The guachinche season is getting under way in Tenerife, and there’s a new one in La Orotava worth knowing about. Guachinche La Chaotera has just opened its doors, serving traditional Canarian food alongside wine made from its own harvest.
There’s a catch, though. It won’t be staying open all year. The owners expect to operate for around two and a half months, possibly stretching to three, so anyone keen to try it will need to get there while they can.
Food reviewers @guachinchesmodernos recently paid a visit and came away impressed. The menu is short, with just five or six dishes, but that’s often part of the appeal of a traditional guachinche. No need for a book-sized menu when the kitchen knows what it’s doing.
They started with garbanzas, which come with olives, followed by meat in sauce served with chips. Both went down well.
They also tried salted fish with sweet potato and Canarian wrinkled potatoes. Other popular choices at La Chaotera include ribs, revuelto and chicken wings.
For dessert, there’s a traditional Canarian timba, served with semi-cured cheese and guava. Not every guachinche offers desserts, so it’s a nice way to finish the meal.
The reviewers were particularly taken with the setting, the food and the chance to enjoy wine produced by the establishment itself. As they put it, we’re lucky to have places like this.
Where to find Guachinche La Chaotera
You’ll find it on Camino El Pino, in La Perdoma, La Orotava. It currently has a Google rating of 4.3 stars.
Opening hours are:
- Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 5pm to 9pm
- Thursday: Closed
- Friday and Saturday: 12.30pm to 10pm
- Sunday and public holidays: 12.30pm to 4pm
With a limited season and a menu of traditional Canarian favourites, it’s one to put on the list sooner rather than later. Just don’t leave it until the summer and expect to find the doors open.