Jonas and María Carmen Padilla and Esteban Baeza opened this small restaurant three months ago.

Esteban is María Carmen’s husband; it is a family concern, where essential ingredients are lots of love and hope. There is a phrase on their visiting card that is a pretty good summary of what they are trying to achieve :

 “Tafeña is the flavour of our land, the aroma of our people, unforgettable memories of childhood, and that passion with which we enjoy our traditions . . .”
 
Tafeña is the term used by Canary folk for dried corn fried with salt, or sugar. This tavern has patas and chorizos hanging up, but this does not affect the minimalist atmosphere. Jonas gently brings tradition into the twenty-first century. The Menu is small and changeable, which encourages the use of wholly fresh produce and food in its season. There is no ‘speciality of the house’. The family want people to come with curiosity, taste the delights, and savour each plate! Accompanying this special Canary nouvelle cuisine is a wide variety of Canary wines as well as a fine selection from the Peninsula.
 
Jonas will tell you that he worked for four years at El Duende restaurant, where he assumed the exquisite touch. It is not for nothing that El Duende is reckoned one of the finest restaurants in Tenerife. Jonas worked with Jesus González and Pedro Rodríguez there, and remembers the time with friendship and admiration. This does not mean that Tafeña is a copy of the other. You can see this by the prices. Tafeña is by no means an expensive restaurant.

C/ El Monturrio, La Longuera – Los Realejos
Closed Sundays: Tel.: 648 871 548

Tenerife News edition 425