Monday night, we went to our first Spanish casino, Gran Casino Aljarefe, which is in the municipality of Aljarefe about 15 minutes outside the city of Sevilla. The casino has a very nice room for table games —such as roulette, blackjack, and poker — and another small room with some video slot machines. We had a great time, but Jerry was disappointed with the number of machines, which means he’s in no great hurry to go back — for which I am eternally grateful.
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| PROMOTIONAL PHOTO. |
Our plan was to have dinner at the casino, which has five restaurants. But since it was Monday night, the only place open for dinner was the casino’s Japanese restaurant, Kaori. It was very different from the Japanese food we’d get in California (which I’m sure is very different from what we’d get in Japan). The variety of chocolate desserts, at least, were delicious — if very un-Japanese.
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| MEXICAN TORTILLAS (LEFT) AND SPANISH TORTILLA. |
The food looked very nice but was unexceptional in taste. The most interesting part of the meal was Miguel’s “tortilla.” This was unlike a Mexican tortilla and it was also unlike a Spanish tortilla. It was a pancake of sorts with a mixture of ingredients and, as it was being served, it was topped with dried tuna shavings. The tuna is called katsuobushi (or bonito) and is dried, fermented, and smoked skipjack tuna, which is then shaved. Due to the heat of the tortilla, the tuna shavings pulsed and moved. I thought the tortilla was covered with live moths. As it passed in front of Jerry, he asked, “Is that alive?” We all found it a bit creepy. Jerry and I had no interest in trying it and Miguel and Teré both ate it and said it tasted “weird,” with or without the dancing tuna flakes.
There is no way on earth I would be able to try that. It's definitely creepy!
Elaine:
Never in a million years. Jerry is known to be fairly adventurous when it comes to food and even he couldn't bring himself to try it.
Hello Mitch:
Dancing Tuna in the sea is one thing, but on a plate is quite another. This food does not look at all appetising and does, as you say, have all the appearance of being 'alive'!! Definitely something to keep in your scrapbook of strange Spanish experiences!!!
J&L:
Not for me (or any of us, so far). But, I suppose I'll have to keep it in my scrapbook of 'strange Japanese experiences in Spain.'
The casino at Aljerete has a saying "Ve a Aljerete y te quedas al garete" (go to Aljerete and you're left high and dry) in other words, you will loose a fortune. Thought you should know.
And the food didn't look bad to me, but then again, I am intrepid and daring when it comes to putting things in my mouth…please don't make a comment on that last statement…lol
saludos,
raulito
http://fromtop2bttm.blogspot.com/
That food looks remarkably unappetising to me. The only casino food we have ever eaten, in Las Vegas, was equally unappetising and well over-priced, even though you were allowed to go back and re-fill your plate. Lots of people did !!
Jean:
Sadly, there was nothing very exciting about last night's meal (except for the dancing tuna). Too bad you had such a bad experience in Vegas. You can really get burned, although there are some good places and good deals.
Raulito:
("no comment")
That saying fortunately didn't apply to us last night, but we watched a young guy lose quite a sum on one spin of the roulette wheel. He was stacking chips on just about every number. One of the few he hadn't covered is what came up. He looked ill when he saw it!
Mexican tortillas I love. And Carlos makes a mean Spanish Tortilla. That "other" thing, well, yeah, let's not talk about it.
Agreed!
Genuine Klingon Gagh! (and slightly obscene).
The Owl Wood:
Completely creepy. But, as for Klingon Gagh (which I had to Google), you and I hadn't connected yet when Jerry and I had our own true Klingon Gagh experience in a restaurant here.
http://mitchellismoving.blogspot.com/2011/07/nobody-loves-me-everybody-hates-me.html
Wow! I just discovered your blog (via Elaine) and I'm really impressed with the photography and variety. I loved the bit about the oranges that make their way to England for marmalade. Your page design is impressive, as well.
Ms. Sparrow:
Thank you so much for discovering me and for all the compliments. I hope we'll be seeing a lot of each other.
IT'S ALIVE !!! That has nothing to do with Japanese food, except for the bonito flakes which I usely mix in my miso-soup.
Peter:
You're right about it not resembling Japanese food. (I've never heard of Japanese tortillas.) And drowning those bonito flakes in your soup would seem to ensure they'd stop moving. Not a bad idea.
Yessiree! That is a weird plate of food! Wouldn't have gone near that one!
Now to the million dollar question: did you WIN? lol
Jim:
I broke even, which means I'm not buying that palacio any time soon!
I wasn't aware Spain had gambling.
Ur-spo:
My understanding is that there are 33 casinos in Spain (with I think 3 in Andalucía).
The Owl Wood beat me to it. That's the first thing that came to mind. Which only goes to show that I spent too much time watching Star Trek.
Walt the Fourth:
And I clearly didn't spend enough, which is why I had to look it up. At least I knew what a Klingon was.