From the sea · over embers · €2.50 each

Sardine espetos

Six sardines on a cane, coarse salt and olive-wood embers in the boat on the terrace. Local sardines are eaten in the months without an R: from May to August they're fat and taste of the sea.

Price: €2.50 / sardine · espeto of 6: €15
Season: May to August
Fire: Olive wood, in the boat
Allergens: Fish
Free from: Gluten, lactose
Pairing: Cold white or beer

The dish

The espeto is the oldest thing on this coast: a cane, coarse salt and fire. The sardine isn't cleaned; it's grilled whole, five minutes a side, with the cane stuck in the sand of the boat, downwind. Eaten with your fingers, with lemon if you like.

Where it comes from

SardinesCaleta de Vélez fish market. Bay sardines, medium size, the best for espetos.
WoodOlive from the winter pruning in the sierra. The embers have to be white, no flame.

Questions we get asked

And out of season?

We do horse mackerel or small bream espetos if the market has them. Winter sardines we don't skewer: they're thin.

Can I order them inside?

Yes. They're grilled in the boat on the terrace and come in straight away.

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