"Ummm-MMMMM-mmmmm", The Monster, Mel Brooks "Young Frankenstein", 1984/Gary Steen, Restaurante Navarro, 2013.
We left the tapas bar this morning in search of ceramics and souvenirs. We meandered into the chocolate shop next door first and discovered the beautiful array of tiny chocolate morsels, each filled with rum, bourbon, vodka and liquors. Ok-not for my dad so we went into the nearest souvenir shop which was flooded with people. Spanish, French, English with British, Australian and American accents all trying to muscle towards the one cash register buying typical if not redundant mementos from our quick Port-O-Call. Gary amazingly was able to find the Market (capitalized because there could only be one like it in Valencia) on his GPS in his iPhone which we followed until we arrived. Hopefully you are able to guess from the photos above which food products were being sold: skinned rabbit, heads of goat (eyeballs still attached), heads, noses and foreheads of cattle, eel (still slithering to find their way out of the plastic box), pig hooves, feet and various body parts hanging, dripping from the ceilings. It was quite a show...especially for someone who loves to cook!! Don't think this would ever happen in the U.S. which is ridiculously sad.
We left the market, amazed that the GPS was still connected and headed towards the restaurant that we had chosen for the day. Of course it was only 11:30am...really still breakfast time here, but we were anxious to make sure that our choice was open! Remember yesterday, eh?!
We walked up and down the narrow streets and alleyways, turning and twisting our way through the old buildings, carvings, stone heads watching our every move. We finally arrived on a major boulevard and began racing through intersections then down through the alleyways again until at last we found our restaurant. The door was open and people were inside but the sign suggested 13,30 PM as the opening. We found a flee market at end of the street and quickly walked away. We found two policemen who claimed to speak a "little" Spanish to see if they knew of a ceramics shop- none...or maybe we didn't pronounce it correctly, Jessy. Those foolish Americanos! They probably laughed after watching us walk in the direction that they pointed us in. I know I would have!
We returned back to the area around Navarro and sat in the white plastic chairs at the cafe across from Our restaurant. We ordered dos vino blanco and a small bowl of de oliva, verde. We sat and stared at the restaurant, daring the owner to come out and claim his chef was ill. We talked and laughed and took pictures of all the old women strolling arm in arm for you Sandy, until finally the waiter invited us to come sit under his umbrellas. We graciously, gratefully complied. Ahhhhh- white table clothes, real silverware and wooden chairs. The menu declared several different paellas. This is what we were here for- its rumored that paella was invented here in Valencia. We ordered the traditional one with chicken,rabbit, artichokes and escargots. Really. We also ordered a small tapas of slivered fresh tomatoes, aioli and olives with bread. Gary ordered dos mas vino blanco (from a vineyard in Valencia- a combination of Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay grapes) and we relaxed once again. The bread and tapas platter came first as the waiter explained that the paella would take at least 45 minutes to prepare. Yes we were in the perfect place. If you get paella anywhere in or outside of Spain in less than 45 minutes you know it was microwaved. No bueno!
We ordered a shrimp sauté of freshly crushed tomatoes and sliced garlic. We noticed the two green peppers on the side of our shrimp tapas plate and tried to explain that our friend, Joe actually grows these in Texas and that he had served them to us before we left!! Mi amigo cocido these peppers for us!! The waiter asked if we would like a plate of the peppers - SURE!!! And dos mas vinos por favor. Estonia esta' exquisito!! Wow- these are not hot peppers, just very flavorful. We ate them all. Lo quiero mas bread please. Cheen Cheen!!
And then, before we knew it the lovely paella appeared! It was perfectly prepared. Mi enhorabuena la cocinero!! Cheen Cheen!! Nos encanta la comida tipica de la zona!! We ate it all...
The owner gave us some special white port wine!
Creo que he tornado demasiado. Me puedes pedir un taxi?
We returned to the ship and took a nap. Before Gary drifted off he said "naperino verioso". Which- in case you can't speak OUR Spanish means "naps are full of vitamins!"
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