Taberna La Montera, Grenada Spain

We tripped upon Taberna La Montera early in the evening, and the place was full of families, with children in prams, and the slightly bigger kids running around between the stools & tables, and the parents all mingling as part of one big community. We slide on in and generally perched by the bar, or if there was a table and a few stools left, would settle there. As Grenada is in the heart of Andalucia, bull fighting is kind-of a big deal around here ... This bar displays all sorts of memorabilia from famous matches, upcoming schedules, photos, and even a few hanging bulls heads - this is how we somehow end up calling this place the Toro Bar for the rest of our visit ....

Loving the whole order a drink, get a free tapas thing they have going on in Grenada. As we also love the wine & lemon soda concoction of the region. 2 x Tinto de Verana, which come in bowl-size wine glasses filled with ice, and a complimentary plate of paella.



We order a plate of the simply described chorizo, chili & fried potatoes. It comes out just so, the chorizo is more a heavily spiced mince, with the paprika and spice you'd expect, but in little bite sized pieces. Sitting to the side is a mountain of fried potato squares, a few blistered & glistening green chili's and a fried egg. It was delicious, I would be happy eating this plate at any time of day and feel it would make a fine weekend breakfast.



Next drink, and next tapas. This time, a plate of vinegary fish that has been fried in a light coating, with some crisp iceberg lettuce dressed with lemon and good olive oil to the side.



More pork, with more potatoes arrives. It's skewered pieces of tender pork, which have been wrapped in smoked bacon (score!) before being cooked on large metal skewers. More of the fried potatoes, and some fried chilis complete the plate.



One last drink before we move on. This time the tapas is a little chicken curry, which is full of spice, and has a chunk of bread on one end for mopping up the juice, but also a pile of lightly salted potato crisps, which seem to work really well with the softness of the chicken meat.



We were very pleased to spot this little place, and quite enjoyed just sitting there and watching the local community gather before heading off for their nightly activities.




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Taberna de Jam, Grenada Spain - and again ...

It was hard to stay away ... Firstly because it was just across the street from our hotel, secondly because the food really was that good. It was a great place to start the evening off, we could gather together over a few drinks, a few tapas, and set out for the rest of the evening. They have an impressive jamón menu, with majority of the listing perched up on the counter. The top rating jamón was the Joselito. The Joselito is an acorn fed Iberico ham. The meat is a rosy pink, with streaks of fat marbled through each piece. Watching the meat sliced from the leg with a long knife, we are very impressed by the skill, and also the care taken. As a small piece is sliced off, it is draped on the plate, with the next slice laying directly beside it. It's as if the leg is coming back to life on the plate, with each piece carefully put together like a puzzle.



It's smooth and delicate, and almost sweet to begin. It's then you get a hit of salt and the creaminess of fat, which really elevates this jamón experience to another level.

Bite-sized little toasts topped with pate & apple puree arrive next. These little morsels pack a load of flavour all in one bite.



The same apple puree appears on our next dish, but merely adds a sweetness to the dish, and it does not feel at all like we are eating the same component. Toasted bread, apple puree, a blood sausage and raisin mix with a fresh herb oil. A little bit messy to eat, but very tasty.



We are discussing the rest of the evenings plans, over a few drinks, with good food & great company. One last little steak sandwich on toasted bread with baby leaves before we head out into the night ....




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Taberna Doña Casta, Zaragoza

€15 each and we were transported to another dimensi..., er I mean region of Spain. We took the bus from Barcelona Nord bus station to Zaragoza. The trip in total took just on 4 hours, which of course included a little road side stop for snacks and drinks along the way. We both had a bacon & roasted green chili bocadillo from the said road side stop that was cheap yet truly delicious.

We are both exhausted from the trip, so once we arrive to this beautiful Northern region of Spain, the first thing on the cards is siesta. We wake around 6pm and are ready for food. The kind young gentleman at our guesthouse starts talking to us ... nothing opens until 9pm to eat? What?? nothing? We head out to investigate.

We make it to the centre of town, turn the corner into the main square, and both gasp in awe. The sky is an electric blue, the sun slowly disappearing, and the San Pablo church is aglow.



We just gaze at this monstrous & beautiful structure before us, and before we know it 8pm has struck. We head off in search of food. Things are just starting to open up, lucky if you could find somewhere just to have a drink. We spot a little Taberna which has just opened it's doors. Within minutes the place is full. We squeeze on it, the counter full of tapas and people drinking, talking, lauging & eating.



There are sets scribbled all over the wall in chalk, involving bottles of wine and varieties of food. We take the 6 tapas with a bottle of Red Wine for €26 option. It's just a point or nod at the 6 things we would like from the counter. A few croquettas, some random deep fried things and some grilled bread with toppings.



Value for money local wine & tasty food combo. We're off to a good start in Zaragoza.

Taberna Doña Casta
Calle Estébanes, 6
(El Tubo)
Zaragoza, 50003 Spain