Almería half marathon 2009

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

I really have been sorely tempted to make it happen next year but... fiscal and logistic reality says "no".

To compensate a little, this evening I visited a top Spanish restaurant (there are loads of Spanish eateries in Sydney) and toasted you all with fine Espana cuisine. We had quite a banquet, but my favourite dishes were:

• Pulpo a la Gallega - octopus on a bed of potato, saffron mayonnaise and paprika.
  
• Setas asado con Jerez - roasted garlic mushrooms in sherry vinegar.
  
• Patatas arrugatos y mojo - "Blue" potatoes in parsley and cumin (yum!), and my bestest favourite:
  
• Queso de cabra con miel - a scrumptious caramelised goat cheese in an onion compote... divine!
  

The gambas fritas con remolacha was also extremely popular, but the dish was empty by the time it reached me, so I can only guess that it was as good as my dining companions suggested.

And I was also rather taken by my first experience of Spanish beer... perhaps the occasion gave it bonus points, but I thought it a very acceptable heavy-ish but very palateable easy-drinking lager*.

Which only makes me all the more determined to make it to Almeria one of these years. It won't be '09 - even with the promised presence of Seafront Plodder - but I will get there one day!

Heavy sighs of deep satisfaction,

MLC Man.


*I note the Estrella Galicia is listed as a 4.8% beer on the Estrella website, but the one I had was 5.5%, perhaps an export bottling? Either way, it was pretty good.