Ronda: I’ll Never Stop Saying Maria

Our first day in Ronda, I asked someone at our hotel (Enfrente Arte) for some lunch recommendations. After she mapped out several places, I asked where the locals go. “Ah,” she said, and then marked two areas of town, west and east. We were planning to walk east through the oldest part of town, so we set a place called Casa Maria as our goal. It was outside the old city walls, which meant it was outside the usual touristed areas. We never would have ended up there on our own.

PLAZA RUEDO ALAMEDA.

Casa Maria is a simple-looking place along a street bordering the expansive Plaza Ruedo Alameda. There were tables out on the plaza and just a few tall tables inside the narrow bar/restaurant specializing in tapas. We were welcomed warmly and, after we ordered our drinks, the owner asked if we would like to try “un poco de todo,” a little of everything. We agreed and began our trip to Spanish tapas heaven.

We went through bread, vegetables, and cheese courses and, although a meat course was about to be prepared, we stopped after the seafood because we simply had no more room.

I’ve done the best I can to describe the different dishes (which, remember, is the same as cooking in my world). Click the images to make your mouth water. Then get to Ronda, if only to check out Casa Maria.

TOMATO, GARLIC, SALT… AND STUFF.

ARTICHOKE,  HAM… AND STUFF. (I DON’T THINK I’VE EVER HAD ARTICHOKE THIS DELICIOUS.)

ASPARAGUS, SALT, OLIVE OIL…  AMAZING.

FRIED GOAT CHEESE, STRAWBERRY MARMALADE.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE DONE…

BACALAO (COD) PEPPERS, TOMATO, ONIONS… (I LOVE BACALAO. THIS WAS THE BEST I’VE EVER HAD.)

SCALLOPS IN A SORT OF BECHUMEL… I THINK.

THE CHARMING AND TALENTED FAMILY… WITH THEIR OWN LABEL.

JUDY OUT FRONT AFTER LUNCH… WITH OUR GIFT BOTTLE OF WINE!

[Casa] Maria, say it soft and it’s almost like praying.