66
EWN
GOURMET
29 September - 5 October 2011 Costa del Sol
www.euroweeklynews.com
Aroma Restaurant, Fish Alley: Fit for a ‘Hollywood’ legend!
I HAVE been a fan of Mel Brooks for years. Adored him in ‘High Anxiety’ and From left: Barrie, John ‘Blazing Saddles’. Kelly, Nigel, Jenny and So when he and his Mel Brooks (AKA Stuart friend Jenny phoned to say Landau). they were on holiday in Spain and had enjoyed my last write- up I thought what a good idea to invite them both out on my next with Nigel Goldman review. I am also a fan of A weekly review of restaurants where diners can count on something special. John Kelly’s Aroma goldman@euroweeklynews.com Restaurant in Fish www.euroweeklynews.com/gourmet-dining Alley in Fuengirola. Regular readers of this column will know I have been there a few looked there was a plethora times now. Always of plates of colourful food, memorable. Let’s hope the all looking jolly delicious. standards are as high as We entered Aroma and ever while we entertain familiar feelings of we were in for another Hollywood. sumptuous luxury swept treat. Mel’s friend Jenny Fish Alley was buzzing, over us. Elegant high- commented immediately many restaurants boasting backed black leather chairs, how beautiful the place full tables as alfresco diners gorgeous decorations and was. We settled in, and the took advantage of the tables laid up with linen place started to fill up wonderful end of summer tablecloths and quality quite quickly. John Kelly, weather. Everywhere I glasses. Somehow I knew always the consummate
5-FORK RATINGS
• Service • Cleanliness
professional, came over and asked what we would • Food like to drink. Barrie and I each chose a vodka and • Overall tonic. Always important Allow €45-55 per he to get that right in the ad including wine. Bazz’s company! He also asked for a bottle of the house white. Always important to get that right delicious and totally in my company! unexpected. Then, when Mel asked for a the starters arrived, we Cointreau. The house white were all overwhelmed by was a Marques de Caceres the size of the portions and 2010, an excellent selection the presentation which was for a house wine and of quite simply unusually high fabulous. quality for a Chef had This is house. The wine designed his Marbella dining, in was served by work beautiful Sophie, very brilliantly, surroundings, at cold, perfect. and each Fuengirola The menu at dish arrived prices. Aroma is exceptional, on a different a massive selection of shaped plate. Very mouthwatering choices. impressive. Barrie John told us about some described his duck spring specials: knuckle of pork rolls as sensational. The with an apple sauce. And Coquilles St Jacques got the old retro-theme coming the thumbs up from the back in vogue, Coquilles St US, while I adored my Jacques, with the possibility prawn cocktail served on a of having this served with plate, with a light Marie either scallops or prawns. Rose sauce and avocado I opted for an old- and salad. fashioned prawn cocktail. For the mains, Jenny “It doesn’t come in a glass,” chose Monkfish sole and John informed me. Barrie prawn Thermidor served chose duck spring roll, with creamy mash potato, while Jenny went for the while Mel went for the Coquilles St Jacques with roasted baby leg of lamb. prawns. Barrie chose the rib-eye Meanwhile, Mel, having steak served with polished off his Cointreau obligatory chips and I decided to try the Coquilles opted for an ostrich steak St Jacques with scallops. served with Roquefort While we were waiting for sauce. the starters, Chef sent out Meanwhile, I ordered a a scallop with foie and a bottle of the house red. An touch of Asiatic sauce. Very Ebeia de Portia arrived, a
2009. This was an exceptional choice, a darkred cherry wine with a powerful fresh fruit expression and a powerful palate. I looked it up in Penin, the wine bible, and it scores an impressive 88. At €18 a bottle, worth every penny. Then the main courses were delivered. Again enormous portions, beautifully presented and of extremely high quality. Mel’s roasted baby leg of lamb was huge. And once he got stuck in, it was also delicious. That kept him quiet for a quarter of an hour! Jenny loved her monkfish and Barrie’s ribeye was also sensational. Barrie always maintains that you can judge a good restaurant on its chips. Aroma’s were perfect. I know, I scoffed most of them! My ostrich steak was delicious, cooked to perfection. This is an interesting meat, one I used to enjoy in South Africa. No cholesterol, apparently. All the mains came with a terrific selection of vegetables carrots, leaks, mint pea on marrow. Unusual in Spain. Photo time: Dining on a table near the bar were two beautiful girls from Ireland, Leon and Deirdre. See you next trip to Dublin! And, just to keep the record straight, Mel Brooks is actually my old buddy Stuart Landau from Brighton. He is an exceptional sports advisor and his selections will be appearing shortly on Bet Fun. Follow him if you want to make money on Rugby league fixtures! We were so full we passed on pudding. Aroma has, if anything improved since my last visit and my guests and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Congratulations to John Kelly and his team for maintaining such high standards. This is Marbella dining, in beautiful surroundings, at Fuengirola prices. Highly recommended. Aroma Restaurant, Fish Alley, Fuengirola 952 665 502