Restaurant reviews - xmas/new year 2009/10

Will add more detail separately but before I get stuck back into work here is an eating overview of my recent stay in Playa Blanca....

Restaurants most visited - l'Artista and La Chalanita - 3 times each for dinner, all great. Highlights of those meals- going to l'Artista with Mr J (of course), Elle and Bart and Flash and Lyndylou- great to have a table for 6 on the balcony - fairly irrelevant what we ate as the company was so good, however that night I had Ravioli dell'Artista very large ravioli with smoked salmon and prawns and a really creamy sauce, just like Elle previously reported in fact. The other two nights for main course I had pizza Napoli with anchovies and capers and Mr J had pizza Pescatora with mussels, squid and prawns which is what he always has at l'Artista. On our first night my dad had an enormous lasagna which he said was delicious.

Highlights of La Chalanita were José's flambés - we tried fillet steak with black pepper and green peppercorns and the green version was best but both delicious. On New Year's Eve I had a huge lobster as main course - very good indeed.

The Indian Tandoor House was the venue for another successful evening, this time with Flash and Lyndylou, Mr J and my dad. We went in quite late and the place was packed. We over ordered - some of the dishes were bigger than I expected. Lovely poppadums, onion bhajis, veggie samosas and various curries and rice dishes - and nan bread too.

We tried Afrodite Little Italy at the Marina for the first time this trip - lovely atmosphere sitting in the square outside - a bit more expensive than some other places but excellent service and a gorgeous shared salad with Lanzarote smoked salmon and prawns followed by spag bol for me which apart from being a bit salty for my taste was delicious.

We also went to Almacen de la Sal and had lovely sea bass- still good value for the quality of the food wine and ambience.

I haven't mentioned Christmas Day dinner yet and that was a triumph by La Bocaina - 75 people served simultaneously 4 courses and a lovely pre dinner drink of Kir Royale. All the food was delicious especially the smoked salmon starter and turkey and all the trimmings was as good as I've ever had.

We went to Jumbo Chinese restaurant twice as it's my dad's favorite - the lovely Angela who has been back from China for a few months remembered us and we weren't disappointed as they have improved the fried dishes so they are really crispy just like in the UK, particular favorites are the battered prawns and lemon chicken. Beef curry and prawns with spring onion and ginger were also good. As usual huge portions and good value.

We had one lunch out in PB which was at Brisa del Mar where we had some delicious steamed mussels and a salad.

Outside Playa Blanca we went for an evening meal in the old town in PDC with Currylover Mick (previously reported) and for lunch at Restaurante Sol at Caleta de Famara where we ate really fresh prawns in garlic, puntillas (baby squid) and a great value salad.

Enough for now...