The "Guiri" Gourmet

By The "Guiri" Gourmet

Yesterday was St Patrick's Day.

Although I don't have a drop of Irish blood in me, I am 50% Celt, being half-Welsh. I also like Guinness, Murphys and (most) Irish people I have met in my relatively long life.

As a result I often celebrate March 17, St Patrick's Day, patron saint of Eire.

[Photo  courtesy of Wikipedia]    

Dinner at the "Mill"

This year the German missus and I "celebrated" by going for dinner on the re-opening-under-new-management night of the restaurant at Hotel Molino del Santo in Estación de Benaoján (Málaga).

This fine establishment in a refurbished mill first opened its doors as a boutique hotel and restaurant in 1987.

    The welcome sign [Photo: Trip Advisor]

It has been closed since the end of November 2024 and has undergone a makeover. It has always been a favourite of ours for a special occasion.

New "owners" are Carmen and Martin. Carmen is the elder daughter of owners Andy Chapell and Pauline Elkin, who retired in 2023. Carmen was born locally and attended schools in Benaoján, Ronda and San Pedro de Alcántara, before university in the UK. 

Her partner Martin originates from Norway.

Apart from the alterations and improvements, there is a new menu, and a new website, but most of the staff remain as before.  

Andy, Pauline, Carmen and Martin [Jon  Clarke] 

Pre-dinner drinks

The new owners had gone off-duty by the time we arrived. I think they had had a busy lunchtime!

But, we were pleased to see Inma, head receptionist and last night maitresse D. The head waiter, Víctor, was "off sick", but Inma was ably supported by local "girl", waitress Andrea.

There was no sign of Andy and Pauline hovering in the background, keeping an eye on things. They truly are retired!

Nor was there any sign of it being "Paddy's Day". No green décor nor free Guinness!

In the bar we bumped into Paul and Roz, who have a house up the road in Montejaque.

I have known Roz since 2000 when we both worked together in Merseyside. Then, we ended up buying property in said Montejaque. Quite a coincidence, eh? Serendipity?

They now live in Lymm (Cheshire), my old stomping ground before I emigrated to Spain.

Paul and Roz in their new home in Lymm [Manchester World]

The meal

They were not very busy - I counted 11 covers. Apart from us four walk-ups there were two English couples and a group of three "escapees" from Trump's USA.

The first thing we noticed was that the new menu had new prices!

No worries. We both ordered fish goujons in tempura as a starter - very tasty.

Rita went for the solomillo de ternera (beef fillet steak) whereas I chose the dorada fillets (sea bream). Rita's steak was as she wanted it, ie al punto (medium rare). My fish was delightful - baked to perfection.

We washed our meal down with a couple of glasses each of Marqués de Cáceres (Rita) and La Cañada verdejo (me).

Then it was time to pay the bill - a hefty 110 euros - before braving the downpour for the 20-minute drive home.

Endword

Despite the costly bill, we had a lovely evening. From re-acquainting with Inma and Andrea, to bumping into Roz and Paul, plus chatting to an English couple who were staying at the hotel, to the exquisite food.

We were disappointed that the new hosts, Carmen and Martin, weren't there, and that there was no "nod" towards St Patrick's Day.

Also that there were no opening night "freebies".

Nevertheless, a lovely evening.

[Image courtesy of CEXT]    

 
Interesting links:

Couple loves later life in new Hawthorn Grange home

Hotel Molino del Santo under new management

SAINTS COME MARCHING IN!: Award-winning rural hotel Molino del Santo near Ronda gets set for a brand new chapter - Olive Press News Spain

Photos:

CEXT, Jon Clarke, Manchester World, Molino del Santo, Pronto, The Black Farmer, TikTok, Trip Advisor, Wikipedia 

© The "Guiri" Gourmet 

Tags:

Andrea, Andy, Benaoján, Carmen, CEXT, Eye on  Spain, Guinness, Inma, Jon Clarke, Lymm, maitresse D, Manchester World, Martin, Merseyside, Molino del Santo, Montejaque, Olive Press News, "Paddy's Day", Pauline, Paul Whitelock, Pronto, Roz and Paul Littler, St Patrick's Day, Secret Serranía, The Black Farmer, The "Guiri" Gourmet, TikTok, Trip Advisor, Víctor, Wikipedia 

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This post has been moved to:

March 17 is St Patrick's Day

It is 45 years since 28 February 1980 when in a referendum the andaluces voted overwhelmingly for their region to become one of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions (federal states), following Spain’s return to democracy on the death of the dictator General Franco five years earlier.

Franco lies in state [Daily Mail]    

Friday 28 February 2025 - Celebrating with dinner

Yesterday was Día de Andalucía, an important día festivo down here in the south of Spain where it is a significant day in the political and cultural history of the region.

Because of the bad weather some of the outdoor celebrations had to be cancelled or moved to indoor venues. And the andaluces still enjoyed their celebrations with family and friends.

Those of us foreigners who are resident here – guiris –  will have used the day as an excuse to celebrate and many will have gone out for dinner.

    The Love family in the early days                                                 Ian, Elaine and Carly Love with head chef Tom O'Connor

The Meter Maid and I chose the nearest restaurant to our home, the excellent La Cascada at the Hotel Molino del Puente in Fuente de la Higuera just outside Ronda.

The hotel bar was cosy and warm; the restaurant also. There were 18 diners, eight Spaniards and ten “guiris”, a mixture of hotel residents and “locals”.

After opening drinks in the bar we chose our meals and shortly afterwards adjourned to our tables.

What we chose

Head chef Tom O’Connor had assembled a varied menu fitting of the occasion. Tom says: "Estoy aquí para mostrar mi pasión por la cocina y mi compromiso de traer ideas nuevas y emocionantes a nuestro menú."

Rita chose a seafood salad followed by salmon on a bed of spinach. I chose one of my favourite starters – tarta de champigñones con ensalada - and a curry tailandés.

    Salmón en espinacas                         Curry tailandés                   Tarta de hojaldre

     [Library photos]

We were both well-pleased with our choices.

After a short epilogue back in the bar, it was time to pay the bill and amble  the 50 metres back to our home.

Further reading:

Andalucía Day (Día de Andalucía) - Secret Serrania de Ronda - 2021

Día de Andalucía – Monday 28 February 2022

My Andalucia Day - a personal serendipity – 2023

Back to the “Bridge” – St George’s Day

Por qué se celebra el 28-F el día de Andalucía         

What is a guiri? It's what the Spanish call us foreigners - but is it good or bad?

                             Image courtesy of saedyn  

© The "Guiri" Gourmet

Photos:

Daily Mail, Ian Love, Karl Smallman, Paul Whitelock, saedyn

Acknowledgements:

Eye on Spain, Ian Love, Karl Smallman, Paul Whitelock, Secret Serranía

Tags:

17 autonomous regions, 28 February 1980, andaluces, Andalucía, bad weather, celebrating with family and friends, Daily Mail, death of the dictator General Franco, democracy, día festivo, Eye on Spain, guiri, Hotel Molino del Puente, Ian Love, Karl Smallman, La Cascada, Meter Maid, outdoor celebrations, Paul Whitelock, political and cultural history of the region, referendum, resident, Ronda, Secret Serranía, The "Guiri" Gourmet

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