OUR LAST SUPPER

For our last dinner in Cuenca I wanted to return to the wonderful restaurant, Tiestos.

We had such a wonderful experience here last week and we were anxious to try the seafood. The interior of this restaurant is so lovely that it totally adds to the total experience.

The wait staff (and chefs) all wear hats, which also adds to the ambiance.

The restaurant still retains features of the old building, which add to the charm.

Last night we were planning to have the shrimp but when we got there we asked what the chef recommended...and it was the shrimp (shrimp for 3) and the lomo (beef) for 2. Here's what our wonderful shrimp dish looked like.
These were the WHOLE shrimp and the chef showed us how to suck out the meat from the heads.

We knew we were in trouble when the beef for 2 arrived.
This was deliciously prepared with thyme. We had to get a doggie bag.

Here is one of the many interesting side dishes.


Even though we were really full, we decided we had to have one of each dessert, just to see what it was like. Here's our chef preparing our desserts. A picture can't possibly convey how charming he is.

And, the desserts. One was a chocolate mousse/log with chocolate ice cream and passion fruit sauce

and the other was a praline cake. Yum!

As this wasn't enough, our friendly chef brought us an after dinner drink made of rum and oranges, which he called "misterioso." He told me that when the Spaniards came here in the 1500s they made rum from the sugar cane but the women thought it was too rough, so a new drink was created from the rum by adding sugar and orange essence. It was definitely sweet!

If you're in Cuenca and reading this and you haven't been to Tiestos, you must go. It is the best dining experience we have had in Cuenca and is not that expensive - our wine was $16 a bottle and the desserts $3 each. The entrees are listed as "for 4" (generally $34) and the chef will cut down the quantity (and cost) for fewer people. It's a true gourmet experience in a lovely location with really nice people. A great way to end a really wonderful vacation.

A big thanks to Chuck and Nancy for putting up with us for a month.