Can you believe that there is such a thing as National Paella Day? The flavorful Spanish rice dish, which originated in Valencia, is being celebrated today, Wednesday, March 27th at Barraca in the West Village and at Spanish eateries all over the country. To celebrate the national day of all things paella, Barraca’s paella gurus Executive Chef Jesus Nunez and owner Hector Sanz will offer a free plate of paella with the purchase of any drink like their Tequila & Moras made with Blanco Tequila, orujo, blackberry, and rosemary syrup or any of Barraca's house-infused sangrias such as the Sangria Valencia made from rosé, Oleo saccharum “citrus oil,” grapefruit juice, vodka, and ginger. Prepared in a giant paella pan, large enough to feed up to 60 people, guests will sample the delicious Paella de Tierra tonight from 5-7pm. The Paella de Tierra is a savory blend of chicken, rabbit, pork belly, and fava beans complete with Spanish staple ingredients like saffron, sofrito, bomba rice, all cooked in a rich, flavorful stock. Check out the “Paella Manifesto” on the Barraca menu for a step-by-step guide to how traditional paella is, and should be prepared, in restaurants and at home.
The Local House is a new restaurant located inside the Sense Hotel on Ocean Drive. Upon entering the restaurant, patrons are greeted with warm, welcoming colors and a modern décor, reminiscent of local Miami culture and design. When we visited, we opted for outside seating to enjoy the gorgeous South Beach weather and ambiance. This delightful restaurant was abuzz with lively patrons enjoying brunch with unlimited mimosas and culinary treats prepared by their exceptional chef, Guily Booth. The menu offers a variety of delicious, affordable tapas-style plates, making it very difficult to decide. We sampled a variety of small plates that included the Local Ceviche, Melon Citrus Salad, Bacon-wrapped Dates, Goat Cheese Croquettes, and Octopus Carpaccio. The Local Ceviche is made with grouper, red onion, cilantro, and choclo, a starchy variety of corn from South America. The grouper offered a meaty bite and was perfectly flavored with fresh ingredients, making it a great take on traditional ceviche. The Melon Citrus Salad offered more mellow flavors and was composed of assorted melon balls with feta, limejuice, and mint. The Bacon-wrapped dates were a sweet and salty treat, although a delectable spicy guava sauce and a topping ofpea shoots that accompanied the Goat Cheese Croquettes made a bold statement. These little bites of heaven proved to us that goat cheese and guava should always go together. The Octopus Carpaccio was topped with a creamy sauce, crunchy capers, diced tomatoes, a chorizo “dust”, arugula, and orange slices. The chorizo dust gave this dish a salty flavor without the overpowring heaviness that is usually associated with eating sliced chorizo. The orange slices brought a welcome bit of freshness.
Latin cuisine is all the rage these days and there's no better place to enjoy it than at Pampano Botaneria. The small downstairs brother to Richard Sandoval's Pampano, this smaller, more casual half of the restaurant is the way to go. This dimly lit, romantic setting makes anyone want to hunker down for a feast. The best part of this place is that all menu items are served tapas-style...which means you don't have to pick and choose what you want, you can try everything!
Downtown Brickell has a new kid in town today! Restauranteur Claudio Giordano, who brought us Altamare on Lincoln Road, as well as one of the most fondly-remembered Italian restaurants of the '90s, La Bussola, is venturing into the bustling business and nightlife neighborhood of Brickell with his new restaurant, TIKL Raw Bar & Grill. Focused around small plates and sharing, Chef Simon Stojanovic, the executive chef at Altamare who was nominated for Food & Wine's Best New Chefs of 2012, has formulated an internationally-inspired menu of tapas-style dishes that are meant to be shared. In tune with today's culinary trends, Chef Stojanovic will focus on local and seasonal products that will result in an ever-changing menu that is sure to satisfy seasoned foodies and savvy business people looking for a relaxed bite to eat. The restaurant promises an unpretentious, loungy ambiance with an industrial décor accented by steel beams, exposed concrete columns, and Old Chicago brick walls.
Years of construction have plagued the South Street Sea Port neighborhood, but New Yorkers know the best finds are worth navigating through the commotion, isn’t that right New Yorkers?
Since its inception nine months ago, 121 Fulton Street has brought in the Suits and the Denim galloping through the horse carriage streets with its casual atmosphere and upscale decorum.
Guests have their choice of seating at either the bar, intimate tables for two on black leather stools, or a separate dining room. Wednesday evenings the crowd swells for the Eurocup games, the NBA Finals, and whatever your heart desires on their arsenal of televisions throughout the restaurant.
Richard Sandoval fans are in for a treat with the new tricks and treats going on at Pampano this summer. Along with the new season, Pampano is introducing quite a few enticing changes. They're now featuring a new tasting menu serving up fresh Mexican seasonal ingredients until June 30th. The five course tasting is only $50 per guest or $75 with the addition of Los Nahuales Mezcal or Latin wine pairing.
Pampano is also introducing fun Taco Tuesdays! Every Tuesday from 5pm until closing, the restaurant will be serving up $2 tacos, with new specialty tacos each week. But that's not all that's new. There will also be special summer Fridays at Pampano Botaneria all the way until Labor Day, where you can come start your weekend early with Happy Hour starting at 3pm. All Latin cocktails and sangrias will be $6 a piece and Mexican-style tapas are only $5.
Did you know Roast Suckling Pig has its very own national holiday? This December 18th, celebrate the swine with some good ‘ol fashion pork! Technically, the holiday should take place over the span of two days, since that’s how long the average pig takes to be prepared and roasted. The main ingredient involves a four to six week old piglet, ranging between nine to twenty pounds. For those couple of weeks, the pig is bred solely on its mother’s milk. Although younger pigs are preferred for their tender meat, larger pigs are not uncommon.
A wide variety of roast suckling pig recipes have been created for the holiday season. For a Mexican flavor, add Mexican cinnamon, dried avocado leaves and guajillo chiles. For a more Asian roast, use vinegar, five-spice powder, and red miso. For a Cuban-inspired recipe drench your tender pig in oranges and limes and place it in La Caja China. This ritual was passed down from family to family, specifically Roberto Guerra’s family. One day in winter of 1985, Guerra’s father, who had immigrated to Miami, told his son about the way they cooked for large amounts people in Cuba. Using a large wooden hot box, the pig would lay roasting slowly under a charcoal fire. Young Roberto Guerra asked his father to show him and thus La Caja China was born. The improved ovens are built with local materials for up to 100 pounds of juicy pork meat!
As all you New Yorkers know, the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade is right around the corner. That means there is going to be an overload of turkey and tryptophan coursing through your veins. Ultimately putting you in a bear-like hibernating state during Black Friday, and maybe until Cyber Monday.
If you're looking to escape the typical turkey day trance, hail a cab to 7th street between 1st avenue and Avenue A, to indulge in the Bourgeois Pig. This is a trendy East Village wine bar that serves up great wine and tapas that are both delicious and wallet-friendly. So nix your plans to have the probable overcooked bird and order up a baked brie cheese board for $17. This cheese board comes with fresh grapes and honey. Pair that alongside the lamb Morrocco tartines for $11, and your mouth will continue to thank you the rest of the night.
