Now, with the Commander in chief in charge, who gets confused by the choice in Subway and Nando's, and Titular Head constantly worrying about the price and having the cheapest thing on the menu, and of course 5 children to get fed and in bed by 8.30pm eating out in foreign parts was never likely to include much local fare.
Combine the above with an island nation seemingly enjoying eating tinned food and eateries firmly sticking with chips with everything over the years then we learnt not to expect much.
Our early forays way back when were to place such as D and P's in Cala Torret. Friday night fish and chip night would see hordes of English ex-pats and returnees queued way up the alley for a table. Even if you were on the last flight in you would hope to get in. Never mind the very faded screen idol's staff in Pedro's gleefully emptying the mop bucket over the first few tables in from the balcony. or the diseased cats all over the place. Scandals on late autumn nights, garlic prawns sizzling in hot oil. Hot spit chickens from Bar Bini (later from SYP). Nanny's Chef salad and chili prawns and of course perky time. Well, on foreign shores you need alcohol at 10.30am and 5.30pm. (Clock firmly set to English time)
We used to stuff our suitcases out bound with bacon, a gammon, Frey Berntos tinned pies, squash and probably tea bags to get a good cup of tea. Or boat radio equipment, tools and car parts for Grandpa.. (He had trucked a boat, Sea Dancer over from Wroxham, loaded with white goods out)
No doubt we would end up at ;Los Buccaneros at least once this trip. Nestled in the corner of Binebeca beach, 10 minute walk from 169. An iconic white boat shed building with red doors. Thatched "palm" umbrellas and rickety 3 leg stools. Guaranteed to tip you off, that's after you poked your eye out on the thatched shade. Shirts on at bar, no drinks alone served at table and as not really seen as food, hot dogs to be ordered from the pot washer not the waiters.
The entrance to Hades (The galley)
When bewildered for choice, or "having a cheap villa lunch and tea out" no doubt we would be supping on bread based snacks.
Classic combination. Baton, Tulipan spread, Mahon cheese, ham, garlic mayo and of course cheap, cold beer.
Oh for the days of three bottle of wine lunches (rose, white and red, Irish coffee and fun dad in the pool. that was when D&P's or Pedro's (Carmen's when D&P closed on Tuesday nights) were to be visited, 12 nights out of 13 (no driving, no imagination.). The 13th night? Mahon harbour or Villa Carlos. but never the last night. D&P's or Pedro's, Again..Copa de Venus instead of Punkies. Of course. And house Cava, not Rose.
Be prepared then, for a gastronot tour of Menorca, spread over the next few posts and ponder what it would be like to eat proper Menorquin cuisine if you went without us....
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