The 'meatball' sandwich that everyone is talking about in Malaga is in Torre del Mar at the new 'Esto es Jauja'

When you bring together two Pablos of the caliber of Vega—'Best Chef' from Club de Gourmets in 2023— and Domínguez, along with Irene Garrido, who for a long time set the pace for the menu at a leading tapas spot in downtown Málaga like KGB, the cocktail you get is not only fun but also brilliant in gastronomic terms. They, particularly the first two, are behind Esto es Jauja (by Los Pablos), a new and relaxed concept that aims to embrace all the wild ideas that perhaps don't fit into their older sibling, the already acclaimed Ménade at Baviera Golf. The opening of Esto es Jauja, which occurred weeks ago, reached its peak this week with a launch filled with political and gastronomic personalities.

At Calle los Fenicios, 12, in Torre del Mar, where Esto es Jauja is located, they offer a relaxed cuisine, a term so commonly used lately in gastronomic references but which they use so well in this tapas bar where the menu both hits you and tickles you, where you not only enjoy eating but also travel. Since its opening, perhaps the dish that has attracted the most attention has been their 'armóndigas' sandwich, yes, 'armóndigas', because in Málaga it's more common to hear it with an 'r' and 'm' than with an 'l' and 'b'. It consists of a sandwich with crystal bread made with beer and accompanied by a pork or beef meatball, which is cooked with dried tomato, caper, and spicy basil sauce, topped with provolone and another round of dried tomato, caper, and basil.

The opening featured a selection of the twenty dishes that make up the menu of Esto es Jauja, beyond desserts. The menu includes typical tapas bar dishes but with a twist, such as payoyo cheese croquettes with quince emulsion or their Berlin Salad, a not-so-Russian salad, with potato, mustard, bacon, and sweet and sour pickle. Their bravas were also finalists in an international contest, as well as their hamburger, 'el Mayate', made with oxtail, is a must-order.

The menu also features other bites, such as the campero de los montes or their Club Sandwich, but also nods to Japanese cuisine with good sushi: two types of tartar, some maki, and various uramakis that delight lovers of Japanese gastronomic art. Among the desserts, we highlight La Sacher de La Axarquía, a cake from Algarrobo, chocolate mousse, mango, raspberry, and Moscatel that concludes any journey of good eating, this one in Torre del Mar.