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Another fantastic meal at Emma’s Cantina Mexicana!
Published January 31, 2011 | 
This weekend just gone was a very exciting one for Alan and myself. A very good friend, Dawn, from the UK was over in Lanzarote for a week’s holiday with her friend Wendy. Dawn and I worked together too many years ago to mention… and we hadn’t seen each other since around 1991 / 1992. So of course we HAD to meet up whilst she was here! Also over was our very good friend Gil (and her friend Danni), who visits the Island a couple of times a year. Look out for Gil’s interview on this site on the 21st February. Both sets of ladies were staying in Puerto del Carmen… so Alan and I arranged to meet them, and some brand new friends (who we met via this website) at Spenders Bar for a drinkie or seven. A massive thank you to Geordie John who texted his barman to give us some free drinks too! Was great to see you at the end, John, albeit very briefly.
Over the course of the afternoon… much drink was consumed, and then six of us headed off to Emma’s Cantina Mexicana for a slap up meal!
Anyone who knows us, knows that we recommend Emma’s Cantina without hesitation and that we adore our good friend Mike, who owns the restaurant with his Mexican wife Emma.
We arrived at 7pm, and received the usual warm welcome from Mike and his staff. We got ourselves comfortable, donned Sombreros for the obligatory photos and ordered some drinks.
For a starter, I had Emma’s wonderful “Huevo Rancheros” which is a tortilla topped with refried beans, salsa and an egg… and that was as tasty as always. The others had “Jalapeños Rellenos” and “Enchilladas”. As a main course I went for the “Tex Mex Fiesta”, which entailed steak, pork ribs smothered in BBQ sauce, a bowl of refried beans and a mountain of potato wedges. Others had “Estofado”, “Fajitas”, or the “Tex Mex” which contained TWO sets of ribs instead of the steak… plus corn on the cob.
As always, the meat on the ribs was juicy and tender, and fell off the bone. The steak was cooked perfectly (I always have it very rare) and everything was bursting with flavour.
The food at Emma’s Cantina is always of an excellent standard, and the service is always top notch. But one of the reasons we love the place so much is because of Mike the owner. Mike is one of our favourite people… and someone that we always make time for. His bubbly sharp wit… gentle flirting with the ladies, and the time he takes to speak to every customer, keeps so many of us returning time and time again. Don’t dismiss this restaurant simply because you’re not a fan of spicy food… as not everything on the menu is spicy – but it is always mega tasty! The staff will fall over themselves to help you choose something for your palate, and are very knowledgeable. Mike and Emma have trained them really well!
If you have time… you must visit the restaurant – but do book first, as it fills up very quickly!
Here’s a link to their page on our Canary Nightlife website – so you can find out a little more.
Emma’s Cantina Mexicana
Thank you so much Mike, for spoiling us rotten, and for helping to make our reunion with the ladies such a wonderful one! We’ll be back very soon! Love to you and of course to Emma too!
Puerto del Carmen Review – The Young Mostonians
Published January 31, 2011 | The lovely Lee is a member on our busy Lanzarote Forum, and kindly offered to share his recent experiences of his family holiday in Puerto del Carmen. Happy reading! Continue reading
Santa’s Grotto in Puerto del Carmen
Published November 29, 2010 | 
If your little ones are begging to see Santa Claus this year, and the budget doesn’t quite stretch to his home at the North Pole… then don’t worry – because he’s making a visit to Lanzarote. Continue reading
Christmas Carols in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote – 2010
Published November 29, 2010 | If you would like to hear some Christmas Carols to get you into the festive spirit, then you are in for a treat!
On the 15th December at 4pm, head to “Nuestra Senora del Carmen Church in Playa Blanca”, where the Rainbows,Brownies and Guides will perform in addition to choir and congregation singing traditional Christmas Carols.
All are welcome
Retiring collection in aid of ORBIS saving sight worldwide
La Bocaina Restaurant in Playa Blanca
Published November 24, 2010 | 
Yesterday was my birthday, and as has been tradition since moving to Lanzarote in 2006… I wanted to spend the evening with our great friends Ange and Dave from MVP Lanzarote.
One of our favourite restaurants in Lanzarote is La Bocaina, which is located just after the petrol station as you enter Playa Blanca. Paul and Nina are always welcoming… and Paul is a fantastic chef – nothing is ever too much trouble… and the food is consistently great!
So last night we headed up there for my birthday meal. We were greeted straight away by the lovely Alex and Elaine, and we grabbed a drink in the lounge area before ordering our food. The lounge is kitted out with comfy leather sofas… and beautifully decorated coffee tables.
Starters:
Duck salad
Mushrooms stuffed with spinach and goats cheese, served in a tomato sauce
Deep fried camembert
Pumpkin soup
All the starters were excellent as always… and we all had a taste of each others’ dishes
Mains:
Ange went for a sirloin steak with peppercorn sauce, and the other 3 of us went for the extremely tasty and very popular Tornados Rossini, which is a fillet steak on a crouton, topped with a creamy parfait and mushrooms. All the dishes came with a side order of vegetables and potatoes… but we also ordered extra chips (which are huge chunky chips – beautiful) and some new potatoes
As always – all the food was excellent… and we put Paul through the mill by all asking for our steaks to be cooked differently… ranging from mine being served extremely rare, to Ange having hers very well done.
The conversation was hilarious and flowing constantly… with everything covered from “I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here” (and how much someone would have to pay you to eat witchetty grubs)… through to lucid dreaming… and much more besides.
It was the first time we had seen Nina and Paul since the birth of their son – and so it was also lovely to have chats about having a baby in Lanzarote etc.
All in all, it was another excellent evening… and we highly recommend you visit La Bocaina. You can see their website at www.labocainarestaurant.com
Back to the gym!
Published November 20, 2010 | Given the walk I’m planning on doing in February which Elle has already mentioned, I joined the Princess Yaiza gym in Playa Blanca. Continue reading
Walking in Lanzarote – Montaña Roja. Nov 2010
Published November 15, 2010 | This Lanzarote walk is one that people of most abilities can do. There are a couple of ways to get to the ridge… but I’m going to direct you up from sea level… which makes this a two hour round trip stroll.
Park up at La Mulata, which is the row of restarants nestled between the Natura Palace and Rubicon Palace hotels. From there, walk up the waste ground to the dual carriageway and turn right. Cross over the dual carriageway at the pedestrian crossing ahead of you, and continue up the road a short distance. Very soon afterwards, you will see a small handmade wooden footbridge, where you can hop over onto some waste ground. Head diagonally right, and continue up through the houses until you reach a well worn path which will take you to the top of Montaña Roja. Aim for the mast that you can see ahead of you, and you can’t go too far wrong… as this is where the path starts. (map below)
Once up there you can walk all the way around the ridge, with fantastic views across to Papagayo, Fuerteventura, Femes, and of course the whole of Playa Blanca. Inside the crater itself… you will see that many people have written their names and messages with the loose stones scattered about. Do add yours, and perhaps send us a photo if you would like!
Just as a diversion – here is a little story about a good friend of ours that took place in July of this year. His username on our Lanzarote forum is LeFtY, and his good lady is known as RiGhTy
So I got up this morning at about 6am and put my volcano climbing shoes on, and went for a climb up the volcano near Dad’s house. I got into the crater just before the sun started to peak over the horizon and set about playing with some big rocks. I arranged them into a short question (which I reckon took bang on 2 hours as it took lots of rocks to make it legible from the top of the volcano. anyway once I’d finished I went home and met Dad on his way out to take his dog, Dylan and the darn lil kitty on their walk.
So after we got back from our walk we nipped down to Le Moka with RiGhTy and Dad’s wife and had some brekkie (which was tasty as always) and had a sit down for a couple of drinks.
Once we finished that, me and RiGhTy got dropped off at the base of the volcano and went for a walk up there to pass some time. It was stupid windy up there and RiGhTy wasn’t too impressed about the choice of day to go volcano climbing and wasn’t hiding her displeasure. anyway we carried on up the volcano and reached the summit out of breath and a little windswept. so we peered into the crater and had a look at all the messages and names that people had left in rocks on the crater floor and RiGhTy pointed out one that said ‘MARRY ME?’ and proclaimed “oh that is lame, one says marry me!” to which I laughed and said “haha yeah……..” and promptly bent onto one knee and asked her if she wanted to be Mrs LeFtY
A few tears of happiness and disbelief from RiGhTy and she begrudgingly accepted after being told if she didnt say yes I was gonna bury her in the volcano.
Our warmest congratulations to LeFtY and RiGhTy (aka Chris and Mel), and we hope their 2011 wedding is everything they dream of.
Back to the walk now. Do avoid this walk if it is windy… as it can get quite blustery up the top. Do wear sensible closed in shoes. We bumped into a chap on our way up who wished he’d worn something other than his sandals. And don’t forget to take plenty of water.
Photographs for you below of course! Happy walking!
The map at the bottom shows you how to get to La Mulata from the Petrol Station at the entrance to Playa Blanca. Then the route from La Mulata is shown too.
Gym in Playa Blanca
Published November 14, 2010 | We are often asked by people to recommend a gym in Playa Blanca that either they can use… or to recommend for visitors.
Unfortunately, Alan and I are not currently tremendously fit – but recently we have made the decision to buff ourselves up a little, and head down for some quality exercise.
So… with this in mind, we will be reporting back in a while about the Playa Blanca gym we will be using, the facilities available, and the prices for residents as well as visitors.
Wish us luck! By posting this… we can’t be a lazy pair and back out. Oh, and there won’t be any sweaty photos I’m afraid – red faces aren’t a good look!
Fishing in Lanzarote – Last nights dinner!
Published November 10, 2010 | I’m not the best fisherman. But I have to say I’m rather proud of this Sea Bass I caught yesterday.
I only go fishing occasionally – but if I can start bringing fish like this home each time I’d be going a lot more often! It also keeps Elle happy as she gets to try out new recipes. Continue reading
Walk. Playa Honda to Arrecife. October 2010
Published October 17, 2010 | It has been some time since I have been out wallking – for one reason or another… so I was looking forward to starting off gently with this stroll from Guacimeta at Playa Honda, to Charco del Palo at Arrecife. The weather was fantastic… with the sun beaming down the whole time. We weren’t the only ones with the idea… as there were plenty of Spanish families out with their children. Continue reading
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