Local food is about getting the freshest and best-tasting food. It's also about connecting to and strengthening your community. - Anna Lappé
I couldn't agree more, Anna!
There are few things I enjoy more than connecting with the Spanish community through their great culinary culture.
A small selection of finest tapas, a glass of Cava and a good conversation are probably everything I need for a felicitous night out.
Besides that a kind waiter may complement the perfect dinner's scenery.
Here's to the greatness of a professional service staff that's even able to help out in flirting strategies :-)
Left: 
Food is passion for life
Whenever I have the opportunity to travel to Las Palmas - the capital of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands) - I book a table at the restaurant ALLENDE.
I love the modern ambient combined with excellent food and outstanding service. The value for money is definitely unrivaled!
There are four restaurants of the group ALLENDE, but my favourite one is the ALLENDE PUERTO located close to the capital's harbour (Spanish: puerto). Their area of expertise are tapas. Tapas are actually served as an appetizer or snack, but at some places they've evolved into an entire, sophisticated cuisine where you can combine them to make a full menu.
Like that you can try a lot of different plates during one night.
To me that's the perfect way of having dinner :-)
Allende Puerto: A tavern that loves tapas
And now: The anecdote of the night!
What you need to know first is that we were attended by an amazingly entertaining waiter.
From the moment we entered the restaurant he started joking with me and my friend. We were laughing a lot with him which was definitely a great plus to the whole culinary experience.
He was even unselling us on some of the tapas we were planning to select, recommending others that he was more convinced about. We totally relied on his opinion which was supposed to be a great move - not only with regards to the menu...
While we were having dinner a group of gentle, handsome, forty-something-year-old guys were taking a seat on the opposite site of the room. One of them called my attention right from the start, and whenever I looked at him he looked back and smiled.
Apparently it was thanks to my glass of champagne that I had plucked up the courage to give him my number!
After paying our bill I told my friend that I made a great plan.
Since the guy was surrounded by his friends and I didn't want to bother him in front of them, I thought it could be a nice move to involve the waiter who had been so nice to us the whole night.
While my friend was waiting for me at the exit door - dying of laughter - I reviewed the situation with our waiter Dani. I explained him my amazing plan and he confirmed to be at my disposal to hand over my number. To be completely sure that we were talking about the very same person (and the number wasn't given to the wrong one) we entered the room once more together and I showed him the target.
Once he knew who I was interested in he suddenly exclaimed:
That one?! Oh noooo! Please don't. I know that one personally because he comes here very often. He's an absolute attention seeker believing that he's the one and only. Is that what you want? I honestly recommend you to not pick this one. Really. Just think about all the nice guys out there on the streets, this one here would definitely not be your best shot, honey!
That was the moment my friend - who had been following the whole scenery and conversation from the exit door - finally broke down laughing.
I looked at her and started laughing, too. What a comedy! Did this just really happen?
You know what, Dani - I said to the waiter. You're totally right. I really don't need one of these. He started laughing too, I gave him the paper and pen back, we hugged each other and my friend and me left the restaurant, still laughing our heads off.
As you may imagine, we couldn't stop giggling and repeating the scenery over and over again for a long while while we were walking through the streets of Las Palmas. Also this is surely going to be one of the anecdotes we won't forget too fast.
The moral of the story: A waiter who doesn't fulfill any of your requests, may be better than the one that anticipates every wish :-)
I hope you enjoyed the read.
Much love,
Marly -
Thanks for your valuable time!
This blog was launched at the end of July 2016
aiming to provide stories for open-minded
people who enjoy living on the edge of their lives,
stepping out of comfort zones, going on adventure,
doing extreme sports and embracing the new.
Welcome to the too-much-energy-blog!