Confessions of a Tenerife Barman - More Ketchup than Salsa

A fast-paced and funny book filled with British wit. I laughed out loud several times. I felt like I knew all of the characters by the end of the story. I also read and recommend the follow-up book, Even More Ketchup Than Salsa. A great summer read.

Delightful book! Fast paced and full of page turning vignettes about running a bar in ... paradise? Didn't mind that the book ended with a link to buy the next installment - I bought the sequel in no time flat and picked up where I left off. I never mind mind paying for a good read!

These new bar owners meet all kinds of problems, but try to inject a bit of humor into almost-tragic circumstances. Although it is interesting, it doesn't keep you on the edge of your seat waiting to get to the next page.

I have tried many inexpensive books from the store. This one is unique to my experience. From the catchy title to the first sentence that grabs you, all the way through the wonderful descriptions on every page, this book is a winner. It is well written and very well edited. I began it with a smile and was laughing out loud within two chapters. I don't laugh out loud. I am a cool customer who has read a lot of books. I put the book down only long enough to insist that my spouse pick it up as well. Otherwise, I would have injured my voice reading it to him.

I have no experience of Great Britain, fish, Tenerife, or bars. This in no way blocked my pleasure in this book. Most of us have looked at the risky option, whether we took it or not. It is wonderful to read about someone who took it. While I read it, I find myself thinking about the risk he took to write about his adventure. I haven't finished the book yet, but the author is a born storyteller. I will recommend this book to everyone I know.

I enjoyed this book. I probably would have enjoyed it more if I understood some of the British terms that were used. But don't let that stop you. It is a funny journey. A good read. Laid back, but interesting. Get it! Looking forward to the sequel.

Joe Cawley really is very funny. I was thoroughly entertained by the venture into owning a bar in Tenerife. I do wish it had a bit more editing. Such errors as "between Joy and I" and our's and her's distracted me from the tale. I implore Joe to get a good proofreader before his next book comes out.

Book read fast with lots of quirky characters and interesting situations when four friends leave their boring jobs as fishmongers and the cold dreary days of England's winter to buy a bar/grill on one of the Canary Islands. I liked this book a lot.

Really enjoyed reading this... partly because I spent a week in that area of Tennerife. Give you a new appreciation for the amount of work involved in running a restaurant. Also makes me a little leery about how my food is being prepared!

This was a fun read I accomplished while sitting on my deck. I would occasionally set down my kindle and contemplate following Joe's path. The light hearted writing style was refreshing. I found the kindle edition well edited. I reserve higher ratings for more serious literary feats.

I got this book this morning... and started reading it this afternoon. Well... that was the rest of the day gone - because I simply couldn't put it down until I'd finished it.

Joe writes about how it feels to move to an island in the middle of the Atlantic and start a business against the odds. Despite him being in a different industry to myself, he could have been writing on my behalf.

The thing I loved the most about this book was the character descriptions and experiences. Walk into any Brit bar in Spain (or anywhere out of the UK) and you'll find colourful characters... and Joe brings these to life with a flourish.

So yeah... the sound of me roaring with laughter at the exploits of the magician on the makeshift stage... or of Ron the "Gangster" when he was having a bad day... has distressed the dogs who think I'm having some kind of "episode".

Can't wait for the next book Joe - and we wish you, Joy and the menagerie all the best for the future.

Elle Draper

Two English young couples decided to buy a small Restaurant & Bar. Tending to vacationers and retired expatriates in Spain, and go thru a learning experience on managing a business in a foreign country.

I really enjoy the reading about this situation. It tells so many differences in from England and the spanish Island. The different caracterizes people in the book were very real and interesting.
A good read, but somertimes a little bit too long.

I read primarily to be entertained,so perhaps my standards aren't as strict as some of the other reviewers. As such,I found Joe's narrative an easy and enjoyable read. He describes the challenges and realities of jumping into "the deep end" with humor and candor. Having spent seven years self-employed myself (though in a much different business), I felt a great deal of empathy for Joe and crew. If you're after a light,entertaining read, I recommend it!

A pleasant respite from a dreary winter. Having traveled to mainland Spain quite frequently, it was interesting to hear their experience in and views on the Canary Islands. I found myself rooting for them in their endeavor. I enjoyed it enough to consider the next book, "Even More Ketchup than Salsa: The Final Dollop" when I need a purely escape book.

I would never have guessed that Joe would be such a good authour. A very amusing and interesting take on expat life, and what it takes to run a bar and restaurant. I would have like photos to match the vivid decsriptions, particularly of the people spoken about.

Funny and poignant story (maybe true?) about two British couples who open a pub in Spain. Problems with the electricity, the officials, the suppliers and each other, but they manage to get it all semi-under-control, draw lots of expats looking for a little bit of home, and finally make a go of things.

If you've ever thought about ditching your blah, everyday job in a cold climate and starting all over on a sunny tropical island, read this book first! It's the story of Joe, his girlfriend, his brother, and his brother's wife, as they uproot from working in a damp fish market in England and restart life as bar owners in the Canary Islands. The four meet with their fair share of struggles, crises, adventures, and a parade of interesting characters. Cawley balances everything very well here. The language is descriptive without being distracting, and the content is humorous yet entirely believable as fact. It's real life, well-told. Though it is written from a distinctly British point of view, I didn't find any problem relating to it as the "bloody Yank" that I am. A recommended read for anyone.