Monday night, after enjoying the Christmas lights in central Málaga, we headed over to El Meson de Cervantes for dinner. We’d been there a few times since our exploratory trip to Spain in January 2011. We really need to go a lot more often. We love everything about the place starting with the warm welcome we always receive. Fortunately, we got there a bit earlier — 8:15 — than is expected for Spanish dining. A half hour later and we probably wouldn’t have gotten a table.
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| THE ALAMEDA PRINCIPAL, MÁLAGA. |
The hostess asked us if we had a reservation. We said, no, and San Geraldo put his hand out to be slapped.
I then told the hostess that San Geraldo used to be famous. “But not anymore. Does that help?”
He then jokingly mentioned his 22-greats grandfather San Fernando Rey (King Ferdinand III). I explained the relationship.
Abuelo is grandfather. Bisabuelo is great-grandfather. Tatara abuelo is great-grandfather. I said tatara-tatara-tatara… and finished with the number 22. By this point, we were all friends. One of the servers brought us to a table and told us it was the table for tataras. It’s important to note that the table was available whether or not San Fernando Rey had been Grandpa.
Everyone on staff was warm and friendly. It’s a team effort, so no one is ever ignored or in need. I had Secreto Ibérico, a pork dish I’ve had elsewhere a number of times (and loved). Nothing will ever hold a candle to this one: the pork, pineapple sauce, and a slice of pumpkin. It sounded odd to me, but the combination could not have been more perfect. I managed to include a little of each in every mouthful. We then had dessert, which you’ll see below.
We received kisses good-bye and just about danced through town to catch the train home.
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| SAN GERALDO’S SUCKLING PIG. |
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| SECRETO IBÉRICO. |
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| SAN GERALDO’S CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH FRESH BERRIES. |
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| MY NEW FAVOURITE DESSERT: SWEET-WINE MOUSSE, LIME SORBET, MANGO SAUCE, AND A CRUNCHY PINE NUT TOPPING (UNDER THE LIME SORBET, TOO). |
Whenever one of the servers passed our table, she would sing, “Tatara tatara tatara tatara.”