2) Given that I find even a nube too strong most of the time, by choice I'd tend to disagree
1) Yes well if you've not eaten a steak IN Argentina, you would think that. I recently had my birthday meal in a place someone recommended on the basis of Argentine (type) steak which turned out to be frankly 2nd rate. Yes I'm a steak anorak!!!!

Theres an Argentinian Steak restaurant down the road from Oliva and it has a tremendous reputation.

I'm always suprised that people think food in Spain is uninspiring and not impressive .... I've been to many areas in Spain now and have obviously been fairly lucky to find all kinds of excellent food.

Just got back from Barcelona, three meals out and three very well enjoyed varying from €24 for the two of us up to €74

Can't comment on the rest, indeed given I live so far away can't really comment on any of it however I'd be interested to know how many of the folk who contribute to the tremendous reputation of the Arg. restaurant have eaten steaks in Arga....

The point is (I made the original post I think) the steak I've eaten in the Argentinian restaurant in Madrid was fantastic - far better than anything I've eaten in England, Scotland or indeed normal places in Spain. It may well be that it's even better in Argentina, but until I win the lottery (or you do and pay for me to go there) I'm not able to compare... I was lucky the last time I went to this restaurant as I was eating with a wine buff - we drank something from navarra that was really good. Unfortunately I don't remember the brand

Well that would have no bearing on it for me!
At the end of the day I want a good meal. May well be that it's better in Argentina, I dont know ... but for sure I've had a bloody good Aberdeen Angus steak far far away from Scotland!

If you prefer weaker coffee there's always Starbucks!

How do you no if the steak in an Argentinian Restaurant is actually from Argentina ?

And if it is from Argentina does that make all there cattle perfect.

I think not.

Yeah, and how do we know that all the Welsh Rarebit, is from Wales.

Starbucks: I'd rather line the pocket of some anonymous Spanish cafe owner whose coffee blows my head off, thank you

Well we could always ask ... I went somewhere on recommendation that their steaks were from Argentina, asked where they were from & it was a local wholesaler oh, and yes I have eaten decent Spanish, Scottish, Dutch, steaks, but the nearest to the Arg. taste were at the Gaucho Grill in London & a place in Amsterdam!!! and I did eat at the recommended place, and they were cr*p!
I didn't say it made all their cattle perfect (and being honest I imagine there must be some bad Argentine steaks) however on the balance of probability I know which I'd choose any day of the week


Back on topic.... curtains. For some daft reason I'd never twigged that the blinds or shutters or whatever, whether interior or exterior, were usually the only window covering!

I am not a big steak eater, prefer to cook my own but many say spanish steaks aren't great because the meat isn't hung or aged. I don't know if Argentinian is? Some small restaurants only take the steak out of the freezer when they get an order so it is not slow thawed and that affects the quality (according to a friend who is a chef).

ON TOPIC! I didn't get many suprises as I knew Spain well before living here. The main one was as many have said, the cold. I must have been very lucky and only visited during good weather. TBH I think spanish winters are getting colder. This year was the coldest I have known and the first time we had ice.

Again depends how much you are prepared to pay

And if you get the steaks fresh from the butchers then the meet would never have been frozen. The steaks look impressive at the Hipercor butchers counter!

I have heard people raving about coffee in Spain, can anyone explain what is so special about it? Must confess to not being a huge coffee fan, but whenever I have tried it, it has tasted, well, just like any other coffee. Generally stronger, but that's not hard to achieve, just more coffee and less water! I genuinely can't see what there is to rave about. There's two ingredients, coffee and water, what do they do different with them? Do they use a special bean, exclusive to Spain? Or something that makes it different? I see Starbuck's getting rubbished, what is so bad about their coffee? That's what they do, do they know nothing about making coffee? I also read of Brits/Americans moaning about the lack of such places like Starbucks, is it simply a matter of liking what you get used to?

I can tell you why the coffee in Spain is so great.

I go to the local bar, grab the sports paper, sit outside in the sun,watch the world go by, but the thing that really gives the taste the edge is, that the missus stays at home.

For the unbelievers, the improvement in the taste is incredible.

I did not say my steaks, I said restaurant ones! If steaks aren't hung and aged in spain they won't be as good however much you pay for them. according to steak experts. I defer to your superior knowledge though.

Starbucks coffee is too mild for my taste, that doesn't make it bad though, certainly very popular in the USA judging by the way they stand in line for it. Kenya coffee is my favourite, in Spain a small cortado, in a glass.

Now that I can believe! Even sitting in the sun must help, but without the missus, even better.