT STEALING A BELATED BIRTHDAY BESO. |
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MY HELADO QUESO VIEJO (OLD-CHEESE ICE CREAM).
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT COULD BE SO GOOD?!? |
Tomorrow, I'm off to New York to visit The Dowager Duchess, The Kid Brother, and some wonderful friends and family. I'll only be there a week and hope to post regularly while I'm gone. Watch for photos of hot dogs, New York delis, and more! If I find any old-cheese ice cream, I'll be sure to let you know.
I would be fat as a pig if I lived in your neck of the woods....
ReplyDeleteMaria:
DeleteI've lost 12 pounds. San Geraldo has stayed the same. We eat mostly very healthy. And we (I especially) do a lot of walking.
Hello Mitch:
ReplyDeleteThese are indeed some puddings, as we should call them. We should almost certainly be tempted by them all and can well understand the difficulty of choosing.
We wish you a pleasant time in New York and a safe return.
Jane and Lance:
DeleteOh, thanks for the comment about "puddings" as opposed to "desserts." There's an old family story I'll have to remember to tell on that subject.
Also, thanks for the good wishes. I look forward to the trip, although I hate that San Geraldo is staying behind in Sevilla for the week!
I wish you happy and safe travels!
ReplyDeleteMichelle:
DeleteThanks so much. It will be fun to write and take pictures in New York. What a contrast it will be!
I would happily try your old-cheese ice cream. I love the flavor of quince and miss the quince ice cream they used to have in Hungary before the Italian gelato took over the market. My great niece was in Hungary this summer with her brother and Dad and sent me back a photo of ice cream called "Viagra".
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful visit and traveling mercies, as Anne Lamotte says.
Kristi:
ReplyDeleteSo, what do you suppose is in the Viagra ice cream?!? The quince marmalade is unbelievably good. We had tomato marmalade with a meat dish several times here in Sevilla before we knew it was tomato. It's so delicious. I think I'll need those traveling mercies. I'm flying Iberia and American.
Geez, I hope the Dowager Duchess doesn't feel any pressure in trying to 'feed' you after this post!! Spectacularly presented and very unusual combinations of things.
ReplyDeleteHave a good trip over and 'see you' when you land.
Jim:
DeleteThe Dowager Duchess feels no pressure to feed me (by cooking at least). She's a great cook, but hasn't done so in years. So, she's got yogurt and fruit in the house for me. And chocolate, and I think cookies! The rest of the time, we'll eat out. Thanks for the good wishes. Just about ready for tomorrow!
Oh, how delightful to sample the glorious foods of New York after the glorious foods of Sevilla! I hope you three have a marvelous time painting the town red!
ReplyDeleteMs. Sparrow:
DeleteSan Geraldo is staying behind in Sevilla this time. So, just the Dowager Duchess and I will be painting the town red. But thanks!
So many favorites and I can see why in each case.
ReplyDeleteHarper:
DeleteA really exceptional menu!
I always get desert and I don't care who it annoys. I'll be over for a few of these!
ReplyDeleteKisatrtle:
DeleteYou wouldn't get any complaints from us (as you can probably tell). There were more than 10 other desserts to try!
The first time I had tapas was in a restaurant in Chicago. The goat cheese in tomato sauce remains my favorite. The place is closed now; I would give my right arm to have another taste of this wonderful tapas cheese.
ReplyDeleteSpo:
DeleteYep, I've seen lots of goat cheese dishes here. It's funny how Chicago is known for tapas (you're not the only person to tell me his first tapas was in Chicago). I had to wait until I got here!
do you or anyone in your vicinity know how to make goat cheese/tomato base tapas?
DeleteI would pay much and/or put out to get it.
Spo:
DeleteI sure don't. You DO remember how I cook! But, I'll ask around. Maybe Jerry's got a recipe in one of his tapas books.
Fabulous, fabulous food. The cheese ice cream fascinates me. I'd love to try that! Belated happy birthday.
ReplyDeleteKnatolee:
DeleteThanks so much for the belated birthday wishes. The cheese ice cream was a huge surprise. I've had other versions here (had never heard of it before), but this is the first one I've had with "old cheese" and the other additions. Incredible.
Salivating from all the delicasies. That ice-cream I have to try.
ReplyDeletePeter:
DeleteYou will soon have your chance!
Have a great trip! How exciting! (Like living this life in Sevilla is not exciting? *LOL*)
ReplyDeleteI just looooove a restaurant with super creative and interesting and delicious food. I loved this post :)
Can't wait to see photos of the New York visit :)
Judy
Judeet:
DeleteBack from New York and catching up on other blogs and comments here! Hope you're enjoying what you're reading.
It's a good thing I read your post after dinner...still craving a dessert because Mrs. Buckley didn't bake anything today. Here with 7 adults a cake is but a passing shadow...only lasts 10 minutes.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of food, the Gran Dama Eloi is beginning to get forgetful...today she had breakfast four times...indignant that we didn't feed her breakfast (after she had 3)
She will be 97 Sept. 28, so what do you expect?
saludos,
raulito
Raulito:
DeleteSorry to read about the Gran Dama Eloi's memory problems. But San Geraldo wouldn't complain if he had an excuse to have four breakfasts! Are you sure she's not faking it? We used to go through a cake in one sitting between the two of us. We're a little more rational now.
The food selections look wonderful. Makes going out to dinner here seem boring.
ReplyDeleteFrank:
DeleteI guess it depends on what you're used to. I have friends here who constantly talk about "American food" — like apple pie, hot dogs, hamburgers.
Victor:
ReplyDeleteTeré and Miguel are exceptional. It's hard to imagine how frustrating and demoralizing your days can sometimes be, considering the challenges we experience simply with our own kind of language barrier -- and we're not nearly as bright as you obviously are!
My visit to New York was great. I'm now dealing with a totally confused body clock!