By Ernest Hemingway (sorry! – Paul Whitelock)
Many years ago I wrote an article about the “doubles” of famous people who were living in the Serrania de Ronda. There was Leonid Breznev, ex-leader of the Soviet Union, living in Montejaque; Cheryl Cole, the "Girls Aloud" singer, running a business in Ronda; Lech Walesa, erstwhile president of Poland (1990-1995), Garth Crooks, former Spurs footballer and BBC football reporter, and Ray French, the rugby league commentator and former player, were all playing in a modern flamenco group I went to see. Lech was on flute, Garth on guitar and Ray on drums.
And Robert de Niro, the Hollywood actor, was often to be seen around the Barrio San Francisco, where I lived at that time. He spoke really good Spanish albeit with an andaluz accent.
Fast forward to 2024
Now it has been reported that the real Robert de Niro, aged 80, spent some time in August in the City of Dreams. He was seen dining at one of Ronda’s top restaurants, Bardal, which has two Michelin Stars.
Chef Benito Gomez didn’t realise that the long-standing booking was for the star of The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.
De Niro and his fellow diners were happy with the lunchtime set menu, priced at an eye-watering 180€ per head. At that price, I’m glad they were happy!
“Mr De Niro was straightforward, very polite and approachable. He didn't want a private booth or anything special in the restaurant”, said chef Benito Gomez. "He seemed to me to be a very normal, elegant man, very interested in cooking, but without eccentricities."
De Niro is passionate about cuisine and has on several occasions publicly praised the standard of Spanish gastronomy. He has been a frequent visitor to Spain and, of course, lived in the barrio for several years …..!
© Paul Whitelock (a "dead ringer" for Ernest Hemingway)
Paul Whitelock or Ernest Hemingway?
Links:
"Doppelgänger" in Andalucía: Robert de Niro, Rick Wakeman, Cheryl Cole, Dennis Taylor and reincarnated Sir Lawrence Olivier, Leonid Brezhnev and Arthur Askey
Doppelgängers in Andalucía: Robert de Niro's waiting... in Ronda? - Secret Serrania de Ronda
Doppelgängers in Andalucía - Olive Press News Spain (theolivepress.es)
Robert de Niro enjoys a gastronomic getaway in Ronda: where did he dine and what did he feast on? | Sur in English
Acknowledgements:
Enrique Miranda
Paul Whitelock
Secret Serrania
SUR in English
Photos:
BBC
EuroWeekly News
Malaga Hoy
Tags:
andaluz accent, Bardal, Barrio San Francisco, Benito Gomez, Cheryl Cole, Doppelgängers in Andalucía, Enrique Miranda, EuroWeekly News, Garth Crooks, "Girls Aloud", Karl Smallman, Lech Walesa, Leonid Breznev, Malaga Hoy, Michelin Star, Montejaque, Paul Whitelock, Poland, Raging Bull, Ray French, Robert de Niro, Secret Serrania, Serrania de Ronda, Soviet Union, Spurs, SUR in English, Taxi Driver, The Godfather Part II