Reading other peoples blogs

As well as writing the odd line or two every day I am also addicted to reading. Always have been, and whether it is my favourite authors, newspapers, food packages or fag packets, if it has writing on, then I have to read it.

So it will come as no surprise that I enjoy reading other peoples blogs. Not any old blog but those relating to our little piece of paradise. Of course there are some who write just to make money and you can tell immediately by their use of ‘key’ words, I generally give those a miss. Unless they catch my attention in the first paragraph and are not just regurgitating the same old same old (often from the back of that fag packet because they haven’t actually visited the island) in those instances, I move on to the next 🙂

There are hundreds of blogs each month about walking on the island and I tend to give those a miss too because the best information, in my opinion, can be gained from our very own Tenerife Rambler,  Gary Rosson or Tenerife Sur Under 10km brought to us by Alison and John Mackenzie.

What I particularly enjoy are the blogs from people who have come on holiday and are amazed that the island isn’t quite what they expected from reading about it in the tabloids. Or those who have been visiting Tenerife for the proverbial ‘donkeys years’ and can give an insight and tips to those newbies finding their way around our island possibly for the first time.

By now anyone reading will think I’m just rambling, but this is actually going somewhere.

I thought as a bit of a change I might share some of the interesting ‘stuff’ that might be missed by non-bloggers. I have therefore decided to schedule to my facebook page as well as the group page Tenerife 4 All blogs that I find interesting or informative. Do check these out you may find someone whose writing really clicks and you want to follow.

The first one I am sharing starts next Saturday 21st April and is called The Wrong Bus.

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Quick Potato Soup

Keeping it simple, this creamy potato soup is made with just a handful of ingredients. Add some cheese on top and you have a delicious lunch or supper that costs next to nothing.

Ingredients

1 finely chopped leek green and white
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large or 2 small potatoes
½ pint milk (plus extra)
1 teaspoon dried mace
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Decorate with

Sour cream
Chopped fresh Chives
Grated cheese
or cooked bacon bits

Peel and roughly chop potatoes along with the leek.

Add leek and garlic to a medium-sized saucepan together and fry for a couple of minutes. When soft but not coloured add the cubed potatoes and cover with milk. Simmer until potatoes as well cooked and soft.

Blitz with a mixer until mostly smooth, you can leave a few small chunks for a hearty texture. Add more milk, a dash at a time, until the soup reaches your preferred consistency.

Add mace and season to taste, then serve garnished with topping of your choice.

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Taberna Vasca – Los Cristianos

I get cross when people, usually those with limited experience, say Los Cristianos is just another man-made tourist resort and you are unlikely to find anywhere authentic to eat. If they could be bothered to explore beyond their hotel they would find the gem we ate at on Friday night.

Despite having lived here for years I didn’t know it existed and Christine and Andrew found it purely by chance on one of their wanderings and had returned several times. From their description I gathered it was close to Ciuri, Ciuri which is the place that many years ago we had to return to as we couldn’t pay the bill. (Check out the link as that isn’t as bad as it sounds 🙂 )

We collected our friends and headed to this small and modestly furnished café / bar/ restaurant (not quite sure what to call it). It is by no means flash, in fact rather basic. No inside space just a covered courtyard, but top of the pile when serving tapas. The atmosphere feels comfortably “local”. For the numerous Tinerfernos who eat here it provides perfection where it counts, in the food, nicely served but not fussy, makes full use of fresh local produce and reflects in its food the roots of Tenerife.

The staff provide plate after plate of fresh tapas, all served with friendly advice and you just keep on ordering until you can eat no more.

As we were new we stuck to what we knew although the cod cheeks and the hake neck sounded interesting. I did order mussels but due to the amount of people that had been that day they had sold out.

In the end we chose patata bravas, chorizo cooked in cider, black pudding, crispy prawns with alioli and squid ink sauce, cordero and scrambled egg with mushrooms. Superb in every respect except for the scrambled egg which the others found had too much garlic for their taste and I hate eggs so for me it was never going to be a winner.

Previously Andrew had ordered from the wine list and it had been good but on Friday he chose a bottle of house red which came in a bottle without a label. When mentioned, we were told it is from a large container and I’m guessing it wasn’t the best as Andrew didn’t finish it. But it is a lesson learnt, unless you try you will never know.

The service was informal, but never sloppy. The night was cold and there is no indoor seating but blankets were provided. The later it got the more people turned up and at 10.00pm there wasn’t an empty table. In fact during our time there some tables had been filled several times.

Our bill per couple because each of the dishes above only served 2 people so we had double quantities, plus the wine, 3 vodka and cokes, a couple of colas and water came to €35 including tip.  We were given a choice of chupitos (those freebie drinks at the end of a decent meal) so we chose ron miel and caramel vodka.

We will certainly return as the formula is simple – good nosh at good-value prices.

But don’t tell the tourists we don´t want them knowing all our secrets 

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Asturian Paradise in Arafo

The following was originally posted by Saboreando Canarias in Spanish I hope my interpretation of what was said makes you want to visit.

Asturian gastronomy is very rich and combines a balance of tradition with innovation in all types of dishes, whether soups, stews, fish, meats, or desserts.

It was, therefore, a surprise, that by chance we arrived at an old industrial building in Arafo, and found ourselves at a paradise of Asturian food, Fogón Cho Edu.

The owner, Edu invited us to sit at his table and sample the traditional drink of Asturias, cider. There is nothing better when, made as only an Asturian knows how, from a selection of the best varieties of cider apples (bitter, acid and sweet). The drink accompanied the meal that awaited us and we began with the speciality of the house, Pastel de Cabracho to spread on good bread.

We could have had Chorizos in Cider, impeccable and elaborated with its natural cider, or Mushrooms stuffed with Serrano ham au gratin, intense and satisfying was its combination of textures and flavours.

 

We followed with casserole of Octopus, so typical of the Asturian cider houses, in Gijón although today we are in Arafo.

The meal continued with a Patorra de pava roasted with spiced baked potatoes the meat had little fat and so much flavour and cooked in such a simple way it was delicious.

Desserts were, a generous assortment of Asturian specialities including cake and coffee. What more is needed after such a generous lunch!

Prices are around €30 per person, and all the above are homemade. Open: Everyday from 1pm to 4pm and 8pm to 11pm

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The Rogation of the Virgin

Every April, the statue of the Virgin of the Incarnation, is carried from the Santa Ursula Church in Adeje to the hermitage of San Sebastián in La Caleta, the original home of the Virgin. This procession has been taking place for over 300 years. And, every year the people of Adeje fulfill a promise made generations ago and at the same time celebrate the coming together of the people of the town by walking across the old path to accompany the statue then spend time together celebrating in the plaza of San Sebastián.

The walk takes up to four hours with a number of stops along the way where there will be music, poetry, and readings. The first stop is at the Adeje Cemetery, where those who are no longer with us are remembered. The walkers then cross the bridge over the motorway,  and carry on to the Portón de la Virgin, through the stone arches near the police station, where there is another stop.

The third break is at La Era where walkers rest for a while before the last stretch, which sees the statue received by Saint Sebastian, the other patron saint of the area. The two statues enter the church together where mass is celebrated. Following mass, the official proclamation of the start of the Lustrum Year will take place. Then the statue of the Virgin returns to Adeje later in the afternoon.

This year the traditional rogativa starts from the Parish of Santa Úrsula to the Church of San Sebastián en la Enramada on 15th April at 9.00am

As with many of Adeje’s religious festivals this is also a family event, open to everyone, resident and visitor, to take part. Remember to wear comfortable clothing and shoes, use an appropriate sunblock, and take water with you.

The origins of the event

The Rogation is a tradition, which began in the 16^th century when Pedro de Ponto removed the statue of the ‘Virgen de La Encarnación’ from the San Sebastián hermitage to Santa Ursula to protect her from marauding pirates. However, the residents weren’t completely happy with the decision and promised that once a year she would return to her original home. The tradition has persisted over hundreds of years, with the people of Adeje using the event to make promises to their patron saint if she protected them from plagues, illness, and famines, as listed in the Book of Miracles of Our Lady of the Incarnation, which can be viewed in the Adeje parish archives.

Images Ayuntamiento Adeje.

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