trip's start en route our first full day Playa del Inglés beach Getting re-acquianted with Maspalomas Finnegan's, Playa del Inglés Avenida de Alfereces Provisionales Los Guanches Norteños Lila is 2.5 today Paddy Murphy's, Playa del Inglés Charlie's Ingenio footrace Maspalomas rock climbing grilling in the wind a rainy day Omi Marga's day La Belle drag show Casa Poco, Maspalomas Maspalomas Money Blues Dunas de Maspalomas Restaurante Laurentino, San Fernando Burger Treff, Playa del Inglés Mini-Tren Gran Canaria La Cabaña Park, San Bartolomé de Tirajana Suministros Frutas Y Verduras, San Fernando Charcutería y Carnicería Socorro, San Fernando Pasteleria Bomboneria San Francisco, San Fernando Much Ado About Nothing Low tide in Maspalomas crepes in Maspalomas a feverish day el dia penultimo back to S. F. Deutsche Gasthaus Atlantis, Playa del Inglés Apartamentos Australia, Playa del Inglés Restaurante Las Escaleritas, Maspalomas C. C. Yumbo Bärenhöhle Harrison Electronics C. C. San Fernando C. C. Cita things learned
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2004-02 Gran Canaria: Restaurante Laurentino, San Fernando
Tuesday 24 February 2004 (continued)
We head out to dinner across the autopiste, leaving Playa del Inglés for San Fernando. Omi Marga intends us to eat at a place I've never before visited. We take Heinz' Mercedes-Benz; it's a ten-minute drive.
San Fernando is the living space for the locals who service the tourist economy. Shopping is cheaper here. Much greater selection, both in terms of selection and kind. (One of our favorite places to visit here is a restaurant supply house.)
We arrive ten minutes before the posted closing time. The shutters are closed. A clear bag of dinner rolls hangs on the door. I ask around and am told they're known for opening punctually. Isaac and I stroll around the area. Here he's looking at a "tulip" planting; actually it's thin green rebar with red cylinders atop. It's a good optical illusion.
The neighborhood has a great feel to it, especially on soccer nights. Tonight Madrid Real was playing, so the patrons were cheering with a fevered pitch. Two television sets were playing; one inside and the other in the window for those seated on the sidewalk. Across the street, at the far right of the panorama, is Restaurante Laurentino.
Just left of the main entrance is a small bar. Isaac planted himself on a barstool like a regular. Here he saw pigs legs hanging from the ceiling and a specially designed holder to make slicing of the serrano ham much easier. He was a bit taken aback by it all, but I think I explained it well.
In the dining room the great feel continues: great selection of wine bottles and local cigars, a clean decor, and wood furniture. Here you see us checking out las cartas.
It's only at the menu stage that I'm unimpressed. It's a good selection of dishes, but nothing canonically Canario, or even Spanish in origin. Generic European food, not what I expected in this neighborhood. Rose and I order a variety of foods, including the pata negra ham. All the food is adequately prepared, but nothing to write home about. The crème Catalan (Spanish crème brulee) was fine. The only truly interesting facet of the meal was oricho, a Spanish drink similar to grappa.
On the way out we're almost trod upon by two very happy women celebrating Carnival door-to-door with their neighbors. Their black-face costumes are unlike anything I've seen in person. Heinz and Isaac pose; Lila wants nothing to do with them. If we want to celebrate we'll have to drive up to Las Palmas before Sunday; the festivities will hit Playa del Inglés, at the stage being built in the middle of the C. C. Yumbo, only after we leave.
Tomorrow, I visit a Playa del Inglés beach promenade eatery after getting my feet wet.
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