Unknown Talent

Costa del Sol stretches over 300 km on the southern coast of Spain, offering endless beaches, restaurants and snack bars. 

I first visited Torremolinos when i was in my late teens. It had left such a pleasant aftertaste in my mouth that made me return 10 years later. Once a poor fishing village, today Torremolinos shines bright as a popular European vacation destination. 

Choosing the right restaurant can be challenging in this region of Andalusia, because of it’s vast selection. 

Continuing along Paseo Maritimo towards the promenade la Carihuela, you will come upon a restaurant called Rincón del Gourmet. Known for their fresh fish, quality meat, and signature Iberian ham, this restaurant offers a cozy and charming atmosphere, friendly service with a view on the Mediterranean sea. 

I must admit however that my discovery of the day wasn’t this charming restaurant but undoubtedly a guitarist by the name of Miguel Batana. Originally from Malaga, his performance at Rincón del Gourmet varied from Spanish folk to his own interpretation of Lasciatemi Cantare. Aside from the delicious food, his voice was why I returned to the restaurant the very next evening. I simply couldn’t get enough. Miguel Batana made me realize how many unknown talents there are all over the world and how today’s music is formula driven, making it harder for artists to find success. 

It’s unfortunate that very little is known about this so talented musician.

Yours truly,

Olga Markiza 

An unexpected Gourmet Experience

During our desperate search for an open bank in Torremolinos, we stumbled upon a crowded restaurant called Marisqueria La Chacha. Our first encounter was very brief since we had exhausted our pockets with only couple of euros left...

In the following days, we took a walk up calle San Miguel and coincidentally came across this same restaurant. The outside and inner decor looked average, however I was surprised to see so many local customers with such big appetite. There was no walking away from it this time. 

La Chacha’s concept is a casual seafood tapas bar. You’re eating standing up, like many tapas bars in Spain. This concept might not be appealing to people that enjoy sitting down, but it offers you a new and different experience. Don’t be fooled though, standing up doesn’t mean it’s cheaper at La Chacha’s. They offer a vast selection of crustaceans, whether it’s langoustine, tiger prawns, scallops, mussels, calamari you name it. Everything is fresh, grilled and prepared in front of you. 

I must add a little precision. The prices are listed per 100g, which makes it seem very reasonable, but don’t forget seafood often weights more then that. Our midday snack came to a total of 27 euros. Not cheap, but sure worth it. 

I hope you enjoy the La Chacha experience as much as we did. 

www.tripadvisor.es

On a side note, good luck finding an open bank in Spain. They don’t work on week-ends nor on week-days as a matter of fact... Just kidding ;) 

Yours truly,  

Olga Markiza