Originally Posted by pain-in-spain (Post 9263937)

but one thing I have learned is to keep my options open. I am sure that in a couple of years I'll be dreaming of the idyllic life in a Spanish village with a sunny terrace and lemon trees and to be honest, in this life we all need a dream to keep us going - bizarrely, at the moment my dream is to be in London!

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9263802)

Effectively 4 courses...do you mean the 8 cents pot of yougurt for pudding, the lettuce leaf and two slices of tomato for starter.:rofl:

I think the weather is a major factor for people who move although you hear them quoting the culture, fiestas etc. If so they would move to the North where there are more concerts, exhibitions etc.

Originally Posted by pain-in-spain (Post 9263937)

Have been reading all the posts here with interest but thought I'd go back to the OP to add my comments. As others will know, I'm currently in the process of planning and researching my move back to London after 8.5 years in Barcelona. I've brought up many negatives of life here and this proves that one persons heaven is another's hell. However, I too came here with great anticipation and excitement, not least because we bought a run down flat and had the enjoyment of the project for a couple of years and in many ways lived outside reality for a time. I was 40 when we moved here so knew I'd have several years work ahead but had sufficient savings for a while. Much of my complaining has been towards the very bad working conditions here and the cash in hand lifestyle that many Spaniards live. Even though my dad is Spanish I hadn't realised about these aspects prior to living here. Many posters on here are retired or work from home and live in Expat enclaves or the rural areas. Living in a big city like Barcelona is no different to any other but due to my family connections this is where we chose. I also live in an area of high immigration (non-European) so for me it's pretty much like London, the Spanish community is dying out which is very sad. If we had moved to another part of Spain or to a village I am sure i would have had another view of things and despite all my negative comments I still love Spain but I am not in love with it as I was when I first moved. Living here has re-kindled my desire to get back with my old flame, London! I am worried that things may not work out but one thing I have learned is to keep my options open. I am sure that in a couple of years I'll be dreaming of the idyllic life in a Spanish village with a sunny terrace and lemon trees and to be honest, in this life we all need a dream to keep us going - bizarrely, at the moment my dream is to be in London!

Originally Posted by megmet (Post 9264921)

If that's all you get for starters and pudding....you must live in Marbella. :D

Here I often just have the starter and a coffee rather than the full menu, I've a good appetite but just can't manage to eat the full meal.

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9265545)

Never had a good one in 15 years of living in Spain and that includes everywhere I have been in Spain. Not talking about quantity, quality too! Had adequate ones that's all. I don't doubt there are some decent ones but they are few and far between.

Originally Posted by bil (Post 9265564)

Depends on your definition of what is quality, and what is adequate. Round here the food is definitely campo, no Michelin cordon bleu, but tasty and filling.

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9265545)

Never had a good one in 15 years of living in Spain and that includes everywhere I have been in Spain. Not talking about quantity, quality too! Had adequate ones that's all. I don't doubt there are some decent ones but they are few and far between.

Originally Posted by bil (Post 9265564)

what is adequate. Round here the food is definitely campo,

Originally Posted by whitelinen (Post 9265926)

That usually means a few lettuce leaves drowning in vile vinegar, the ringpiece of an unidentifiable origin and rice or 6 chips, followed by flan which in reality is not a flan but a watery apology of a creme caramel.

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9265545)

Never had a good one in 15 years of living in Spain and that includes everywhere I have been in Spain. Not talking about quantity, quality too! Had adequate ones that's all. I don't doubt there are some decent ones but they are few and far between.

Originally Posted by whitelinen (Post 9265926)

That usually means a few lettuce leaves drowning in vile vinegar, the ringpiece of an unidentifiable origin and rice or 6 chips, followed by flan which in reality is not a flan but a watery apology of a creme caramel.

Originally Posted by bil (Post 9265658)

Why does this remind me of the guy who said "You can get a perfectly acceptable wine for 40 pounds......" ?

Originally Posted by The Oddities (Post 9266052)

Just come back from Cullera where we had a lovely menu del dia. I had a large mixed salad, fresh tuna, potatoes and red pepper followed by homemade cheesecake. OH had asparagus and jamon, fresh tuna etc and coffee (he is not allowed sweets). In other places we have paid as much for his asparagus and jamon as we did for the whole meal today.

Rosemary

Originally Posted by whitelinen (Post 9266080)

Just might take a ride down there next week, what is the name of the restaurant?

Originally Posted by whitelinen (Post 9265926)

That usually means a few lettuce leaves drowning in vile vinegar, the ringpiece of an unidentifiable origin and rice or 6 chips, followed by flan which in reality is not a flan but a watery apology of a creme caramel.

Originally Posted by jimenato (Post 9266086)

I've had everything from good value and good quality to poor value and abysmal quality. There is a huge variation. My general impression is that it is budget fuel for workers (and nothing wrong with that!).

When you find a good one it's a real pleasure.

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9266093)

I think this is fairly representative throughout Spain. I have never seen cheesecake...or any sort of proper cake offered on menu del dia. Usually there is soup or salad starters..as above! 3 main(?) courses of Chicken portion, greyish. Rosada, dry and yellowish or pork chop, greyish and doesn't look anything like a chop. Some ventas do estofada swimming in oil with a bit of gristly meat. It's not where I have lived it's the same everywhere. Never seen jamón on a menu unless a la carte:huh:

Spanish fresh tuna is never superb...it is what they do to kill it...the blood then runs into the flesh, you can see it on fish counters.

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9266093)

I think this is fairly representative throughout Spain. I have never seen cheesecake...or any sort of proper cake offered on menu del dia. Usually there is soup or salad starters..as above! 3 main(?) courses of Chicken portion, greyish. Rosada, dry and yellowish or pork chop, greyish and doesn't look anything like a chop. Some ventas do estofada swimming in oil with a bit of gristly meat. It's not where I have lived it's the same everywhere. Never seen jamón on a menu unless a la carte:huh:

Spanish fresh tuna is never superb...it is what they do to kill it...the blood then runs into the flesh, you can see it on fish counters.

Originally Posted by jimenato (Post 9266086)

I've had everything from good value and good quality to poor value and abysmal quality. There is a huge variation. My general impression is that it is budget fuel for workers (and nothing wrong with that!).

When you find a good one it's a real pleasure.

Originally Posted by The Oddities (Post 9266105)

Basically it is no different to the UK, ranges from the utter crap greasy Joes to high end restaurants. If you cannot find anywhere decent to eat in Spain you cannot in the UK it is just a case of what you are used to. Personally give me Japan, China, Italy or France in that order, in my opinion the food there is far superior to both UK and Spain and at least the first two do not clog up your arteries like UK food does.
Thinking about it Korean food was pretty good to but prefer not to think what was in it.
Graham.

Originally Posted by cricketman (Post 9266104)

Not true at all, in any way.

You just go to bad places. Sorry :)

We've been to lots of good places for a menu del dia in Malaga city, Pedregalejo, Granada, BCN, Asturias, everywhere, and they have been nothing like what you describe. I have been to a few like how you describe, especially in BCN and Madrid, but these are generally the cr*p cheap places that you can spot a mile away.

Menus del dia are never a meal to celebrate your wedding anniversary to, but great meals for an excellent price are easily found. Menus del dia was one of the reasons I came to Spain! I was sick of lunchtime food in London and I havent been disappointed at all.

Try the Lizarran menu del dia near Miramar/Iceland in Fuengirola, it is pretty good for 9 euros. Not the best ever, but nothing like what you describe

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9266093)

I think this is fairly representative throughout Spain. I have never seen cheesecake...or any sort of proper cake offered on menu del dia. Usually there is soup or salad starters..as above! 3 main(?) courses of Chicken portion, greyish. Rosada, dry and yellowish or pork chop, greyish and doesn't look anything like a chop. Some ventas do estofada swimming in oil with a bit of gristly meat. It's not where I have lived it's the same everywhere. Never seen jamón on a menu unless a la carte:huh:

Spanish fresh tuna is never superb...it is what they do to kill it...the blood then runs into the flesh, you can see it on fish counters.

Originally Posted by cricketman (Post 9266143)

Have you been to all those countries to test out the food?

Originally Posted by steviedeluxe (Post 9266177)

Sadly you sound like someone who hasn't experienced much of Spain, despite your claim of "fairly representative throughout Spain". Most of the central parts and north of Spain often have a substantial first course - could be paella, fabada, puchero, lentejas or even (squeamish look away now) oreja stew or callos. Try and spend some time in cities like Valladolid, Madrid or Leon and you'll find plenty of places that serve up substantial menu meals. Of course (especially in summer) there are lighter first course meals eg gazpacho salad, peas with ham, pisto etc.

As for tuna - there are different types, with different preparations. Which is why they have more than one name - surely you'd know that with your Spanish skills? My favourite form is Mojama - Spanish cured tuna - an absolute treat! I wonder if you've ever come across Mojama?

End of the day, there's so much choice available, it's hard to generalise for all of Spain. I personally am not impressed with the standard steaks - and only eat it in Agentinian places I know where it's been superb. I love certain tapas such as tortilla, chorizo, morcilla, jamon and the prawns - and I've had all of these initially free with drinks in Madrid. But if I fancy eating those I order a tapa - apart from the prawns I wouldn't expect to see them on a menu.

Originally Posted by jimenato (Post 9266086)

I've had everything from good value and good quality to poor value and abysmal quality. There is a huge variation. My general impression is that it is budget fuel for workers (and nothing wrong with that!).

When you find a good one it's a real pleasure.

Originally Posted by steviedeluxe (Post 9266189)

Is it still the law that establishments that sell cooked food have to offer a daily Menu? I've been told that the law was brought in by Franco's regime, to ensure workers had at least one good meal a day. Whatever its origins, it seems a good custom. Seems to provoke a lot of debate too!

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9266093)

I think this is fairly representative throughout Spain. I have never seen cheesecake...or any sort of proper cake offered on menu del dia. Usually there is soup or salad starters..as above! 3 main(?) courses of Chicken portion, greyish. Rosada, dry and yellowish or pork chop, greyish and doesn't look anything like a chop. Some ventas do estofada swimming in oil with a bit of gristly meat. It's not where I have lived it's the same everywhere. Never seen jamón on a menu unless a la carte:huh:

Spanish fresh tuna is never superb...it is what they do to kill it...the blood then runs into the flesh, you can see it on fish counters.

Originally Posted by The Oddities (Post 9266186)

I could not agree more. Not allowed to give you Karma which is a pity.

Graham

Originally Posted by HBG (Post 9266451)

It’s their country, they know what’s what, and I followed their ways at lunchtime today. I followed them to a large Chinese restaurant with an eat-as-much-as-want buffet, wok style.

The selection was superb, we decided on plan B, and the wife had fish while I had meat, both in tasty Cantonese sauce, cooked in front of you, allowing us to swap things around afterwards.

I made four trips to the counter and imagined that many Spanish eyes were watching me, so my wife had to make the last trip to the sweets corner, she doesn’t care who’s looking when it comes to filling up two plates with goodies.

The lot came to 22 Euros, an absolute bargain. That was nine hours ago, and I still don’t feel hungry.

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9266518)

I am not refering to any nationality re. restaurants except spanish. only the spanish do menu del dia. Many of the meals you refer to seems as if you have been googling again:unsure: I admit I have seen pensioners tucking into those meals as if they haven't eaten for days:blink:

As for Italian, one where we have been going to for years is always full of spanish...evening that is. Well it was, been a bit dead last couple of years since they are all out of work! I don't have British tastes (although I do prefer restaurants in UK. France). I have lived the major part of my life out of the UK.

The tuna caught in spain is rubbish because they beat the shit out of them to kill instead of using proper equipment. The blood runs into the flesh. (some of my family are deep sea fishing experts) However you won't find much fresh tuna in Spain, the Med is practically dead for fishing, they have killed it off with illegal practices. Most fish is now imported into Spain

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9266518)

I am not refering to any nationality re. restaurants except spanish. only the spanish do menu del dia. Many of the meals you refer to seems as if you have been googling again:unsure: I admit I have seen pensioners tucking into those meals as if they haven't eaten for days:blink:

As for Italian, one where we have been going to for years is always full of spanish...evening that is. Well it was, been a bit dead last couple of years since they are all out of work! I don't have British tastes (although I do prefer restaurants in UK. France). I have lived the major part of my life out of the UK.

The tuna caught in spain is rubbish because they beat the shit out of them to kill instead of using proper equipment. The blood runs into the flesh. (some of my family are deep sea fishing experts) However you won't find much fresh tuna in Spain, the Med is practically dead for fishing, they have killed it off with illegal practices. Most fish is now imported into Spain

Originally Posted by bil (Post 9266582)

Hey, I obviously lack your expertise, but logic tells me that blood runs out of flesh......