juan luis garitaonandía adán
When you visit La Vieja at a certain...
When you visit La Vieja at a certain age, you are transported back to the days when stores sold everything: candles, canvas shoes, shoelaces, and even sticky strips that trapped hundreds of flies. The furniture is the same as that from those years. At a closer book, you come back to reality. Housekeeping items are on the shelves, and where there used to be espadrilles there are now sports bottles of different vintages and all kinds of local produce, including those famous "Santoña anchoíllas". Compared to others, there are two things that make this place different. One is a vermouth that José Manuel, the owner, ages in barrels for three years.
The formula? Only he knows. They serve it with crushed ice and people fall over one another to taste it. Spectacular. The other difference are the "spikes." Unlike other places, where the spike has a complex development, La Vieja is committed to what I call "taste explosion." One bite, all at once. Skewers of dates, goat cheese, anchoílla, chili and olives comprise a spike. Italian peppers are stuffed with a dollop of ratatouille, mascarpone, parmesan and the eternally contrasting anchoílla flavor, all protected by glass, keeping them scrupulously clean. A simple local place, but which doesn't leave anyone indifferent. Excellent care, good atmosphere and a unique blend of scents and flavors make La Vieja an essential store. Good and a quick stop, though twice as good as others.
Read more
+9
