Mediterraneo

Hi guys, Miss Jenni Penni´s back at last. After an unfortunate enforced 12 day break in Blighty, I am now back in the fold and desperately trying to get my writing head back on. Thank you Neil for looking after the Den of Jeniquity page so admirably. After only one night and one full day back at work, I took my well-earned day off on Monday as usual. After spending half the day in Puerto del Rosario hospital depositing a not very well Bingo Dave (news of this story in next edition), Roger and I managed to go out for dinner in the evening. I thought I would pay a visit to Mediterráneo which we have frequented several times since it opened (probably less than two years ago). The restaurant is located in Calle Lepanto opposite Nortysur. I was quite up for a little flirtation from the ever so charming owner Massimo and his equally charming father (who could not be more alike to a Mafiosa if he tried!).

Anyway, arrive at restaurant and we are welcomed by a very nice Italian lad called Pierluigi. I ask where Massimo is and he explains that he is in Italy until tomorrow (Wed 25th). I explain that I would be writing a review on the restaurant and that Cap´n Chris and Jill (Scoop) would be coming to take a photo of him later in the week. Bless poor Pierluigi – he then has to explain that, although Massimo will be returning to The Rock this week, he had sold the restaurant to Pierluigi and his very attractive Italian girlfriend Federica. I congratulated them on their good fortune of taking over such a lovely restaurant and we sat down to eat.

The news owners have (so far) kept the restaurant exactly the same as well as the menu and, apparently the chefs. Pierluigi said that they would be adding a few extra dishes from their region of Italy (just outside Rome – whereas Massimo was from Bari in the South). I love the simplicity and freshness of the restaurant – everything seems exceptionally clean and well looked after and with only 11 tables provides an informal but cosy ambience. The background music is very subtle and there is a very calm atmosphere in the restaurant.

The menu provides a selection of starters including carpaccio, seafood soup, bruscetta and tropical fruit cocktail. I always opt for the Ciccio or Super Ciccio which is a pizza type bread with garlic and oil or tomato respectively. It is not a heavy bread and does not ruin the appetite for the next course. There is a variety of 16 pasta dishes (including fresh pasta – normally fettuccini or ravioli), a selection of meat and fish dishes (including veal escalope with lemon, and gratinated mussels) and 13 different pizzas.

We chose just a bottle of the house dry white (which, on receiving the bill at the end, I noticed was only 8.00€) and we were given a small appetizer of a few slices of sliced spicy chorizo which came as a welcome surprise.

As mentioned above, we chose the Ciccio bread (tomato) between us. Roger chose (every time) the Penne alla Diavola (with hot salami, fresh tomatoes and chillis) (creature of habit, or what!) and I had the Fettuccini with Roquefort and Spinach – very rich and creamy. The Fettuccini was homemade and you could definitely taste the difference. In the past, I have also chosen, amongst other things, the Fettucini with Carabineros which are the enormous red langostines (about 8 inches long) which they shell and chop and serve in a cream sauce – food of the Gods. The steaks are also very good (especially in red wine sauce). Obviously, as usual, I had to opt for a dessert and enquired if they continued to make Massimo´s delightful chocolate mousse. Pierluigi explained that the mousse was definitely on the menu but slightly different. Now, I am a tad fussy about my chocolate mousse and cannot stand anything with even the slightest hint of milk in it. He had great pleasure in agreeing that no proper chocolate mousse is ever made with milk so I chose and I ate – and very nice it was too – nicely rich but quite fluffy too – a similar consistency to that of an Aero bar. Pierluigi lived in Brussels for 7 years so he knows his chocolate! The other desserts available are homemade tiramisu and cake of the day.

We were offered a digestif on the house – a limoncello for me and Rog had a Frangelico. The meal was extremely good value for what we had and Pierluigi and Federica were both very attentive and charming throughout the meal. We will continue to frequent the establishment as before and I am sure that such a lovely couple will do the business justice. Good luck to you both!

I have to mention that, on visiting the ladies loos just before leaving, I was extremely impressed to see an array of female hygiene products as well as talcs, creams etc. for the customers´ use. I don´t think there is anywhere else in Corralejo that provides such things – please inform me otherwise on denofjeniquity@fuertenews.