Foodie Mini-Blog: Sublime lunch in Blanes, Catalunya. One year ago we went to the newly opened ‘gastronomic bar’ SaLola for the ‘degustacio’ six-course lunch. When we returned this year, two things had changed and two things had not: The menu had expanded, retaining the favourites, and the restaurant was now rated by TripAdvisor as #1 of 95 restaurants in Blanes. The super quality of the food had not changed, neither had the price. Even the slight upgrade kept it at 18 euros… just about the price of two pieces of halibut and chips at Swans Brewpub in Victoria. (and SaLola throws in a healthily sized free wine or beer in that price). They open with a tiny frozen Margarita… served in a hollowed-out frozen lime… fun and a great taste-awakener. Then comes the spherical olive—served on a spoon. It’s pureed olives that have been dipped in a suspension: what comes to the table looks like a green egg yolk. They warn you to pop all of it into your mouth and close it quickly. Then you press the ‘yolk’ against the back of your teeth with your tongue and… wow… instant taste explosion. Catalan Bread and tomato/oil/garlic spread is then brought to the table (not one of the courses). Next up: fresh mussels grilled in their shells served with a smoked mayonnaise dip. Then… large prawns dredged in a corn-flake batter and deep-fried, served with a sweet chili sauce. Cynthia chose the ‘Million Dollar Burger’ to follow: no bread, but baseball-sized beautifully seasoned beef ball, cooked to your specifications, topped with a sauce of truffles, carmalized onions and something gold. I had the Rabbit Confit. I finished with Tiramisu, Cynthia with chocolate cake with a layer of blackberry. Yummy throughout… and when I pointed out that he had forgotten to charge for my second beer, he told me I’d paid for it with honesty. It’s not a surprise that the co-owner worked as a chef with Fernand Adria at El Bulli, the restaurant that has been rated #1 in the world on two occasions; the price is the surprise… a la prochaine.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Oct 2013 11:11:31 +0000
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