Calle La Laurel
We embraced the Spanish culture of a siesta after lunch yesterday. Our apartment is in Cenicero, Spain which is a good central point for all things Rioja. The place has a little kitchenette and living room in addition to the cute bedroom and two little balconies.
Post-siesta, we drove over to a street in the bigger town called Calle La Laurel which has many pubs/bars in a 5 block radius where you can get tapas and wine at each one.
We decided we wanted to start with a Negroni but after walking the block, it seemed only one bar actually served liquor in addition to wine.
Phil asked for “dos Negronis” and the girl said “we don’t make that” but then he said “can we have gin with Campari and vermouth” and she said “yes” and proceeded to make a strong Negroni. Maybe she didn’t know the name of the drink? Yes I thought that too. Except the check came out and it said “ 1 Tapas, 2 Negronis”. Lollllllll. (€17, which I will track prices just to see how inexpensive everything is.)
The tapa we had from there is on the left hand side of the photo which was like a bbq pulled pork in a brioche bun with cheese on top. Super yum.
The Negronis took us a while to drink so we stood outside at one of these high top tables and ordered from another bar this dish with artichokes and Foie gras and jamon. Pretty good, though he did microwave it before it was served which is tasted fine but something about a microwave instead of an oven kinda turned me off. (€3)
Next tapas, a croqueta on the bottom of the picture and a meat stuffed pepper on the top picture which also had a breading. Both were delicious. The top one had a spicy version as well which we might try if we return to this spot. (€5)
Finally finished the Negronis and moved on to this grilling bar where we ordered a chorizo and a garlic sausage and a glass of house white wine. All yummy and also a steal. (€4)
Next we stopped at a spot with many wine options and had a sandwich called “secret iberico”. I was pretty drunk at this point (from one Negroni and half a glass of wine?) so my Spanish greatly improved. This sandwich was pretty awesome—the bread was super soft and there was Brie cheese under the meat. (€7)
The last stop was where we got fancy. Two bocaditos, two glasses of a name brand wine, a plate of pate, and then finished with an older red wine to end the night. I thought we ordered foie gras not pate but we ate it anyway. The last wine we carry at work but the recent vintage not 2012 so it was worth trying. (€35)
It was a filling walk around and I got sufficiently drunk on not that much! Bummer because I woke up and needed two Advil. The 30s really get you. But 10/10 on the food walk. We may return tomorrow to try more :)
