My Heart Is In Havana

Marbella’s burgeoning nightlife offering just got a huge upgrade! Big city chic has arrived and is alive and thriving at Nomad in Nueva Andalucia. An all new entertainment lineup for 2025 is already the talk of the town with a host of hitherto unseen acts transporting patrons on an eclectic cultural journey into a bygone era of jazz and Latin beats. This malleable music mix provides a perfect backdrop in which to enjoy a sumptuous dinner.

Remembering I was here to review the food provided a quick reality check... This was my first big assignment and I was already lost in the rhythm... To the food (Stay on task Saini)! Despite this being my ‘dining debut’, I was encouraged to make my own choices and had opted to start with the Chirashi which proved an inspired choice as tantalising Tuna and Salmon were accompanied by crispy potato, radish, pickled daikon and tobiko. At this stage, I was just praying that my dining companion (who just happened to be the publisher) didn’t start asking me about such delicacies.Ok, i was showing off but I had definitely eaten radish before! Having consumed (and already regretting) a couple of Cuban cocktails, I was now all in, my confidence growing with every sip, I decided I would order the soft shell crab Maki roll. As delicate as it was delicious and hungrily devoured I moved on to the corn ribs which the menu described as being coated in “Nomad Magic dust”. I was beginning to feel I had been sprinkled with some myself! I was unstoppable…

My countless hours practicing with chopstick were already paying off. My Finnish heritage had me babbling on about seafood like I was Rick Stein’s long lost daughter and then it happened... innocent little yellow corn ribs arrived, and I was instructed to sample same...  but I was a corn rib virgin, what do I eat them with?. We still had chopsticks and knives and forks in front of us. I was beginning to sweat, I could feel my blood draining from my face . Got it, offer the boss one. My relief was palpable as he accepted and took one with his hand (thank god!). Good job Saini, I was back in the game.

Mains time, and my Turbot with Yuzu sauce and grilled asparagus arrived and was duly dispatched without a further period of perspiration. Andy (we were now on first name terms) ordered the lamb chops and proceeded to explain why the New Zealand variety was superior to all other. I was trying to listen, I promise , but my mind was on dessert: A white chocolate and passion fruit mousse! But wait, he had ordered it to share... I don’t do sharing. I needed to keep him talking about lamb chops while I devoured the dessert “oh really”, ”wow”, “please tell me more, im eager to learn”. Mission accomplished, stomach full, boss looking around aimlessly to see where the dessert went to.

Time to relax and get all comforted by Cuba again!
I love my job. Until next time!. (Hopefully he doesn’t read this!)

Nomad Restaurant & Lounge. Av. del Prado, Aloha. 951 55 34 44,  @Nomadmarbella