La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I snapped the top photo of Dudo on one of the new throw rugs. One of his favorite spots now. Did you notice, however, the gift Dudo left under the table? I didn’t. It wasn’t until after I opened the image in Photoshop that I saw the pile of regurge.
When we lived in Washington, DC, we went to an antique show in Baltimore and bought a big, flat, gray metal pig for the kitchen wall. It had hung outside a butcher shop and we thought it was cool on the wall of our all-white kitchen. We later bought other things, like a pig-riding-a-Harley cookie jar (which got broken); pig towels, pig aprons, etc., and Judyshannon started buying us the best pig salt and pepper shakers (which were supposed to come to Spain, but the box got confused with another and went to Goodwill). We also received non-stop gifts of pigs that began to take over the house. My mother bought pig pencil erasers, pig napkin rings (one at a time), cheesy plastic pigs. One friend I worked with in Connecticut bought us a 60-pound cement pig. It was precious to the point of hideous. We didn’t take it with us when we moved to San Diego a couple of years later. I’m telling you all this because I saw a cement pig (below) I do seriously want.
San Geraldo had a massage yesterday evening not far from the Mezquita and I met him for dinner. We’ve realized we have fewer positive experiences in that neighborhood. Too many touristy places to contend with. This place, Bodega Mezquita Cruz de Rastro, is well known and one of a family of four restaurants in the neighborhood. We’ve been to two others. We both ordered tajines. Mine, chicken, was excellent. SG’s, beef, was not. He asked beforehand if it had nuts. Only pine nuts, he was told. No problem. The tajin was filled with what looked possibly like walnuts or pecans (which he hates but he’s not allergic to). He had chewed one before realizing. I tasted one and couldn’t tell what it was, although it didn’t have a nice flavor (and I love walnuts and pecans). SG fished a bunch out and I asked the waiter what they were. He said pine nuts. No, we told him. He went to the kitchen and quickly returned to tell us they were raisins. No, we told him. I cleaned one off and showed him that it couldn’t possibly be a raisin and looked like a walnut or pecan, although it didn’t taste like one. He went back to the kitchen and when he returned he said it wasn’t a walnut but was some kind of large nut that comes in a bag. The chef didn’t know what kind. Unbelievable. We won’t go back.
Still, it was nice to be out together in another neighborhood. We caught a cab near the mezquita and got to see one renovated wall newly lit at night, plus the moon over the Puerta del Puente (Bridge Gate), built in the 16th century on the site of the previous Roman gates that connected with the Roman bridge.
Hice la foto de arriba de Dudo en una de las alfombras nuevas. Ahora es uno de sus lugares favoritos. ¿Te fijaste, sin embargo, en el regalo que Dudo dejó debajo de la mesa? Yo no. No fue hasta después de abrir la imagen en Photoshop que vi el montón de regurgitación.
Cuando vivíamos en Washington, D. C., fuimos a una feria de antigüedades en Baltimore y compramos un cerdo grande, plano y gris de metal para la pared de la cocina. Estaba colgado en la puerta de una carnicería y nos pareció genial en la pared de nuestra cocina completamente blanca. Luego compramos otras cosas, como un tarro de galletas con forma de cerdo montando una Harley (que se rompió); toallas, delantales, etc., y Judyshannon empezó a comprarnos los mejores saleros y pimenteros con forma de cerdo (que se suponía que iban a venir a España, pero la caja se confundió con otra y fue a parar a Goodwill). También recibimos constantemente regalos de cerdos que empezaron a invadir la casa. Mi madre compró gomas de borrar, servilleteros (uno a la vez) y cerdos de plástico. Un amigo con el que trabajé en Connecticut nos compró un cerdo de cemento de 27 kilos. Era precioso, casi horrible. No nos lo llevamos cuando nos mudamos a San Diego un par de años después. Les cuento todo esto porque vi un cerdo de cemento (abajo) que realmente quiero.
Ayer por la noche, San Geraldo recibió un masaje cerca de la Mezquita y quedé con él para cenar. Nos hemos dado cuenta de que tenemos menos experiencias positivas en ese barrio. Hay demasiados lugares turísticos con los que lidiar. Este lugar, Bodega Mezquita Cruz de Rastro, es muy conocido y forma parte de una familia de cuatro restaurantes en el barrio. Hemos estado en otros dos. Ambos pedimos tajines. El mío, de pollo, estaba excelente. El de SG, de carne, no. Preguntó antes si tenía nueces. Solo piñones, le dijeron. Sin problema. El tajín estaba relleno de lo que parecían nueces o pecanas (que odia, pero a las que no es alérgico). Había masticado uno antes de darse cuenta. Probé una y no supe distinguir qué era, aunque no tenía un sabor agradable (y me encantan las nueces y las pecanas). SG sacó un montón y le pregunté al camarero qué eran. Dijo piñones. No, le dijimos. Fue a la cocina y regresó enseguida para decirnos que eran pasas. No, le dijimos. Limpié una y le mostré que no podía ser una pasa y que parecía una nuez o una pecana, aunque no sabía a nuez. Volvió a la cocina y, al volver, dijo que no era una nuez, sino una especie de fruto seco grande que viene en bolsa. El chef no sabía qué tipo. Increíble. No volveremos.
Aun así, fue agradable estar juntos en otro barrio. Tomamos un taxi cerca de la mezquita y pudimos ver una muralla renovada recién iluminada por la noche, además de la luna sobre la Puerta del Puente, construida en el siglo XVI en el lugar de las antiguas puertas romanas que conectaban con el puente romano.
• ¿Un piñón? ¿Una pasa? Ah, es otra cosa. Pero no sabemos qué.
• No es nuestro taxi.
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First of all, I love your blog banner photo of the boys illustrating the difference in their personalities by facial expressions alone. And your geometrically artistic shot of Dudo through the table and chair legs. Could the cat barf be removed in photoshop?
That restaurant is a lawsuit waiting to happen. All it has to do is injure or kill one customer with nut allergies . . . .
Debra:
I’m not sure which cat banner you saw because they’re randomized and, surprise surprise, I have more than one of the two of them. I could remove the cat barf, but I found it funny. The restaurant is part of a successful chain of four in the neighborhood. Appalling that they would let that happen. I’m glad SG is not allergic and just dislikes most nuts.
Have you been to that little tapas place outside the wall? I remember just one delish plate after another….
jssw:
I’m not sure which place you mean. We went to Bodega Mezquita Céspedes outside the Mezquita walls. Is that what you’re thinking of. We’ve been there a few times since. Interestingly, that’s one of the four in restaurant family. Always good experiences there. We’ve tried two others with mixed results. Obviously, this last is a “never again.”
I wouldn’t have noticed the “gift on the rug” if you hadn’t pointed it out! That restaurant sounds like a doozy. As you were describing the scenario, I was picturing you speaking in Spanish to the waiter. The nut sort of looks like a chocolate covered pistachio.
Michael:
Yes, I can be very proud of myself I guess. The entire conversation was held in Spanish. I cracked up when I opened the photo and saw the pile on the rug.
I would be proud too. There are so many nuances to languages and I am impressed that you can converse with “technical” things. Kudos to you!
Michael:
I do well at times (more often lately) but I still get stuck. Lots of hand movements and facial expressions. This one time, though, I had no problems. I appreciate your moral support!
The chef’s response was don’t ask me, I only work here! Sounds like some dodgy fell off a truck sourcing. I think you’re wise to avoid them.
The pig motif is too funny! The only tiny drawback is when friends and relatives seize on a motif for every birthday and festival gift. You can get a lot. Boud
Boud:
Yes, the waiter’s and the chef’s responses were appalling. I’m going to write a review today. The waiter had the nerve to give me a card and ask for one. My sister liked owls in 1973. She had 3 tasteful ones. Then my mother starting making her owl sweaters and owl needlepoint. She bought her every cheap owl she saw. A few years later, when my sister was already ill, I went for a visit and saw 100s and 100s of owls. I said “Wow!” and my sister begged, “How do I make her stop?”
I saw the rug deposit and, as I do, I thought of yelling to Carlos, “Hairball!!” But then I realized it was a photo and not actually on OUR rug.
I love the lights on the buildings; so elegant.
Now … at a restaurant, when I find something odd in my food and the server says, it’s “some kind of large nut that comes in a bag” I’d have a conniption.
Bob:
I wish I could have yelled to Carlos, “Hairball!!!”
I didn’t want to make a scene at the restaurant. But I was nicer about it than I should have been.
“Regurge”? I’ve never heard that but it’s perfect.
“Some kind of large nut that comes in a bag.” Not helpful.
I love what they did with the bromeliads in that picture with the begonias. Very cool. And yes, I can see why you’d want that pig.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
Yeah, I like the word regurge. The more I think about that restaurant experience, the more disturbed I am. Do you think the shop staff would notice if I just walked away with the pig (with my forklift)?
Do you still have the big metal pig that hangs on the wall? I love stuff like that that hangs in the kitchen. I don’t recall you ever showing it. I have a lovely wooden Pig that has a metal crafted head on it and a metal curly tail in my kitchen.A local artist made it. You two would love it.
Mistress Borghese:
I can’t remember when we gave away the pig and I can’t find a single photo of it. Sad. It would be great in our current kitchen.
Ohhh I love the idea of a big pig on the wall!
Especially if it’s repurposed. And I have a friend that has everything Bunny. EVERYTHING.
And I agree: that restaurant can get in trouble…
XOXO
Sixpence Notthewiser:
I miss that pig and many others.
Dudo does look great on the yellow throw rug… all comfy and content.
Sorry to see that the Epley maneuver wasn’t a help for you… darn it. And then the disappointing restaurant folks…. Grrr! But, the evening photos are divine!
Judy C:
I haven’t been too dizzy in recent days. Maybe there’s hope. Someone with allergies would die in that restaurant. And it’s not some little dive either. Dudo does look great on the yellow rug but, if you ask me, he looks great everywhere.
That was such an artistic photo of Dudo – until you pointed out the “surprise” hidden in the picture. Speaking of sickness, Madam Arcati (who is a chef) would be incandescent with rage at the way that restaurant is run, bearing in mind the care he (and everyone in the business) has to take with potential allergens!
I’d be exactly like those people on the benches in the final photo – just sat, absorbing the beauty of that view of the gate and its surroundings… Jx
Jon:
I’m stunned when I think about that restaurant experience. I need to spend more time sitting on benches and taking in my surroundings.
I love the photo of Dudo and would never have noticed the puke if you hadn’t mentioned it.
Nope, I wouldn’t be going back to that restaurant.
Kelly:
I’m overdue for writing my review (requested by the waiter!?!) of the restaurant.
Definitely not a pine nut………false advertising. I believe walnuts/pecans are cheaper than pine nuts.
Dudo looks very proud of his ‘gift’ to you both. lol
Jim:
Yes, walnuts and pecans are much cheaper. Dudo is always proud of us for cleaning up so well. He and Moose even tell us when the litter box needs to be scooped.
I’m glad I’ve never dealt with a hairball 😹
Adam
NEKORANDOM.COM
Adam:
It’s so common that we’ve gotten used to it, but we do hate always having to watch where we step.
It looks like Dudo has acquired a security blanket — and he must like it as there’s no regurge on it, LOL!
Your night pictures are wonderful — enjoyed the “Not our taxi” caption too!
Tundra Bunny:
SG cleaned a spot off the new rug. The cats don’t discriminate. That could have been our taxi at a cost of €45 as opposed to €7.
I’ve had cats. I know their gifts.
Buy the pig (if you can afford it.)
Kirk:
I can’t believe I’ve adjusted to the gifts cats regularly leave. As for the pig, I want to steal it.
I want that big pig. He’d look fierce guarding my front door. I used to have a pig cookie jar. The handle on top was a piglet. He broke a long time ago. It’s pretty scary when the chef doesn’t know what’s in the food. I have no idea what that thing is. Have you tried the Google image search thingy? I can’t think of what it’s called. Steve knows. He uses it.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
Truth is, I don’t now care what that nut was. I just know it wasn’t a pine nut or a raisin. I’m going to write an honest review. That restaurant shouldn’t operate like that. It’s one thing coming from the waiter, who may have been ignorant, but for the chef do provide a similar response is ridiculous. After writing about our pig collection, I miss a lot of those things.
Looks like a walnut to me, but I’m no expert.
Walt the Fourth:
Yes, it looked exactly like a walnut, and it tasted awful. Very bitter.
My eldest son has a peanut allergy, and always asks when eating out and has to believe what they say….obvs he only chooses foods that are unlikely to have any nuts in them, but I hope he never has to deal with a chef/waiter like yours!! Unbelievable.
Frances:
SG simply dislikes many types of nuts. If he had an allergy, he’d be a lot more careful. He’s been burned a number of times when asking if something contains nuts. This restaurant is going to kill someone one day.
With so many good options, that restaurant will fail with locals. I think that shop will sell you all of the parts you need to assemble your own pig, cured and ready to serve. I looked at their website, swoon!
David:
The place was filled with tourists. I swooned at that shop, too. I could have a feast.
… talking about pigs, I remember
in early 70s in Marina di Carrara a tshirt with two pigs with a phrase”making bacon”. Was it yours or did we laugh because a local man was wearing it without knowing the meaning?
Baba:
Oh that shirt. I must admit it was mine. I think I had it made in Daytona Beach, Florida. But, I can’t believe I wore it in Italy!