The Orihuela Costa Tapas Route got off to a brisk Start on Saturday evening although of the six establishment s that I visited, two, the Restaurante Casa Carmelina and the Bierhaus Paulaner, said that they had no knowledge of the competition while Casa Manolo in La Zenia told us we were too late as they only served between 12noon and 4pm.  They did, however, have some they had prepared earlier, which they let us have, and I will say that their green pepper on a chicken slice with tartar salsa tasted very good.

But my favourite was the selection of four provided by The Tavern Bar in Villamartin Plaza, Fresh salmon, prawns, sliced savoury beef or medallions of pork. I rather greedily sampled three of the four and left a very happy man.

The competition continues through to Wednesday evening. Participating restaurants, less the two mentioned above, can be found at: www.orihuelaturistica.es/orihuela/web_php/index.php?contenido=esdev&idEsdev=102