Paul is back in town this week, and is very generously offering to be the “auxiliary stomach”, helping out with some Tapas Research. For the most part tapas bar visits are 2-stomach affair, a few tapas can be sampled and that’s fine, especially for updates. But some restaurants clearly require 3-or-4-stomachs, such as the fabulous Restaurante La Peña, in order to be able to sample a good selection of what they have to offer. And so we found ourselves on the edge of Nervión today and I have to say we had what will probably end up being one of the best meals of 2024.

I’ve known Mario (manager and front of house) forever and so when he opened La Peña back in 2019 with chef Alejandro I was there! And I was also there to update a couple of years later… but you know… it’s a bit of hike from the centre (but well worth it – and the metro tram drops you off five minutes away)… also it’s mostly a restaurant. There are a few tapas but you really want to go there with a full-on appetite and – at least – three stomachs.

And so we feasted and feasted and afterwards walked back (about 45 minutes or so) stopping for a penúltima at Las Teresas before finally getting home around 7.00 pm. Now THAT’S a proper lunch.

• tuna and manteca paté on sourdough
• whole artichoke with vinaegrette
• crispy fried cuttlefish strips
• cornichas gallegas – delicate sweet clams in garlicky sherry butter
• cardoons al velouté with fried egg
• seaweed-wrapped baked monkfish with its liver, fennel, leek, cauliflower
• sizzling abanico Ibérico with chips