Happy New Year! I am still in bed and no doubt you are as well, but I needed this to be the first post of 2009!

Regular readers will know that one way or another we frequent three bars/cafes/restaurants in the square here in Almerimar pretty frequently: Al-rruz, La Plaza and Mac Gowans. We have teamed up with them for 2009 to offer readers of the site three opportunities every month to win free meals in each of the restaurants:

Just wanted to let you know that Al-rruz wont be offering the Thursday evening menu this week, BUT they will be offering it again in the New Year when they get back from their Christmas and New Year vacation. In addition we have agreed a monthly competition with them for next year exclusively for readers of the blog, so watch this space as we will announce the details in the New Year.

The menu for this Thursday, the 27th is:

Starter
Choose between:

• Home made mussels cream soup
• Home made Iberian ham croquetas

Main Course
Choose between:

• Pollo en Pepitoria ( Spanish Chicken Casserole) served with potatoes
• Cod with beetroot and asparagus sauce served with potatoes

Dessert
A choice of one of the following:

• Home made dessert
• Ice Cream

Cost is 10€ to include a small beer, glass of wine or soft drink.

Please note that this is a joint promotional event between Al-rruz and Almerimar Life. We are happy if you want to promote the event on your own site in any way but you MUST identify it as a joint promotional event AND link through to both sites.

The menu for this Thursday, the 20th is:

Starter
Choose between:

• Home made vegetables cream soup
• Empanada Gallega

Main Course
Choose between:

• Pig’s cheeks of Iberian pork served with potatoes
• Tuna & Shrimps Paella

Dessert
A choice of one of the following:

• Home made dessert
• Ice Cream

Cost is 10€ to include a small beer, glass of wine or soft drink.

Thought I would pass this on! The Melia Almerimar Hotel is offering discounts for people booking on the internet.

One thing that I found particularly interesting on the site was the Guest Review that said:

We do not especially recommend the hotel to guests without children. The whole concept was based on families, as far as we could see.

bmibaby has announced four new routes from East Midlands Airport to Almeria, Manchester to Toulouse, Manchester to Amsterdam and Cardiff to Lisbon.

All summer 2009 flights are now available from bmibaby with some great savings if you book before November 17th!

The low cost airline is offering flights to a number of European destinations from just £18.99 one way, including taxes and charges.

The menu for this Thursday, the 13th is:

Starter
Choose between:

• Sautéed Peas with Ibéric Ham
• Caldo Gallego (Home made vegetables soup)

Main Course
Choose between:

• Jamoncitos de pollo en Pepitoria (Chicken legs in a Spanish stew) served with potatoes
• Braised Hake served with vegetables & rice

Dessert
A choice of one of the following:

• Home made Chocolate mousse
• Ice Cream

Cost is 10€ to include a small beer, glass of wine or soft drink.

The menu for this Thursday, the 6th is:

Starter
Choose between:

• Home made Ibéric Ham croquettes.
• Mushroom & garlic.

Main Course
Choose between:

• Cod in green sauce served with potatoes.
• Home made meat balls served with potatoes.

Dessert
A choice of one of the following:

• Cake of the house
• Ice Cream

Cost is 10€ to include a small beer, glass of wine or soft drink.

This weeks themed specials in La Plaza are:

• Monday: Steak and kidney pie served with chips or mashed potatoes, peas and thick gravy.
• Tuesday: Lemon chicken & vegetable stirfry served with rice and a side salad
• Wednesday: Sausage ´n´ mash served in a giant Yorkshire pudding with onion gravy & veg.
• Friday: Fresh fillet of salmon poached in lemon juice, butter & cracked black pepper served with chips or jacket potato and veg or salad.

Roberto has free tickets for anybody that wants to go along to the Ferial XVIII Fair of Samples in Almeria between 30th October and the 2nd November (11am - 9pm).

The Palacio de Exposiciones y Congress is a means for businesses to promote their products and services

The menu for this Thursday, the 30th is:

Starter
Choose between:

• Home made vegetables cream soup.
• Red peppers stuffed with meat.
• Baked goat cheese with Pedro Ximénez reduction

Main Course
Choose between:

• Chicken & Vegetables Paella.
• Marmitako (Tuna stew).

Dessert
A choice of one of the following:

• Cake of the house
• Ice Cream

Cost is 10€ to include a small beer, glass of wine or soft drink.

The menu for this Thursday, the 23rd is:

Starter
Choose between:

• Steamed Mussels.
• Scrambled eggs with mushrooms and black pudding.

Main Course
Choose between:

• Grilled Sea Bass served with boiled potatoes sautéed in butter and parsley.
• Roasted Ham served with mashed potatoes and carrots.

Dessert
A choice of one of the following:

1. Crème Brulée (home made)
2. Apple pie (home made)

Cost is 10€ to include a small beer, glass of wine or soft drink.

The menu for this Thursday, the 16th is:

Starter
Choose between:

• Mini assorted Ibéricos + little cup of home made consommé with sherry.
• Mushroom & Garlic little casserole.

Main Course
Choose between:

• Meat: Home made meat balls served with fried potatoes.
• Fish: Home made ‘rosada’ fish nuggets (breaded) served with salad.

Dessert
A choice of one of the following:

1. Ice cream
2. Home made cake

Cost is 10€ to include a small beer, glass of wine or soft drink.

The menu for this Thursday, the 9th is:

Starter
Choose between:

• Mussels cream soup.
• Gratin aubergine rolls stuffed with meat, served with red peppers sauce.

Main Course
Choose between:

• Meat: lamb, vegetables and potatoes stew.
• Fish: grilled sea bass.

Dessert
A choice of one of the following:

1. Ice cream
2. Home made cake

Cost is 10€ to include a small beer, glass of wine or soft drink.

We have a 31″Sony Triniton TV and Stand to give away. It works perfectly and until recently has been in my study hooked up to Sky, Wii and PS2, but after a bit of re arranging of our work spaces it is now surplus to requirements. Truth is it has been for a while but I couldn’t be bothered to get rid of it.

Alan David has asked if we would let people know that he is giving away the above Wall Unit. It is located in Playa del Golf and you will need to arrange for it to be transported, but it is free!!

If you are interested please contact Alan directly via email as he will be around on the 16th October.

The menu for this Thursday, the 2nd is:

Starter
A assorted plate with:

• 1 Tortillita de Camarón
• 1 piece of Empanada
• 1 piece of Tortilla
• 1 little tomato salad

Main Course
Choose between:

• Meat: Roasted Ham with fried potatoes. (Pernil Asado)
• Fish: Home made ‘rosada’ fish nuggets (breaded) with potato salad.

Dessert
A choice of one of the following:

1. Ice cream
2. Home made cake

Cost is 10€ to include a small beer, glass of wine or soft drink.

The menu for this Thursday, the 25th is:

Starter
A choice of one of the following:

1. Scramble eggs with black pudding
2. Home made soup

Main Course

Cod & Vegetables Paella

Dessert
A choice of one of the following:

1. Home made apple pie
2. Vanilla & Chocolate Ice cream

Cost is 10€ to include a small beer, glass of wine or soft drink.

The menu for this Thursday, the 18th is:

Starter
A choice of one of the following:

1. Tomato salad with salted anchovy fillets
2. Home made vegetables & legume cream soup

Main Course
A choice of one of the following:

1. Fish Kebabs with boiled potatoes sautéed in butter and parsley
2. Pork Kebabs with fresh fried potatoes

Dessert
Butterfly cake (By “La Plaza”)

Cost is 10€ to include a small beer, glass of wine or soft drink.