AGAINST THE CRISIS? ==> IMAGINATION!!!

What can be done against the crisis being suffered at this time, when the restaurant sector is one of the most affected?

We don’t want to be gurus, we don’t have magic solutions, we will simply set out what we, as ordinary restaurant customers who enjoy good food, don’t like paying abusive prices, and don’t mind being called Mr. So-and-so, have found positive in some restaurants we have recently visited.

In the first place, there are some restaurants that organize special gastronomic days, with a different menu each day and a fixed price for all the days of the event.

This is the case of Racó de Toni, in Altea (Alicante), where a gastronomic festival of cuisine and mushrooms was held in February, in April they celebrated the gastronomic festival of the pig slaughter, and in June the festival of Altea delicacies (where the extraordinary Ostras de la Bahía, from Santa Pola could be tasted). They are currently preparing the Open Days of Mediterranean Gastronomy, to be held between September and October.

In other cases, they adapt to the circumstances and prepare tasting menus, quite attractive, at a reasonable price. In this case we have the Restaurante La Seu in Denia, where they offer us 7 appetizers and a rice dish, with homemade desserts, for 18 euros. VAT and drinks are not included. The menu is surprising.

There are also other restaurants that offer a daily menu, called that but in reality an exquisite menu, where we can choose among four starters, four main courses and two desserts, plus a very elaborate and exquisite appetizer. This menu can also be enjoyed for 19 euros at La Sidrería – Majadahonda (Madrid).

Specialized menus, such as those found at the restaurante Nuestro Bar – Albacete. It is a sure bet, since the tasting menu can be had for 25 euros per person (it is a huuuuuge amount of food), and since everything is so tasty, you end up eating it all… Another option is the vegetarian menu, but not just a lettuce leaf and that’s it. It consists of 10 dishes, one of which is fried cheese. This menu costs 15 euros.

Or having specialized dishes, where it is guaranteed that if we want that dish, we will always find it, with extraordinary quality and good service. This is the case of El Rancho de la Aldegüela – Torrecaballeros (Segovia), where you can find lamb or suckling pig roasted to perfection and freshly baked.

Others invite famous chefs to their premises, organizing events in which the guest chef prepares the dishes and new dishes are created for the duration of the events, to the satisfaction of the customers who can attend them, since the tables usually fill up quickly. This is the case of the Restaurante El Greco – Denia (Alicante).

Surely hospitality professionals have many more ideas, because they know the profession much better than we do. We encourage everyone to visit other establishments, to try to improve their dishes as much as they can, and to show some attention to their customers. There have always been setbacks, and there has always been a way out of them. This time will be no different.

Imagination and initiative!!!

GuiaMaximin