Kathaysa Luzardo and Daniel Aitor Pacheco decided to recover one of their childhood passions, family barbecues, and open a hospitality business where fire was the protagonist.
In an interview with the radio program Más de Uno Gourmet from Radio Lanzarote, Luzardo explains how, after several trips to Argentina, the country of grilled meat, and to the Basque Country, with a great tradition in meats, they documented themselves to open Santa Leña in the center of the capital of Lanzarote.
- How did the idea of opening Santa Leña come about?
It all came about after two trips by Dani to Argentina, the second time he stayed for six months. There he saw something that he already liked here, the typical barbecues that he used to do in Famara. He expanded his mind, took courses and discovered his passion. Then we went to the Basque Country where he finished training in the good meats of Spain and the good steaks.
We started doing events for colleagues, birthdays, some weddings... until one day we decided to take a risk and that's how Santa Leña came about, on Canalejas street in Arrecife.
- Do you still organize events?
Yes, they can call us for a service at home, birthdays, weddings, pre-weddings, whatever they want.
- What does Santa Leña offer?
Santa Leña is a grill, where we do everything with firewood. Not only the meat but also the sweet potato chips, the vegetables, the roasted tomato salads... There is no fryer there.
For the vegetables we always work with local Lanzarote producers. The lettuces, the wild arugula, the leeks, the tomatoes... The meats are brought to us from Galicia.
- How do you make the preparations?
When you enter Santa Leña you can see our kitchen through a glass, which allows you to see and enjoy with us. Fire makes friends and brings people together.
Dani has a system that we call Basque-Argentine. On the one hand, he has an Argentine grill where he also makes animals on the cross or on the stake, as they call it there. On the other hand, he has a brazier, whose embers, once ready, he transfers to the grills. The grills are 3 meters long, with three different modules, and are adjustable in height.
- What is the Santa Leña menu like?
For starters, you can find everything. Santoña anchovies, provolone cheese, various salads that we make seasonally and that we change...
Then we move on to our meats and side dishes, which are roasted vegetables. We finish with our desserts, which are all homemade.
- What types of meats and cuts does it include?
We have cuts from Argentina and Uruguay. Skirt steaks, strips of roast, high loin or wide steak as they call it, matured steaks, lamb or black Canarian pig on the cross...
- What would you say to listeners to visit Santa Leña?
You are invited to Santa Leña, to this home of fire that we have on Canalejas street in Arrecife. You will not regret it. All the dishes that we take out will bring out that flavor and that desire that you remember and you want.
- What was the experience of participating in the last Saborea de Teguise Fair in which there were queues to try your meat?
The meats were being made for 4 or 5 hours, and with our bread, also made with firewood, everything was incredible, hence the queues.
I have to thank the Saborea organization for believing in a totally different bet. We were going with fire and firewood. We went with a giant dome, with all our grills and we brought all kinds of meats.
