14 Jul, 2015 @ 11:41
1 min read

Review: Patria, Vejer de la Frontera

Patria  e
Patria-1
TEAM: Pedro and boss Thomas

IT is almost the very definition of a ‘dining secret’. 

High in the hills in an obscure location ten minutes from Vejer, Patria is one of those destination restaurants that you really have to make an effort to visit.

Hidden away in a scruffy hamlet, arriving is certainly part of the adventure.

And, once there, the contrast between the humdrum nearby houses and the pretty rural diner couldn’t be more distinct.

For owners Ase and Thomas Donso have created a beautiful escape that wouldn’t be out of place in the Picos de Europa or Provence.

Everything from its flagstone terrace to vine-clad veranda is geared towards seduction.

Surrounded by vines, oleander and olive trees, its candlelit wooden tables and stylish interior draw you in further.

And thankfully your Danish hosts do not disappoint when it comes to the food.

Split into a three-course menu of the month and a more detailed a la carte offering, you will be spoilt with lots of vegetables, and almost all seasonal produce.

As Thomas explains: “The joy of cooking is about what’s in peak season. There is no need to import anything from far away.”

He raves, quite rightfully about the quality of the local produce, and adds: “We work around what our suppliers can provide us local be it wild asparagus, rabbit or bulls’ heart tomatoes.

“It is all about being able to adjust, change and create.”

Patria-3
CHARMING: Patria’s flagstone terrace

And this is certainly what he and his Peruvian sous chef Pedro are doing in the kitchen.

The food is as light, fresh and exciting as you could possibly expect in Andalucia.

A tartaki of thinly sliced beef served with pickled Swedish-style vegetables is a wonderful starter and only beaten by the original tomato and mozzarella salad served with basil ice cream and pine nuts.

Smoked sardines come out with pic

kled figs, while thinly sliced duck comes out with a coriander and orange source and delicious balls of foie gras that explode in the mouth.

The red snapper served with asparagus and green beans sautéed in butter and pine nuts, was about as beautifully cooked as could be imagined.

And finally, the ingenious ‘cerviche of Strawberry’ pudding with lime, chilli, crème anglaise and pistachio was a wonderful way to finish.

With an interesting and varied wine list fused with a dozen Sherries and interesting hand-picked wines from around Spain, in particular an interesting red from Cuenca, called Patio, you will be in capable hands.

To use an old phrase of former dictator General Franco ‘Todo por la Patria’!

A Patria creation
A Patria creation

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Jon Clarke (Publisher & Editor)

Jon Clarke is a Londoner who worked at the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday as an investigative journalist before moving to Spain in 2003 where he helped set up the Olive Press.

After studying Geography at Manchester University he fell in love with Spain during a two-year stint teaching English in Madrid.

On returning to London, he studied journalism and landed his first job at the weekly Informer newspaper in Teddington, covering hundreds of stories in areas including Hounslow, Richmond and Harrow.

This led on to work at the Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Mirror, Standard and even the Sun, before he landed his first full time job at the Daily Mail.

After a year on the Newsdesk he worked as a Showbiz correspondent covering mostly music, including the rise of the Spice Girls, the rivalry between Oasis and Blur and interviewed many famous musicians such as Joe Strummer and Ray Manzarak, as well as Peter Gabriel and Bjorn from Abba on his own private island.

After a year as the News Editor at the UK’s largest-selling magazine Now, he returned to work as an investigative journalist in Features at the Mail on Sunday.

As well as tracking down Jimi Hendrix’ sole living heir in Sweden, while there he also helped lead the initial investigation into Prince Andrew’s seedy links to Jeffrey Epstein during three trips to America.

He had dozens of exclusive stories, while his travel writing took him to Jamaica, Brazil and Belarus.

He is the author of three books; Costa Killer, Dining Secrets of Andalucia and My Search for Madeleine.

Contact jon@theolivepress.es

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