Playa Blanca is one big tourist trap. It can be quite difficult to find a proper meal in a place like this. It must have been sheer luck, then, that we happened upon this place one fateful night.
Situated on the marina, this class establishment looks out on the Atlantic Ocean. We were quickly seated and offered a glass of the choice house wine. Since we were quite ravenous, we chose to forego the menu and asked for whatever was fresh that night. This resulted in me ordering the Cherne, a local fish inhabiting the many caves and shipwrecks on the sea floor here in the Canaries. What a wonderful fish this turned out to be! Its flesh is meaty, succulent, almost chickenlike in its consistency. It came accompanied by the ubiquitous Papas Arrugadas. No punishment by any means since, in my opinion, these wrinkled, nutty potatoes are the most important contribution to Spanish cuisine in the canaries. They've got a lovely buttery, almost claylike structure.
Since my girls were getting a bit rowdy at this point we had to turn down dessert. I made do with a double espresso, which was fine, especially considering the fact that the Spanish usually can't brew a cup to save their lives... It was served, as is customary on the Canary Islands, by the local spirit of choice, Ron Miel, which is essentially honey-infused rum.
Staff was very professional and accommodating, which seems to be the standard over here. All in all I had a very pleasant experience at la Casa Roja. read more
