To mint or not to mint...........

[scooterbug44]

The only place I eat lamb is in Barcelona at El Gorria. It's one of the best things I've ever eaten. Everywhere else it tastes so odd. They definitely don't use mint with theirs. Not an option there.

My review:
"Dinner was at El Gorria, a Basque-styled restaurant. The restaurant has the wonderful atmosphere of an old, established institution where one is treated like a club member. We began our meal at the bar with a Castillo de Sajazarra Rioja (what a beautiful bouquet!), accompanied by tapas of pan con tomato (bread with tomatoes) and Parma ham. At the table our tapas continued with some fabulous lightly-salted fried green peppers, much smaller than our green peppers in the States. We also had some sausages and a lobster salad. Next a dish consisting of prawns, squid, and octopus in a lemon/butter/parsley sauce. The specialty of this restaurant is roasted lamb that I was reluctant to order because I am not accustomed to eating lamb. However, hubby assured me that it was not-to-miss, and I'm so glad that I took his advice because it had the most wonderful flavor. After so much food, I opted for a dessert of a tiny, strawberry-looking fruit called frambuesa. BTW along the way we had several great Riojas - a '95 Valle de Roncal, a '94 Muga."

Of course, on a different trip, El Gorria was also the site of the infamous daughter-swallowing-a-huge-staple-in-her-dessert-and-having-to-go-to-the-ER-with-no-panties-on-with-Mom-and-Dad-there incident. Thank God, she spoke Spanish.We have a permanent invitation to dine there free.

BR - frambuesa is Spanish for raspberry! Can't help you with the swallowing staples while commando issue. :rofl:

 

[Beach Runner]

BR - frambuesa is Spanish for raspberry! Can't help you with the swallowing staples while commando issue. :rofl:

Thanks for the correction! Our hosts obviously translated it incorrectly, and my taste buds must have been overwhelmed. I was required to learn German and French for my doctorate because Spanish wasn't considered a research language in the sciences.;-) Now I really wish I knew Spanish -- not knowing the language is a huge deterrent to having a truly meaningful experience in another country.

 

[chefed]

Believe me, there are much better sauce's to pair with lamb. I do remember as a kid eating at the buffet. Roasted Leg o Lamb with Mint Jelly or Creole Mustard.

If you like the mint Flavor, why dont you just do this.

Grilled Lamb chop's marinated with Rosemary, Garlic, Cracked Pepper and EV
with Mint pisto( which is just chopped fresh mint with EV, Salt, Pepper. You could add a little Honey if you like the sweetness.)

Serve with Lemon Herb Basmati and Blistered Brussel Sprouts.

 

[scooterbug44]

I will definitely have to try one of those mint pestos, as they sound yummy! Plus mint is one of the few things I can grow (almost 50% of the plants have survived to date). Maybe this is the key to overcoming my tacky habit!

It's not that I don't know a better recipe, it's that I have been eating my lamb w/ Wizard of Oz Emerald City Green mint apple jelly for almost 3 decades - and the culinary inertia/habits override the taste buds. I don't eat mint or anything mint flavored at any other time.

 

[Jychf]

Go to Fresh Market and get a large rack of domestic lamb, Colorado if possible. (ask the butcher, he has them in the back) It's more expensive but well worth the extra. Season, par grill, lightly rub with dijon then make a crust like SJ suggests with some panko thrown into the mix for texture. Finish in an oven until done to your liking, remove, let it rest for about 15 mins then cut into chops.......absolute heaven. And for the love of all things proper, don't use mint jelly!! Scootrbro is rightly offended.

 

[Smiling JOe]

You guys are making me hungry. Shelly, bless your heart. (Cover your ears, MerMan) Those Brits don't have many tastebuds. Better pack you some Cheetos or something. Any country which boasts that their best dessert is Spotted D_ck, is lacking in the food category.