Family Meal feeds you but Family Drinking bonds you.
Last night was Fecundo´s farewell party at Coffeeshop. Fecundo´s a 21 year old practical kitchen chef at at the school from which he graduated recently. He´s an amazingly nice guy, universally well liked, and a remarkable teacher - especially for someone so young - and especially for someone like me who´s a little more skeptical than I should be sometimes - especially here.
Coffeeshop is the drinking establishment of choice for a number of the El Bulli staff. They have a few things going for them - cheap beer which is number one of course - and number two is free internet access. Just one flat screen monitor in the corner, but if you need to check your email at 2 o´clock in the morning - by the time we get down from the mountains - it´s the only game in Roses. A third strong draw is the owner/barman extraordinaire - whom half the guys think is named Lionel and subsequently call Lionel Ritchie.
L´Hort was another choice for libations - and food. Typical tapas - pan con tomate - toasted bread rubbed with ripe juicy tomatoes - and a fine selection of cheeses - and actually just quite a nice place overall with an stone walled enclosed outdoor patio comfortably furnished with stylish stainless cafe tables and chairs. That was a favourite spot of the sous chefs and chef de parties - and so not always so with the stagiaires - but now they´re closed for the season.
The third is Ona´s - another surprisingly hip spot with a minimalist 70´s retro decor - and with a terrasse right on the beach - with a view of the harbour and the rest of the Med beyond.
Roses is shutting down for the season. This is our last week of service. Sunday night will be our last night of Season 2004.
My head´s still a little fuzzy - funny how a few glasses of vino tinto and a Mojito can linger - so tomorrow I´ll tell you more about Chris - the only other American here - blond haired, blue eyed, Southern drawl and all from Virginia.
