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Monday night – day off – Roger going back to UK tomorrow – will obviously want to go out for last night – no vegging on the sofa for me. Well I´m up for it. I´ve been on the “Support Elaine´s Pre-Wedding Diet” for one week and not one drop of alcohol or one carbohydrate (apart from veggies) has passed my lips – I am feeling in control! The 5* hotel restaurant had gone through my mind but could I stick to this controlled regime under such gastronomic temptation? – of course, I am feeling in control! I make an attempt to smarten up a bit (you get so out of practice in Fuerteventura) and Roger not only comments that I have high heels on but also a skirt(!!). Obviously, I cannot titter down to the hotel in high heels across surrounding building site – so titter to truck and drive round the corner. We went to the hotel for drinks last Monday so the beautiful decoration of the hotel reception was of no surprise to us. This definitely is a 5* hotel. We asked which of the restaurants was open and were informed that only the Italian was open that evening (as well as the hotel buffet restaurant). We were directed to the restaurant which led us through the exquisite grounds of the hotel, over two little bridges (dinky doo), passed the lit up swimming pools and exotic greenery and through the billowing palm trees (last Monday night was, if you remember, a tad cold and windy). The Italian restaurant is only open three days a week at present (Sat, Sun and Mon) and, I presume, the other restaurants in the hotel open on other individual days in the week until the hotel gets busier. The restaurant itself is decorated in cream and gold with yummy “distressed” furniture. The entrance is adorned with a huge display of maroon roses and each table is decorated with fresh roses and Baby´s Breath. There are 12 tables as well as a larger table for 6 in a separate alcove. We were welcomed by Guiseppe, the maitre d´ and led to our table near the entrance overlooking the pool and gardens. Unfortunately, due the severe weather conditions, some maintenance men were repairing the glass door which had blown open in the wind but they were only working for 5 minutes or so after our arrival. Guiseppe unreservedly apologised that, due to the fact that Monday was their last night, there was no buffalo mozzerella on the menu (quelle dommage!) – can I live with such inadequacies! The menu comprises 2 soups (cream of kidney beans and consommé of veal), 4 antipasti dishes (including buffalo mozzarella (normally) and phantasy of vegetables with melted cheese), pastas (including potato gnocchi and black ravioli), 3 fish and 3 meat dishes. We each had an aperitif which arrived with a small plate of mini bruscettas (on a doily – one of those little extras I love!) and we chose a bottle of Orvieto Classico 2002. The wine list includes wines from, obviously, Italy as well as Cataluña, Rioja, Rueda, Portugal. The reds include 4 Crianzas, 3 Reserves and 2 Gran Reservas and there was also a choice of 4 cavas and champagnes. Do I go the whole hog and have a starter as well as a main course? I talk Roger into doing so (obviously I need to sample as much of the fare as possible as I am doing my restaurant review). I choose a salad of seared scallops on a bed of spinach, white beans and chicory in a Mandarin sauce. Roger had the assortment of Italian antipasti comprising slices of cured meats, salamis and Parma ham with mushrooms, sun dried tomato and slices of artichoke on a bed of red cabbage. Our bread (5 assorted rolls) was served in a basket wrapped in a sweet little cotton lace bedcover. I sneaked a look at the make of the china and was impressed to find it was Villeroy & Boch (I always wanted to own a Villeroy & Boch china set when I succumbed to such materialistic possessions!). Our main courses were seabass served with a superbly constructed timbale of diced vegetables wrapped in slices of courgettes and yellow peppers and the veal, both garnished with radish, parsley and slices of orange (very colourful). Both were extremely good but we were both glad we had ordered the starters beforehand as the dishes were verging on the minimalistic approach. Not surprisingly, I had to continue with dessert and chose (probably the most healthy option on the menu) the pear poached in sweet wine with a strawberry coulis and Roger had the fresh cheese –an assortment of five Italian cheeses with chopped nuts and acacia honey (had to sample a bit of these – gorgeous). I managed to avoid the tiramisu with cream of vanilla and Amaretto. After our meal we were offered either grappa or limoncello on the house which was served with a small plate of mini fruit tartlets (yes, I had one, but saved the other two for a friend the next day). Both Guiseppe and Carolina, the waitress, were extremely attentive throughout the meal. They had both worked at La Scarpetta when it first opened and Guiseppe has been in the Canary Islands for 7 years. They both spoke immaculate English. Roger commented on the extremely relaxing atmosphere throughout. The restaurant was not very busy – there were only four other tables while we were there between 8.00 and 10.45 p.m. – one other English couple, a German couple and two tables of three and four Spanish. Our only criticism (and hardly a serious one) was that the loos were about 25 yards away outside which, on a night like this one, was a bit of an effort bracing oneself to leave the cosy atmosphere of the restaurant. I also asked for agua con gas and got sin – but hardly a sin either! All in all I would highly recommend the restaurant more for a special occasion (although I would be tempted to go any time!). Our bill came to just over €100 which, for all the extra niceties, was not over the top. ……. and I think I vaguely stuck to the diet (only half a bottle of wine and no bread or carbohydrates). |
Il Giardinetto – Hotel Atlantis Real
Bahia Gran Hotel