The adventures of Deke Quixote Dickerson de La Mancha Los Angeles, day 8:
Last night I played in Oviedo, the capital of the Asturias region. It was fun! I pulled up to the club, and there were several guys waiting there for me to sign autographs and take photos. Real life super fans! What fun.
I was told by American pals Heather Mull and Greg Kostelich from the Cynics band that I absolutely had to eat the garlic chicken at the Hotel Ovetense, but sadly the timing of the show prevented this from happening.
I went to the bar next door to the club and met up with Englishman Crispin Weir and his wife Paula and ate a pizza. Crispin presented me with (and told me all about) this amazing book he published on T-Bone Walker’s historic Gibson ES-5 guitar. The book is really well done! You should check it out if you’re interested in that sort of thing.
The show at the Gong Galaxy Club was very well attended for a Tuesday night, and it was one of those great shows where people wanted photographs with me for an hour after the show. Lovely people, lovely gig.
Last night, all I could think about was the garlic chicken that I had missed out on. I decided I was going to eat it for lunch before leaving Oviedo.
I walked into the town center and found the Hotel Ovetense. The restaurant didn’t open until 1 PM, so I made reservations for myself.
I walked around the old town and checked out the cathedral and many cool old buildings. I found a barber who gave me a great haircut.
I returned to the Hotel Ovetense restaurant at 12:58. I was told that the restaurant was “full,” even though it was not open yet. Hmmm. I was given a seat at the table in the bar, and the woman asked me if I wanted the garlic chicken, to which I replied yes.
Sometimes you know when things have been sabotaged. In addition to not being seated in the proper restaurant, I was never given a menu, no opportunity to order a salad or any appetizers. I was presented with a large plate of garlic chicken.
I was really hoping for the magic to happen! This whole tour, everything has been rushed, there’s been a lot of driving, and I haven’t had one truly exceptional meal on the trip so far. I’ve eaten some great food, don’t get me wrong. But I’ve been to Spain many times and I know when you’re in for a truly exceptional meal. It’s an experience. And you are given a truly exceptional experience with truly exceptional food. In the past, I’ve been absolutely blown away by these experiences. I guess I was expecting something like that.
Well, the chicken was really dry. It disappointed me from the first bite, and I knew that I had been sabotaged. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was American, or if I didn’t speak the proper Spanish, or maybe they just didn’t like the way I looked. But for US $35, I got some very dry and difficult-to-chew garlic chicken, a drink of water, a coffee, and a few pieces of bread. Darn. It’s always a bad sign when they don’t want you to eat with the fancy people. I should’ve just left at that point.
But there is no need for continued grievance. It was disappointing, but that’s life, isn’t it? I just have to lick my wounds and hit the road to Valladolid.
Deke Quixote Dickerson was defeated by a gastronomic windmill, but I live to fight another day! There are many more things to see, and better meals to be devoured. Onward to Valladolid!
See many more photos at Deke’s original Facebook post!
