TABERNA GRAN SOL

This is a place worth travelling to if you love tapas. Taberna Gran Sol is located in Fuenterrabía in the Basque Country of Spain, a town with rigorous pintxos contest. This means that competition drives this town to bring out some amazing food. The restaurant does not look spectacular; it’s a casual place with outdoor standing tables and a few, busy indoor seats. In high season (July-August) you have to fight for a table, and if you do not succeed there are steps to sit on outside. You order and pay at the bar, leaving your name so that they call you to pick up the food as each tapa is ready. Whenever our group’s name was called, we would run with excitement to pick up some of the tastiest little plates ever. These are not your typical tapas, but unusual concoctions with adventurous flavours and textures. I’m not sure what most of the dishes consisted of in detail, but my favourite one is a soft-boiled egg served with thick chicken stock and crispy grated potato. The contrasting consistencies and the taste is truly special. There is too much good food to mention it all, but some of the highlights included a deep fried mushroom with cream sauce, octopus with ink and rice, cod and foie gras. Each plate was very rich and filling, and I was so happy each time a new dish arrived. To drink we had several rounds of refreshing Tinto de Verano, a mixture of red wine and lemonade served with ice. The bill was surprisingly low, especially compared to London. The only comment on the price is that one or two of the pre-paid dishes are often omitted, but by that time you are doubtlessly full, and I guess it could count as a form of service charge. Taberna Gran Sol is exquisite, and one of my favourite restaurants in the world.

Calle San Pedro 63, 20280 Hondarribia / Fuenterrabia, Spain

THE PROVIDORES AND TAPA ROOM

London, UK

It was a rainy Sunday afternoon and after walking down Marylebone High Street we decided to stop for some afternoon dessert at the Tapas Room; the informal ground floor dining room for The Providores. A Marylebone landmark, the Tapa Room is a cozy and chic enclave offering an extensive and excellent choice of tapas, wines and desserts. Ahead of our desserts we ordered cappuccinos to warm up and to kill time until four which is when dessert would be served. The cappuccino was perfect, and had the right amount of milk and was served at the right temperature. For dessert we ordered the lemon custard with spiced hazelnut biscuits that came served with passion fruit and whipped cream; it was a delightful and sweet choice and the passion fruit balanced out the sweetness of the custard. The warm spiced ginger loaf with toffee was an interesting choice, served with a chili cream sorbet. The cardamom crème brûlée was also a delicious option; the sugar was burnt at exactly the right level and it was smooth and creamy with subtle hints of cardamom which delighted me with every bite. The poached rhubarb with honey yoghurt cream and pink tapioca, however, was also good, but was a bit too sweet; which for some might not be an issue. The Tapa room is not cheap but is well worth the visit and to this day has never ceased to impress me. 

109 Marylebone High Street,  London, W1U 4RX, UK