On the Menu…Restaurante La Almudaina, Córdoba (Spain)

Located near the Mezquita you will find La Almudaina. The restaurant is housed in a 16th C. palace that was constructed by Leopoldo of Austria, who was the Bishop of Córdoba and the uncle of Emperor Carlos V. Beautifully restored, the interior has a series of attractive dining rooms, including an interior patio that is topped with a glass-roof ceiling.

The menu at La Almudaina is representative of the traditional Córdoba kitchen, which uses fresh ingredients that are sourced from local markets.

You can start off your meal with a bowl of Salmorejo, a local favorite chilled soup made with tomatoes, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and bread, which is topped with chopped eggs and diced Serrano ham.

For a main dish, try the Rabo de Toro Cordobés (oxtail stew), Solomillo al Foie (sirloin with foie gras), or a fresh fish, such as Lomo de Bacalao (cod fillet) or Lomo de Merluza con Hortalizas (hake fillet with garden vegetables).

There is also a good selection of homemade desserts to choose from, and a wine menu that features a wide range of wines at reasonable prices.

• Pl. Campo Santo de los Mártires, 1
• Córdoba, Spain
• Phone: (957) 47 43 42
• Website: La Almudaina

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Time to Save…Porto Card, Porto (Portugal)

Save money on your next visit to Porto by purchasing a Porto Card during your stay. The card provides free entrance to municipal museums, discounts at several other museums and monuments, and unlimited use of the buses and trams. You will also receive discounts at shops, shows, restaurants, leisure centers, and cruises on the Douro River.

You can purchase a Porto Card for 1, 2, or 3 consecutive days, and prices range from €8.50 - €17.50. For more info on the card click here

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On the Menu…Restaurante A Ceia, Braga (Portugal)

Just a short walk from the Cathedral of Braga, in the old center of town, is Restaurante A Ceia. This rustic style adega (wine tavern) has a casual and inviting atmosphere. On the menu you will find traditional Portuguese dishes, including Cozido à Portuguesa, a classic Portuguese stew, and cod dishes such as Bacalhau à Zé-do-Pipo (made with layers of cod, onions, mashed potatoes, and mayonnaise that are oven baked), and the house specialty Bacalhau à Ceia.

The restaurant also serves specialties of the Minho region, including Alheira de Caça, a light, garlicky sausage made of chicken or game, and Papas de Sarrabulho, which is a dish that is made with pig's blood and is only served in the winter months.

• Rua do Raio, 331
• Braga, Portugal
• Phone (25) 326 39 32

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Checking In…Pousada de Estremoz – Rainha Santa Isabel, Estremoz (Portugal)

Located in the Alentejo region about 170 km east of Lisbon is the town of Estremoz. The region is known for its vast rolling hills, cork production, and marble quarries, and Estremoz is the largest of the marble towns that dot this region.

The centerpiece of town is the 14th C. castle that was built by King Diniz for his beloved Queen, Saint Isabel. This royal palace has been converted into the Pousada Rainha Santa Isabel, which sits on a hilltop overlooking the town. There are a total of 33 rooms, consisting of 29 Standard rooms, 3 larger Superior rooms, and 1 spacious Suite with a living room and separate bedroom. All rooms are uniquely decorated, and many have four-poster beds and handmade local rugs.

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On the Menu…Restaurante O Dezaseis, Santiago de Compostela (Spain)

Restaurante O Dezaseis (which means “16″) is a perfect place to have some tapas or a sit down meal after you’ve been visiting the sites in the casco antiguo(old town). Located just a short walk from the Cathedral, you will find O Dezaseis by descending a stone-lined staircase that leads you down to a rustic and charming 300 year-old dining room that once served as a stable.

In addition to the ambiance, the locals come here for the food. They are well known for their empanadas, which are pastry-covered pies that are often filled with fish or meat. The house specialty at O Dezaseis is the tuna empanada, which is round in shape and filled with tuna and flavored with paprika. The tapas menu has many other local dishes to choose from, including the pulpo a grela (grilled octopus), which gains rave reviews from all who try it.

If you’re looking for slightly larger portions, you can also choose from the selection of raciones offered, which are larger portions that can be shared. Some of the stand-outs on the menu are the lacón (the local cured and cooked ham), the razor clams, and the oxtail stew, just to name a few. Leave room for dessert, and try some of the local cheeses, or the cheese flan.

• Rúa de San Pedro, 16
• Santiago de Compostela, Spain
• Phone: (981) 564 880
• Website: O Dezaseis

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Next Stop…Toledo, Spain

 

 

Perched on a hilltop and surrounded on three sides by the Rio Tajo (Tagus River), Toledo is located in the center of Spain and is the capital of Castilla-La Mancha. In the 6th C. it served as the capital of Spain, but later lost its political prominence in the 16th C. when the capital was moved to Madrid. Over the centuries, the influence of the Arabs, Christians and Jews have been prominent, and as a result, Toledo has been known as the "city of the three cultures."

Toledo is perhaps most famous for inspiring some of the famous works of El Greco, who made Toledo his home in his latter life. A number of the painter's works can be seen at the El Greco House-Museum located in the old Jewish Quarter. Although the house was not the painter's original home, it is a reproduction of a 16th C. house with a courtyard, and the museum contains numerous works by the painter, as well as other 17th C. Spanish artists.  

Other sites to see in Toledo include: the magnificent Cathedral which was completed in the 15th C. and is considered one of the greatest Gothic structures in the world, the Alcázar (fortress) which dominates the city's skyline, the Iglesia de Santo Tomé, a small chapel in the Jewish Quarter that houses El Greco's masterpiece The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, the Museo-Hospital de Santa Cruz, a museum that displays El Greco's The Assumption of the Virgin, along with other works by Goya, Ribera, as well as gold items, Flemish tapestries and antique furnishings, and the synagogues of Santa María La Blanca (12th C.) and El Tránsito. For more information from the tourist office of Toledo click here

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On the Menu…Don Sebastião Restaurante, Lagos (Portugal)

Located in the heart of the historic town of Lagos, on a pedestrian cobblestone street not far from the waterfront, you will find Don Sebastião Restaurante. Since opening in 1979, the restaurant has attracted a loyal following of customers who come for the traditional Portuguese cuisine, fresh seafood, and local ambiance with warm, friendly service. The interior dining rooms feature a rustic décor with traditional brick archways, or you can dine al fresco on the lovely outdoor terrace.

The menu features locally sourced ingredients, such as fish, shrimp, crabs, oysters and other seafood that come in daily on the local fishing boats. If you prefer meat, you can also find a selection of traditional Portuguese dishes, including pork chops with figs, or a hearty lamb stew with red wine.

To accompany your meal you can select from the extensive wine list. The owner's collection of over 240 varieties of Portuguese wines is stored in the restaurant's own underground wine cellar. Special tours of the cellar and wine tastings can be arranged with advance notice.

Rua 25 de Abril, 20-22         Phone: (282) 780 480

Lagos, Portugal                  Web: Don Sebastião

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