Jul-2014
Hotspot: El Carajo Tapas Bar
Spanish tapas & Oaxacan dishes
An orange wall with natural bricks surrounding the entrance invite me to have a look at this place. “Rest-Tapas-Bar El Carajo” is written on the wall I find when I spontaneously decide to enter the place and to have a look. A lovely waiter who also appears to be the chef since he just opened his brand new restaurant, an open kitchen where I can see how my food is going to be prepared, cozy colors painted on the walls and a lot of dining space invite me to have a seat.
Inspirational
I just can’t help but ask about this place. How old is it? Who choose all these warm colors? What is going to happen to the other floors? Is that your mum in the kitchen? Is this place your creation? What does the name mean?
I get my questions answered with a fluent Spanish accent which makes me doubt about the owners origen; Spanish or Mexican? While Fernando appears to be a combination of both (and also speaks perfect English) meaning he is the perfect chef! How I love both countries cuisine!
The menu amazed me. Even while the official menu is not done yet, Fernando manages to offer exactly what I would like to eat and drink; I only have to trust him, which is really not that difficult.
Pleasing customers
The next day me and my sister wanted to watch the football match. The Netherlands versus Argentina. Ai ai ai ai, where should we go and watch the game? Well, why don’t we check if Fernando placed a television in his Carajo restaurant after we told him yesterday we might show up again today.
Full of surprise we enter the place finding only his father and mother working in the kitchen and at the dining area, telling us that their son is coming back in a bit with a giant TV. That is great news meaning we can watch the game here at Carajo, whoo-hoo!
Tapas, tapas & tapas!
The game actually appeared to be the worst ever, because WE lost… But, we did end up drinking a can of Sangria, a bottle of fancy Spanish red wine and eating the Oaxacan Chilaquiles and a whole lot of (not yet on the menu) Spanish tapas à la Fernando. De-li-cious! I highly, highly recommend you to ask for the tapas, but also the local dishes.
I hope I can return soon to find the other floors finished, which maybe turn into a library or art work exhibitions with dining tables and live music. I can’t wait to see if the cozy colors of the walls change and if the TV is going to get her own definite place somewhere. In the meanwhile I will try to get some of Fernando’s recipes for the dishes he cooked and visit Carajo soon again with my sister for another tasteful afternoon… and evening, since this place makes you spend your entire day over there if you enter around lunch time.
Fernando busy preparing Tapas for my sis and I
About Renate Rigters
Ever since I left my home country I felt at home at any other place I went to. I enjoy getting to know more cultures by talking to strangers and hearing their philosophy about life. Speaking with gestures when you can not find a shared language, finding places only the locals go to and learn about their customs and values. Hanging out with local people makes me happy. The experience of every new place is a step out of your comfort zone where I like to wander around until it feels like a second home.
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