Taberna Casa Andrés — Restaurant in Baeza

Only on very very very rare occasions, of course completely unexpected, magic happens in a gastronomic experience, and Taberna Casa Andrés, in Baeza, Jaén, was one of them.

The place: incredible views of thousands of olive trees, the lands between Baeza and Sierra Mágina, the sun, the crystalline clean blue sky, the terrace…

The treat: the courtesy, the warmth, in its perfect touch, with professionalism, with frank and honest recommendations, with a sincere smile, with empathy. We did really felt as part of the Taberna Casa Andrés, close to them and vice versa. We did feel as if they were simply sharing with us the so special food they prepare in their hidden cousine.

The mood & company: my brother in law David (deibid79, a fantastic gourmet) with her girlfriend Ale and my wife Nuria, the four of us spending a fantastic 4 day trip at my parent’s home in Torres, a small and beautiful white town just at the other side of the landscape in a mountainside in the heart of Sierra Mágina.

The food, comments not in order, as they come to my mind: my goodness! absolutely amazing: Kokotxas de Merluza con gambas al Pil-Pil, Alcachofas with genuine magnificent Jamón Ibérico, what an incredible combination, Lagarto Ibérico, sooo tasty, the surprise of the morcilla chorizada con regañás, made by Casa Andrés, the wine..oh, the wine, Casa Mencia DO from the Bierzo area, close to Salamanca. The Carrillada de Cerdo ibérico glaseada al Oporto, the last one to come, it is a plate that needs time, but believe me it is worth the wait, what a meat, like butter, and the sauce…I have no words. The Olive oil “Los Quinientos” was present all the time, we asked for tons of bread, so nice pure green color, no salt to embrace its deep and punchy taste was required. The salad with ecological tomato and ventresca with Reducción de Pedro Ximénez opened the fiesta, fresh, natural, the tomato, real, like the one you may remember dozens of years ago…and last but not least the desert, what can I say ? a delicious Coulant de Chocolate and Leche frita con crema líquida de turrón, stunning!!

The Twist: yes, when all of this happens, during around 3 hours of absolute joy, smiles, breaths…then we asked Andrés: who the hell is doing all this at your kitchen, who is the creator of such magnificent plates, who’s made so many fantastic choices...who !?, and then with proud he says: “my mum”. I just broke into tears, perhaps because of the caldos, perhaps because of the happiness that was floating around, perhaps because of this man's pure humble, I don’t know, but what I do know is that I felt an inconmensurable devotion and respect for the talent of that venerable and shy woman, that reminded me the little treasures we have around in our own homes, secretly kept but never sufficiently appreciated and of course granted.

This last Saturday, 7th March 2020 will remain in my heart forever. The four of us enjoyed as ever, and found a gem, a treasure in itself, a talent, that besides traditions, sometimes, only sometimes, very rarely, you can surprisingly find. As I told Andrés before leaving, that afternoon his mother reminded me the truth behind the motiv of the film Ratatouille: "Anyone can cook", what means you can find a unique talent in the most unexpected human being...perhaps your mum.

We left the place at around 17 pm, with deep happiness, watching how Andrés, the owner of such food temple was preparing the restaurant for the dinner to come, again.

A pleasure Taberna Casa Andrés. See you...

The carta(menu) a la carte seems expensive to me, I expected something special as it's impressive sleek interior. The note on the wall says ”ask if there any dishes out of carta ”So I asked it, the answer is no. The bill at the end written menu lunes~viernes 11 euros but it doesn't exist for us.

Tapa came along with caña was excellent. But the main were forgettable which we can have the same quality where I go without any expectation with less or the same price. 10E Salade : baby leaves with some dried fruit & nuts &bit dried fried chevre with miel de caña. ----no imagination of salade

16E Chuletillas de codero with potato (the meat quality was not superior)

Decent iterior, nice table setting& food plating & nice service but disappointed, no recommend.

Degustation of 3 different of excellent regional oil. I knew province Jaen is best known for olive oil so I was going to buy anyway. I bought 1 ltr 14E(now I've checked the price online 9.90E) Upto 12Euros selling price seems reasonable...

Awful experience with a rude and nervous waiter. Whilst in the last 2 weeks, we only experienced nice customer service in Spain. Let me give a few examples of very bad service. 1)We put ourselves in the shade as it was hot. Than he directed us to a table in the hot sun. 2) I asked for coffee with lactose free milk. Apparently they only have nespresso cups with milk powder inside it . Asking for something vegetarian toke too much of his time. I received 8 artichokes, they were nice but for 19 euros too highly priced. The pork dish of my husband was not very special, only the price. We couldn't pay with credit card, only cash. Probably to do some tax evasion. We were relieved we could leave our table and sit somewhere else on another terrace with coffee and soymilk and enjoy peace and quiet with again a...