New Notes on Puente La Reina

I had to add this post because Paul and I had the most incredible meal at our hotel. The food is one of the things we love about our trips to the Iberian peninsula. Spain is just becoming known for its gastronomie. El Bulli near Barcelona is world renowned for its cuisine. While not quite at that level, tonight's dinner was a marvel, especially after today's truck stop working man's lunch.
Tonight, we had a gazpacho that was a perfect blend of flavors. Not too sharp and not too bland. I had a salad of bacalao which is salted cod with balsamic vinaigrette and Paul had solomillo which is a steak. However, it was incredibly tender served with a small slice of fois gras on top and a balsamic reduction and something that was like an apple sauce, but we think was pear and dried fruits (cherries, raisins and dates). As odd as that may sound, everything was delicious. More so were the desserts. Paul chose a dessert which was three scoops of ice cream: banana, chocolate and strawberry with a drizzle of chocolate on the plate. Mine was a tarta de queso, something like a cheesecake, but it was the most incredibly light, not overly sweet or eggy cheesecake I have ever had. It was absolutely heaven. It was topped with a fresh raspberry sauce and fresh raspberries on the side.

Anyway, the reason why I rave so much about the food as we feel that we earn every single morsel and calorie after our hard day of biking. The contrast to the day´s earlier truck stop lunch also plays into my going on and on about our dinner.

The other part of the trip that Paul and I are enjoying is the wine we are being served. Even at the truck stop lunch stop, the table wine we order is absolutely heads above what we have been getting in the States, unless we fork over more than $25.oo a bottle. And even then, the quality is lacking. Anyway enough on the food. Tomorrow is another day.