Aromatic El Ancla

We are almost done with our adventures in Tenerife.

Truly, this tiny little Spanish island off the coast of North West Africa has so much to give. If you are a lover of picture-perfect landscapes, panoramic views, extraordinary geographies, sublime seafood and other Spanish-influenced cuisine, you have come to the right place.

As our exploits continue, let me take you to one of the most superb sunset scenes my husband and I have ever experienced. Like I mentioned before, the topography of the Canaries exude a kind of rarity that could be attributed to the substantial volcanic properties that brims through each and every corner of the island. Like an astonishing “elephant in the room”, one cannot escape the romanticism of every tangerine-colored rock, black-gold beaches, and red-yellow sunsets that seem to envelop the island every single day.

This led us to another marvel of a gem near our fabulous hotel, the Royal Garden Villas. Wind-surfers seem to float and glide all day in the clear skies, as seen from our suite that we decided to follow their lead and go to a nearby beach where parasailing swoops revelers day in and out. Along the dramatic salmon-colored jagged cliffs are a row of fantastic restaurants, one of which completely left us enamored at sundown.

Style Details

Top | FROM MANILA
Skirt | ZARA
Bag | BURBERRY
Sunglasses | CELINE
Shoes | GUCCI
Watch | c/o LA MER COLLECTIONS

Introducing a quaint little restaurant called El Ancla situated in charming Callao Salvaje that features Spanish-Mediterranean-Seafood cuisine, our evening was about to go from fine to transcendent.

Upon our arrival at the restaurant, we were greeted by owner, Chef Francisco. We discovered his establishment has been around for a good twenty years and he is known to have a simple yet high quality cuisine in his area.

When we sat down, I ordered some Valencian orange juice while my husband ordered a local beer called Dorada. At this point, my husband must be a beer expert since he enjoys trying a new local beer at some point at each of our destinations. Bread, oil and olives were served as a typical Canarian starter.

We are ecstatic to sample a few appetizers here at El Ancla accompanied with a glass of local white wine called Contiempo. The first to arrive was the garlic prawns which came as a flaming and sizzling dish. The garlic prawns were very meaty and its garlic flavor was extremely evident – a true exemplary Spanish gambas dish. We found ourselves consuming the juices even after the prawns ran out and went splendidly with the local wine. The second appetizer was the baked French goat’s cheese salad. This was such a delightful and delicious treat. The flavor of the cheese is strong yet compliments the entirety of the salad. The crisp outside layer of the goat’s cheese adds a wonderful texture. Our third appetizer dish was a fillet steak Carpaccio. This was an exquisitely refreshing dish. It had graceful toppings that elevated it’s already bewitching texture.

Next came our mains which were all served with famous Canarian potatoes. The first dish was a tastefully grilled salmon. The salmon was so celestial, soft and fatty. Such richness in salmon is so rare these days. The second dish was the freshest, most ideal and generous sea bass fillet which actually came with two magnificent fillets on the plate served with a palatable and flavorful sauce on a side. I love sea bass! Lastly, our third main was a divine medallion steak fillet served with vegetables and three different sauces namely cilantro, truffle, and Roquefort cheese. The gratifying steak was very soft and tender. I enjoy it when restaurants provide a range of sauces with the steak because it keeps the flavors distinctively exciting. Honestly though, the steak was good enough that it didn’t need the sauces. But, it was also big enough that having sauces was a great addition to the overall steak experience. The dish came on a hot plate so it kept the steak warm all throughout the night while we sat outside and enjoyed the fresh Canarian breeze.

For dessert we had the homemade carrot cake with cream and fresh fruit. It had quite a variety of fruits which all looked and tasted enjoyable. The second dessert was a crepe with vanilla ice cream served with chocolate sauce and more sweet fruits. Truly, the Canaries does not lack on any lush fruits. Chef Francisco even gave it a touch of “T” to commemorate our first visit to Tenerife. How sweet!

El Ancla characterizes a casual ambiance that focuses on high quality and flavorful food. While we were here, we met a few clients who were repeat customers of the restaurant and have gone back here many times during their holiday due to the true aromatic taste, essence and gusto we luckily got to experience. If you ever find yourself in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, swing by El Ancla whether by car or your paraglide! Chef Francisco will surely have a table for you, ocean views included!