Miami Spice 2015- Bulla Gastrobar

I didn't want the weekend to start without pointing you in another Miami Spice direction. My next adventure happened at a popular Spanish Coral Gables spot that gets packed not just for dinner but for happy hour as well. I'm talking about Bulla Gastrobar, located at 2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd.

The Sangrias at Bulla never disappoint

I looked at Bulla's Miami Spice menu online and it was a go for me right away. First of all, their appetizer choices sounded very good (especially the tuna tartare) and they featured an interesting mix of entrees as well. So, off I went and started the night with one of their famous Sangrias. I'm sure you've experienced one or two of these in your lifetime.  From there, my dining companion and I decided to share our courses so we started off with the Tartar de Atun (Tuna Tartare) and the Albondigas de Cordero (Lamb Meatballs). What can I tell you about the tartare? It was enthralling… the fresh ahi tuna was mixed with mango and avocado, then drizzled with soy sesame vinaigrette. It was served with a Sriracha Aioli that gave it an exciting kick, and a side of crispy taco shells. I found this variation added a layer of fun to the dish because you could enjoy making little tacos over conversation, as you savored the sweet and salty appetizer. The lamb meatballs were winners too. They were tender and flavorful, and served together with mushrooms, potatoes and onion marmalade. We didn't try the other two appetizer options but they sounded interesting as well. They were the Gambas Al Ajillo (Sauteed Garlic Shrimp) and Montados de Chistorra (Spicy Spanish Sausage with Bread).

Tartar de Atun

Albondigas de Cordero

Bulla offers five Main Course choices for their Miami Spice menu and I can promise it will be difficult to choose. The options include Arroz Caldoso (Paella-style dish), New York Strip Steak, Seared Swordfish, Braised Oxtail and Grilled Octopus. See what I mean? After much thought and deliberation, we went for the Arroz Caldoso and the Pulpo A La Plancha (Grilled Octopus). When the server brought out our entrees, I was floored with my rice. It was a huge portion served in a skillet-like pot, whose aroma was practically making me drool.  The Bomba rice was swimming in delicious broth along with clams, shrimp, and chicken, all seasoned in a red sofrito and saffron. Amazing. I immediately knew I would be reliving this portion of my adventure for next day's lunch as well. The octopus was perfectly grilled, tender not chewy, and served over a semi-sweet corn puree, mojo picon and a splash of paprika oil. 

Arroz Caldoso

Pulpo A La Plancha

Last but certainly not least, it was time for dessert. We picked one of each of the two choices on the menu: Torrejas (Caramelized Brioche) and Arroz Con Leche (Spanish-style Rice Pudding). The caramelized brioche had an incredible sweet texture and was bathed in local honey, alongside a scoop of turron ice-cream. The Arroz Con Leche was topped with a golden raisin coulis and sprinkles of cinnamon that brought the whole experience to a perfect ending.

Torrejas

Arroz Con Leche

You have less than a month to take advantage of this fabulous menu for the $39 price. For more information on Bulla Gastrobar and their Miami Spice Menu, visit them online or call them at 305 441-0107.

Vayanse Para El Carajo for Brunch

No I'm not mad and yes I love you guys. That's why I'm sharing a great brunch spot with you. Raise your hand if you have ever had an amazing brunch, or any other meal for that matter, at a gas station? I bet most arms are down. I'm not talking about Diet Soda, mystery meat sandwiches or Ho Hos here. I'm talking upscale, Spanish food paired with fine wines. Well, over on 2465 SW 17 Avenue, there is a BP Station and hidden inside what is supposed to be a Food Mart, is El Carajo, a tapas and wine restaurant and its sister bakery. But don't let the exterior fool you. Once you step inside, you will experience what is generally known as the "El Carajo Factor", and you won't soon forget it. I know I'm still baffled by it, and I can only equate it to stepping into a culinary Twilight Zone where you momentarily escape the hustle and bustle of Miami and enter a quaint tapas bar in Spain.

Imagine stepping into this the next you go pump gas

This is not your ordinary Food Mart

The first time I ever went to El Carajo was many years ago when they were located on 57th Avenue. It was nice, and we had a great time "tapeando" with friends over wine. But then I heard the spot had moved to a gas station on 17th Avenue. Mind you, I wasn't overly excited about going to eat at a gas station, so time continued to pass before I returned and as I drove by there, I always wondered where it was, and how it looked inside. Seriously, from the outside, you can't even imagine what you are about to see when you go in.

No…Ashton Kutcher is not jumping out and you're not being punked.

Next time someone sends me Pa' El Carajo.. I'm coming here

So, once they launched their new Brunch service, I decided to take the plunge. I drove there, filled my tank with gas once I got to the station, and then walked in very cautiously (I Periscoped my adventure, by the way, so make sure you're following me on Periscope if you missed it) Anyway, the first thing I saw ( and smelled) was their bakery. It is situated right at the front and to the right, and you automatically know that you are not in Kansas anymore, Toto. But it is what your senses behold when you walk a few steps more that makes your jaw drop. Imagine a beautifully decorated, elegant restaurant, complete with a wine room and a bar, just waiting there to be discovered. I was floored. Literally, I was wearing new heels and I almost fell. But read on my friends.

Mimosa

We started with a Mimosa and took a look at their brunch menu. The El Carajo team obviously took great care in selecting a nice variety of dishes, both tapas and main plates, to offer during brunch. We decided to select a few of our Spanish favorites and began with their Huevos Estrellados and Croquetas Sazonadas. You can choose from either cod, ham, chicken, chorizo or bacon croquettes, and they are served with their homemade cilantro aioli, which is lick-the-spoon worthy. We went for their ham and codfish croquetas and they were mmm mmm good. I find that the traditional Spanish Huevos Estrellados dish (or Huevos Rotos as it is called in other places), is prepared differently everywhere. The meat that comes with it varies, as does the way the potatoes are cooked.  El Carajo's version is very flavorful; the eggs are served over grilled chorizo, and mixed with red onions and brunch potatoes. The whole delight is then drizzled with olive oil.

Huevos Estrellados

Ham and Codfish Croquettes

Next we tried an interesting tapa I always enjoy when I embark on Spanish adventures.  It's the Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates. I love the combination of the sweet dates with the salty, smoked bacon. Their version includes Spanish chorizo and it is fried to perfection. I couldn't come here and not sample a Spanish rice so we ordered the Arroz Temprano, an original recipe created by their team, consisting of Valencia rice, infused with… you guessed it, chorizo, mushrooms, and eggs, then seasoned with olive oil, peppers and onions. It was simple yet tasted amazing.

Bacon Wrapped Dates

Arroz Temprano

I told you they have a bakery at El Carajo, where they sell some pretty memorable macarons, but what left me begging for more were their Torrejas. Their Spanish style French toast took my breath away, and we drenched them in maple syrup shamelessly. Oh, if you like Crepes, they serve fresh ones, filled with strawberries, bananas and your favorite and mine.. Nutella.

Torrejas

If you haven't been to El Carajo and experienced this hidden gem inside a humble gas station, then you need to hurry and change that. Now that they serve brunch, you have even more of an incentive. For more information, visit their website or call them at 305 856-2424.

Barceloneta - Miami Spice

I've probably told you before that my family is originally from the region of Catalunya, in Spain. Even more specifically, we are from the city of Barcelona. In doing my Miami Spice research, and searching for interesting menus to try, I came across a restaurant I'd heard a lot of buzz about. Barceloneta, located at 5850B Sunset Drive, is a Spanish restaurant, offering a tapas-style experience, infused with a Catalan tradition of "Mercat" dining. Guests can either choose dishes from the menu or order specific foods by weight or by piece. The concept reminds me of a large market I love in Barcelona, right off of the famous street of Las Ramblas, called La Boqueria.

Ensalada de Alubias y Atun

When I saw what Barceloneta was about and took a look at their Miami Spice menu, I decided to make it my next adventure. We drove on over to Sunset on a Wednesday night, excited and hungry. I have to stop to say the place was packed. When I say packed, I mean packed. The-two room space has both regular tables and communal tables and they were all full. We waited a while before anyone came over to ask us how many were in our party, and when they did, we learned we'd have to wait about 25 minutes. Now on a Wednesday night, that's a pretty long wait, but the dishes that were coming out of the kitchen peeked my interest, so we figured it was worth it.

Bombas de Barceloneta

Boquerones BLT

Once we sat down, I ordered a nice refreshing Tinto de Verano and took a look at my choices for the evening. You should know that there is a minimum of two guests for ordering from the Miami Spice menu. Basically, you choose three tapas options from the First Course, three tapas from the Second Course, and then each diner gets to pick from one of two desserts. These are shared among both guests. The choices sounded pretty appealing so it took us a while to choose three out of the five they feature for each course. Our server offered to surprise us and we agreed. The unknown tends to spice things up a bit. The First Course winners were the Bombas de Barceloneta, Ensalada de Alubias y Atun, and Boquerones BLT. The Bombas de Barceloneta consisted of two spherical croquettes made with a creamy mix of tempranillo braised oxtail and potatoes. It was served with a flavorful aioli. The Ensalada de Alubias y Atun was a braised white bean and tuna salad, made with a tangy tonnato sauce, cherry tomatoes, roasted red peppers and black olive powder. We were split on this dish. I found it light and tasty, and my dining companion wasn't in love. The Boquerones BLT were actually two white anchovy sandwiches, with olive remoulade, bacon, romaine hearts and tomato. They were packed with flavor and the biggest portion of the three.

Sopa de Zanahoria

There was another First Course option, the Sopa de Zanahoria, or Carrot Soup, that we hadn't picked to try. My dining companion is not a soup fan but I happen to love the liquid treat. Our friendly server brought us over a sampling, insisting we were going to love it. I tell you what. It was my favorite - and my non-soup loving companion's. The Carrot Soup had a small toast inside, and was topped with coriander Chantilly that added another flavor profile to the otherwise simple dish.

Arroz con Gambas

Arroz con Gambas

Brocheta de Corvina

For the Second Course, we had the Arroz con Gambas, the Guiso de Jabali, and Brocheta de Corvina. The Arroz con Gambas was a moist calasparra rice, prepared with tiger shrimp, serrano ham and a distinct seasoning. I always love a soupy rice and this one was no exception. The Guiso de Jabali was one I was worried about because I can be a bit particular about stews. Didn't need to worry though. The wild boar stew was nicely complemented by fresh summer vegetables, and didn't last long on the plate. Finally, we tried my personal star of the evening: the Brocheta de Corvina. Two tantalizing skewers tickled the taste buds with mild, flaky corvina, zucchini, eggplant, and red onions. They sat atop a bed of shoe string potatoes that puckered my lips from first bite.

Nocilla Helado and Crema Catalana

Dessert time arrived and we shared both the mini options: the Nocilla Helado con Pica Tostas and the Crema Catalana. The Nocilla Helado was a creamy, rich Nutella ice-cream (need I say more?) sprinkled with maldon salt and olive oil. It was extremely decadent and thick and my pick of the two. The Crema Catalana was Barceloneta's take on the popular Crème Brulee-like Spanish dessert, served with mixed berries. I didn't get it though. It was lacking in texture and sweetness, and in its attempt at uniqueness completely missed the usual contrasting flavors of cream custard with hard caramel. I would choose the Nutella ice-cream hands down.

At the beginning of our meal, I was a little worried I would still be hungry after my adventure, but the truth is, I wasn't. It was a satisfying dinner. While some dishes were better than others, the variety was good, the combination of ingredients authentic and the overall experience pleasant. For more information on Barceloneta, visit their website at http://barcelonetarestaurant.com/

Madrid Food Tour: Tapas, Taverns and History

Plaza Mayor

You know I'm all for learning a country's culture through its food. What better way to do it than like a local? If you want to get some history, traditional food and the general feel of a place when you're traveling, I find a food tour takes care of all three. Of course, you want to go with one that is good and offers the best bang for your buck. I found all this and more in Madrid Food Tour.

 

Puerta del Sol

I planned my Madrid Food Tour early on in the Spanish leg of my trip. It was one of the best things I could've done. Depending on your preference, there are a variety of tours to choose from and each one offers a unique glimpse into the city. Caught between a couple of tours that sounded right up our alley, we chose the Tapas, Taverns and History tour because it offered a little bit of everything we wanted to experience in the shoes of a Madrileno: food, history and drinks.  After participating in the 4 hour adventure, we were completely psyched with Madrid, and had a list of places to go and things to do in the coming days.

James Blick, our tour guide

Like most food tours, the fun consists of a cultural walk through the city center, stopping at various taverns to indulge in mouth-watering tapas and drinks.  However, this is where the likeness ends. From the moment we met our guide, James Blick, I knew this was going to be en extra special evening. A New Zealand native, James came to Europe to find love, which he did, and has lived in Madrid with his wife ever since. His passion for both food and history are evident in the way he tells the stories and brings the magic of Madrid's past to life. Just imagine strolling through picturesque, cobblestone medieval streets on your way to having an aperitif and a tapa while learning about the vivid events that made Madrid the city it is today. It's completely unforgettable.

Our first stop, Taberna Real

Vermouth

Our first stop was a popular tavern that was booming with Madrilenos: Taberna Real. James ordered us a Vermouth as an aperitif, the traditional Spanish way to start a meal, and two tapas: Marinated olives and potato chips fried in olive oil. The Vermouth, a fortified white wine whose brand was Miro, was outstanding with subtle hints of caramel. It was actually served from tap (it comes in barrels) rather than from a bottle. The olives were the most flavorful I've ever had.  So much so, that several of us wanted to find out where we can get some to bring back home at the end of our tour. I learned two interesting fun facts at this bar: In Madrid, once you finish an olive, you don't throw the pit in the garbage. Instead, you toss it on the floor underneath the bar's counter. Interesting! And, whenever you order a drink at a taberna, there is a small tapa included in the price of the drink. It is their choice which they include and you don't really mention it if it doesn't come, but it is a standard custom.



Stop Numero Dos: Taberna La Concha

Anchovies

Tostas de Cabrales and Anchoas

Our next stop was Taberna La Concha, a small place we probably would have never thought to visit. Along the way, James pointed out a wealth of more information like the known and unknown final resting places of several famous Spanish artists such as Velasquez, the difficult time when the Moors conquered Spain, and the ins-and-outs of the Spanish Hadsburg dynasty. Once we arrived, we were greeted by the friendly owners and staff and served a refreshing Parxet Cava. The effervescent wine had a delicate citrus aroma and a delightfully long, clean finish. It was paired with an assortment of tapas that were mind-blowing. We enjoyed some Boquerones en Vinagre (anchovies in vinegar), Morcilla (blood sausage), Salmorejo (this was the tapa included with our drink), Tostas de Gamba with homemade mayo (a toast topped with shrimp), and Tostas de Cabrales and Anchoas (toast topped with blue cheese and anchovies).  Each tapa had its own distinct taste that was highlighted by the Cava. My favorites were the Salmorejo, a gazpacho-like soup with a thick, creamy texture and the Boquerones en Vinagre, which opened my appetite and made me pucker all at once.. Just between us, we learned another fun fact at this bar: In Asturia, Blue Cheese is called the devil's shit.

Salmorejo

 

 

Rich history and culture: La Venencia

Feeling giddy with excitement at all this fabulous food and drink, we walked through the ancient streets to our next stop: La Venencia. This spot only serves Spain's finest sherry, out of the barrel and in all of its glory. It is named after the long, narrow tool that is used to sample the sherry through an opening in the casks. It's very quaint and once we walked into the wood covered place, I felt as if we were stepping back in time. Ernest Hemingway himself sipped sherry here during Spain's Civil War from 1936-1939, where left-leaning Republicans fought against the Fascist. It was during this time he wrote "For Whom the Bell Tolls" about the war. James ordered us two styles of sherry - a light and a dark one, and a table full of tapas. I would have loved to have taken pictures to show you, but that is one rule in La Venencia - no photographs. The reason? It just dates back to the Civil War days when Republicans would gather here and didn't want to be exposed by Fascist spies. Pretty cool, huh? I sampled both sherries, and preferred the stronger, dark one. Although they both come from the same grape, I learned the darker sherry changes color and flavor during the oxidation process. Something else I loved is that as I ate the tapas, the flavor of the sherry changed for me. We ate Mojama, (cured tuna), Cecina (smoked cured beef), Chorizo, and aceitunas (olives). As I looked near the bar, I noticed a large chalkboard with writing on it. It turns out when patrons place their orders, the tabs are written in chalk on the board. Once you're done, you just look at it and see how much you owe. It was a truly enchanting experience.

Pimientos de Padron



Cazon

Callos Madrilenos

Our last stop for the evening was a bustling taberna named El Lacon. The place was packed and had a vibrant, pulsating ambiance. I actually sampled two drinks here - the Tinto de Verano, which is the less complicated yet delicious way Madrilenos actually drink their "sangrias", and a glass of Tempranillo wine. As we worked our way to a table, James ordered a huge selection of tapas. It was awesome! We had Empanadas de Carne (meat patties), Callos Madrilenos (a stew of cow trife and chick peas), Pimientos de Padron (fried peppers with sea salt on top), and Pollo al Aji (Pepper Chicken). We also shared some raciones, which are larger tapas. These were Cazon (marinated cape shark or dogfish), Asparagus (cooked a-la-plancha) and the ever famous Secreto Iberico (the fatty, juicy armpit of the Black Iberian Pig).  The Cazon was tender and seasoned perfectly with cumin. I couldn't keep my hands off the plate. The Callos Madrilenos were outstanding - a hearty, bold flavored  dish for a midsummer night.This was the grand finale of the savory part of the evening- sort of like the fireworks at Disney World.  Once we were all finished moaning out of pure delight over the incredible tapas we'd just devoured, out came the desserts: Flan Casero con Helado (homemade custard served with ice-cream), Crema Catalana (catalan crème) and Filloas Caseras con Chocolate (homemade pastries filled with chocolate)

Crema Catalana

We all walked away full, a bit tipsy and deeper in love with Madrid. Because the groups are kept small, they afford you the opportunity to ask as many questions as you want and interact extensively with each other. James was an excellent guide that truly enjoyed sharing his knowledge and passion, and took the tour to a whole new level. I feel there is still so much I need to see, eat and drink in this beautiful city, that when I return, I will definitely take another Madrid Food Tour. For more information or to reserve your spot, visit them online at http://madridfoodtour.com/.