Eating Out in Tenerife: Asadero Los Pedregales

The meat at the Asadero Los Pedregales in the El Palmar valley above Buenavista del Norte in Tenerife came recommended, so I had to try it. This was the second time in reality, but the first time my camera was having a bad hair day. Last time, we tried the pork and the veal, which is why I had the beef this time and all three have been utterly delicious and as tender as babies' behinds.

Tres Leches Cake But, if the meat was good, the real reason I went back was for the Tres Leches (Three Milk) pudding or cake, suitable for birthdays (or any or no occasion, for that matter.)

It was a mere coincidence that I'd seen a mention of this cake on the internet only a couple of days before my first visit to the Asadero around Christmas, so when it was offered, I had to try that too.

Personally, I think I deserve some sort of an award for not having strolled across the valley a lot more often, just to do a spot of "quality control" and check that it's still OK! Honestly, it is so good, you get withdrawal symptoms!

Tres Leches is though to have come from Nicaragua or Mexico and is popular in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Texas and now, as you see, Tenerife!

For those who want to try it at home, Tres leches cake, or Pastel de Tres leches (literally: "cake of three milks"), is a cake, - in some recipes, a butter cake - soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and either whole milk or cream. Recipes: Tres Leches Cake or Tres Leches III.

If I have one criticism of the Asadero - it means Roast House so maybe this is no surprise - it's that you just get chips with everything and there's a distinct and total lack of anything resembling a vegetable on the premises. No salads even, just plain and rather "macho" meat.

Still, I suppose they stick to what they do best, which is the right thing to do.

But if you value your heart and health, this place is for high days only!

The Asadero doesn't have a menu, but the waiter rattles off a list of what they have on that day. This is good from a food point of view, because you know what you get will be fresh and of quality. If you don't know Spanish, you'll have to be adventurous or at least have the ability to point, because the meats are on display at a counter in the restaurant and are butchered to order.

There's no way I could have a starter because I wouldn't have room with steak that big and, in any case you get the usual bread and alioli to nibble at while your meat is cooking. I did have a small glass of the house red - that was local and like nectar - water and coffee. Total cost: 19 euros (just under £15).

The Asadero Los Pedregales can be found on the main road through the El Palmar valley, on the right coming up from Buenavista del Norte and going in the direction of Masca. It's on the 355 and 366 bus routes.