Food

Something for Everyone
coming to the Canaries

Lanzarote Food

Let me tell you a little about the gastronomy of Lanzarote.

Primary produce in the Canaries includes bananas, tomatoes, olives, oranges, fish and pork, these are all cheap to buy if you're cooking at home tonight. Beef is a bit pricey but still affordable. I've always found it easy to get hold of everything I like from home as so much food stuff is imported here from all over Europe, partly because it can't be produced locally and partly to please the tourist trade here who are almost all here self-catering.

Typical dishes include "sancocho" - a salted fish soup, "papas arrugadas" - the local potato which I guess resembles a wrinkled, new potato, usually served with "mojo " sauce, (papas con mojo) a spicy, red sauce. The mojo sauce is popular with a lot of food types here as well as the potatoes. Of course there's the Spanish dishes of Paella (a seafood and rice dish) and "Tortilla" - Spanish Omelette. Primary meats here are pork and chicken whilst in the older and traditional restaurants such as those in the mountains, rabbit and goat (also goat cheese) are popular too. The local wine is "el Monte". "Tapas" is not so popular in the resorts and is found more in residential towns. Tapas are small dishes, similar to snacks but several together make a very nice and traditionally Spanish meal. As (fresh) locally caught fish is so popular here - I've posted some "fish translations"

TAPAS DISHES

Salpicon de mariscos a salad of chopped onion, peppers, sweetcorn, crab, prawns and other seafood, soaked in vinegar.

Carne con papas a stew made from beef, vegetables and potatoes and served in a rich sauce.

Ropa Vieja mixed meats served with chickpeas.

Boquerones small white fish (like an anchovy without the salt taste), marinated in vinegar, oil and garlic.

Albondigas small, homemade, slightly spicy meatballs, served in a spicy sauce.

Potage a thick, Canarian soup made from mixed vegetables, often with mixed meats added too.

Carne de Cochino small pieces of fried, diced pork served with a rich sauce.

Carne de Cabra goat meat (similar in taste to lamb although not quite as tender).

FOOD SHOPPING

All the main resorts have very good supermarkets that should have everything you expect and need. Fresh fruit and vegetables, freshly baked bread and pastries and a fresh meat counter, a great choice of duty-free wines, things to help you clean around the apartment and things to help keep you clean. In addition to these supermarkets, many apartment complexes have their own mini-markets. Prices in general are similar to those in the UK. Fruit and veg a little cheaper, canned goods slightly more expensive, "fresh" meat however around 20% more expensive. Bottled or canned beer in the supermarkets cost around 40-60 cents each can by the way - bottled beers are slightly more.

Something to be warned about in Lanzarote, most apartment complexes have hob-style cookers only and no ovens or grills, nor kettles for that matter. As well as the kitchen area in your apartment you'll have a dining table and chairs and usually another table and chairs out on your balcony if you want to dine there instead.

RESTAURANTS

In Playa Blanca the best area to head for is the main promenade. Scattered with a handful of people here and there by day, it's a bustling nerve-center of food by night and as well as great views over the beach, harbour and the lights of Fuerteventura on the horizon, there is a HUGE choice of restaurants.

In Puerto del Carmen - head for "the strip", the main street running through the town and parallell to the sea. Hundreds to choose from.

In Costa Teguise, again head down to the promenade and the centers down by the beach.

There's something for everyone, vegetarians will also be spoilt for choice and most places do kids meals and have a high chair or two. A decent, two course meal with a bottle of plonk costs around £10 per person but if you're a "chicken and chips", pasta or "chops" lover then you can enjoy for nearer a fiver. Drinks, even soft drinks, can be a bit pricey.

Some restaurants to look out for are:-

Playa Blanca - Almacen Del Sal - right on the beach front along with Brisamar,Rocamar and Casa Pedro.These are always the ones that people comment on.

Yaiza - La Era is the one that is Michelin receommended - an old finca converted into a restaurant. There is also El Campo and El Volcan.

Puerto Del Carmen Old Town - Casa Roja in the harbour is lovely with views across the harbour.

Puerto Del Carmen itself - there is a chain of restaurants called "Lanis" which are very popular.

Costa Teguise - La Ordana is meant to be the best one although a close second is Oscars - both in the Playa Bastian area. Lots of good eating places around the square Pueblo Marinero such as El Patio, El Pescador, Portofino and La Pardela.

Teguise the old capital - there is a lovely restaurant called Ikarus - in the evening its lovely better atmosphere than during the day.