Annisa: Foodie Heaven

For my boyfriend's birthday we wanted to go somewhere special to celebrate, and Annisa (13 Barrow St. NY, New York) was the perfect choice! Chef Anita Lo, created a menu that is a combination of American, Asian, and French cuisine which are some of our favorites. The menu was to die for!  Annisa is an intimate, romantic, sophisticated, and quiet place. The service was impeccable down to every detail with our waiter being extremely knowledgeable and welcoming to any questions that we had. 

The menu and wine list were both reasonably priced. Bottles ranged from  as low as $40 and as high as $400. 

We decided to order the 5 course chef's tasting menu for $85 since everything on the menu sounded so good that we wanted to try a little bit of everything.  I am thrilled that they had a tasting menu because otherwise it would have been impossible to choose what to order. 

While waiting for our first course we were given bread that was soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside which in my opinion is the best texture for bread. It was served with fresh, creamy butter that formed a curled shape. It was a gorgeous presentation, even though it was only butter! We were offered bread many times throughout the night, so they definitely were not stingy on the bread. My only complaint was I wish the bread was warm, and from the few times we had it, it never was. 

Foie gras treat on the house! Foie gras mousse with chives, dijon, & pickled plum in a waffle shell

At the beginning of our tasting we were given an additional course because we had mentioned that we had never been to Annisa and wanted to make sure we got to try the foie gras that we had heard so much about! We were served little waffle shells that were filled with foie gras mousse, chives, dijon, and pickle plum jelly. The foie gras was exceptional. It was creamy and extremely savory! The chives, dijon, and pickle plum jelly added to the flavor by adding a mixture of sweet and tart flavors to the mix. All in all, this was probably the best foie gras I have had in a long time, if not ever!

Black sea bass sashimi with trout roe, yuzu pearls and shiso

Our first course was the black sea bass sashimi. It was served with trout roe, yuzu pearls, and shiso. The citrus flavor from the yuzu added a nice freshness to the sashimi while the crunchy seaweed piece that sat in the center of the sashimi gave a nice contrasting salty flavor. The shiso added a minty aspect to the dish that was really invigorating.

Seared foie gras with soup dumpling and jicama

Our second course was the one I was most looking forward to since I had read reviews before going. It was seared foie gras served over a soup dumpling that was filled with jicama. Jicama is a Mexican yam or turnip that is tender, yet crisp in texture so when you bite into the soup dumpling there is a slight crunch to each bite.
The waiter suggested eating the soup dumpling by pricking it with a chopstick while it is still on a spoon and then biting into it. This was extremely helpful because the soup poured out onto the spoon and we were still able to savor the valuable soup juices left on the spoon! The crunchy seared edge of the duck foie gras really made the foie gras taste different than anything I have ever experienced. It made the foie gras even richer in flavor than normal. My boyfriend described this dish by saying "there are no words" for how good it was. As for me, it was the best soup dumpling of my life, with the added perk of the most amazing foie gras!

Grilled filet for wild striped bass with summer beans, bottarga, and charred lemon

Our third course was a grilled filet of wild striped bass served with string beans, bottarga, and charred lemon. The bass was grilled to perfection and was very tender and oozing with flavor. I personally loved this dish, but my boyfriend thought that the lemon sauce was a little too much like Caesar dressing. I love the exhilirating lemon flavor of authentic Caesar dressing, so this dish was very much for me. There were mini croutons under the bass sitting in the sauce that helped to soak up the sauce. Basically, it was a way to make sure we were able to savor every last drop of sauce. It was so good that I wanted to lick the plate, but unfortunately that isn't very lady-like :(

Long Island duck duo prepared two ways - three chillies & corn and peaches

Our fourth course was a duo of Long Island duck. The duck was prepared in two different styles and presented on opposite sides of the plate. How ingenious!
One preparation reminded me of a mole sauce, both in texture and flavor, as it was prepared with three chilies and was spicy and sweet all at once! The duck was sliced in several pieces and served over the sauce. This preparation allowed us to enjoy the true meatiness and flavor of the duck while adding some spicy flair with the very delectable sauce.
I felt that the other preparation was the loser of the two, but still very palatable. The duck was shredded like pulled pork and seasoned in Mexican style spices and put atop a corn patty or arepa and mixed with corn kernels and mango pieces. The arepa and duck gave this dish a savory taste, while the corn and mango made it much sweeter. This dish was good, but seemed like a waste to use duck in a preparation I would normally expect pulled pork to be in.

Chilled melon soup with cucumber sorbet and lemon verbena

Our fifth dish was dessert of course! We were served two different desserts to share which was a great idea so we both got to try more than one dessert. Also, since it was my boyfriend's birthday they brought one of the desserts out with a candle in it for him :)
The first dessert was chilled melon soup with cucumber sorbet. It was a mixture of honeydew, cantaloupe, and watermelon with cucumber sorbet sitting in the center. The soup part was sweet and sugary and much tastier than you would expect for a fruit dessert. The cucumber sorbet was unique and very "cucumbery"! Definitely a sorbet I would get again. This dish was as example of the true meaning of "fresh".

The Birthday Boy!

Poppyseed bread pudding with meyer lemon curd

Our second dessert was poppyseed bread pudding with lemon curd. It was nice and crispy on the outside, but sweet, chewy, and rich on the inside. The very cake-y texture acted as a sponge to soak up the super tart and lemony sauce! It was a very unique dessert, as it seemed like a lemon poppyseed muffin on steroids! It didn't seem as glutinous as it was because of the citrusy flavor of the lemon that toned down the butteriness of the bread.

Additional treat on the house!

At the end of the meal, we were served an additional treat on the house. Melon popsicles, candied ginger, and chocolate mint ice creamed coated in chocolate. For me, each one represented a different flavor one expects to find in a dessert: sweet, sour, and rich! What a great way to end the meal.

Annisa is definitely a place I would return to in a heartbeat because of the very comfortable ambiance, mouth watering food, and great experience! The waiter told us for future reference that we can order the foie gras dumplings by the piece at the bar. We may return for that sooner rather than later!

Spiralizer: Spiralize into healthy!

I just wanted to introduce everyone to an amazing kitchen tool that is very versatile! The spiralizer! I bought mine on Amazon for only $11.99 and it was so worth it. There are more expensive models available, but I don't think they are necessary. 

Spiral Slicer

You can spiralize any vegetable! You can spiralize as a decorative garnish or  make the vegetable into pasta.
My boyfriend and I decided to give it a whirl one night and make an Italian themed dinner with all vegetables without forgoing eating "pasta"! We spiralized zucchini and made it into a pasta! It was much softer than I expected after being spiralized. I was expecting it to be more of a crunchy texture.
We boiled the zucchini for only a minute, but it made it a little watery. Since the texture of the zucchini was already consistent with pasta, I plan to just heat it in a pan for a minute and then add the sauce for another minute to heat it all up. My friend who has made this several times has suggested that this is the better way!

Spiralized Zucchini 

For our parmesan dish, we decided to make Eggplant Parmesan. We grilled slices of eggplant on our indoor grill to get some charring marks and some heat flavor.

Grilled Eggplant

Instead of coating in bread crumbs, we just prepared with red sauce and mozzarella cheese before placing into the oven. We added some other spices on top as well to add flavor, such as minced garlic, basil, oregano, etc.

Preparing Eggplant Parmesan for Oven

When all was ready, we had a healthy Italian dinner made with vegetables and amazing taste!

Healthy Italian Feast! 

Pies'n'Thighs : Brunch Goodness

After seeing Pies'n'Thighs (166 S. 4th St. @Driggs Ave., Williamsburg, NY) on  Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives a while back, we attempted to check it out last summer on a bike ride, but it was too crowded. We decided to come back at a time when they were preparing for their break between brunch and dinner. We made sure to plan correctly this time and come early enough to make the brunch hour. Upon our arrival, the hostess advised us of an hour wait. We were all starving and almost decided to forgo this place once again and find another place in the area to eat. After walking around for about 35 minutes, we approached the restaurant to check in, and we were told "right on time, your table is ready"! We were very lucky we didn't end up getting a drink somewhere for an hour because we would have missed our table! We were happy the wait wasn't the full hour, but also annoyed because the hostess said we're on time when we were actually early. We could have missed our table. I highly suggest this place take cell phone numbers to call when tables are ready so you can walk around while waiting and not risk missing out on your table. 

We went on an early fall Saturday and the air outside was slightly chilled, but not cool enough that a small place making hot food should not have air conditioning on. My friend that we were with was very hot that day and she hesitated on whether or not to take the table we were given because it was in the front of the restaurant where it was very enclosed. Luckily, the longer we sat, she cooled off. 

Drink Menu

The drink menu was different than most brunch places. It offered a different variety of cocktails other than the standard Bloody Mary and mimosa. I ordered the Cucumber Cooler because of its refreshing ingredients of cucumber aqua fresco with white wine. I figured heavy food may be nicely paired with a light summery cocktail. The presentation of my drink was very low key in a typical diner water glass with a slice of cucumber over the rim. The drink was tasty and refreshing, but definitely not strong by any means. I didn't even get that buzz feeling that I always get half way into an alcoholic drink. Oh well. 

My friend ordered the Bloody Mariko, which was an interesting twist on a Bloody Mary because it had sake in it instead of vodka. It was advertised as being spicy and there was a slight kick, but not spicy like I would want. All Bloody Maries should be somewhat spicy, so if you are advertising spicy, it better be VERY spicy! It basically tasted like there was Tobasco sauce in there and no other spices to add some special flavor!

The boys both ordered the Kalimotxo, which did not sound very appetizing by description, since it was red wine and Coca-Cola. It wasn't really my type of drink, but the boys seemed to love it!

Bloody Mariko, Cucumber Cooler, Kalimoxto

Me enjoying my Cucumber Cooler

Now onto the food!

Brunch Menu

For brunch we had to order the Chicken & Waffles since that is one of their signature dishes, and we saw it on Triple D! The Chicken & Waffles were decent, but not the best I have ever had. It is hard to live up to the Chicken & Waffles sandwich I recently had at the Pullman Kitchen, because of the combination of flavors of everything all being in one bite! At Pies'n'Thighs the chicken was nicely fried, tender, and moist, but didn't have a major flavor. I would have liked the batter on the chicken to be more seasoned to give it more of an exciting, zesty flavor. The waffles were buckwheat waffles that were very tasty, but I would have liked them to be a little crispier. They were topped with cinnamon butter and strawberry jam, which was a nice sweet touch. However, I would have also loved regular syrup on the dish to compliment the chicken since chicken and syrup are always a good team! All in all, not the most impressive Chicken & Waffles I have ever had.

Chicken & Waffles

For our second dish, we ordered the Rob Evans, which consisted of "sausage gravy" with egg and cheese inside of a homemade biscuit. This dish was a winner! I wasn't sure what to expect when I read the description of the dish having "sausage gravy", but I was pleasantly surprised and very happy with this dish. The sausage had a nice peppery flavor which went really well with the creamy gravy and cheese. The egg was cooked to perfection with the perfect texture, and the biscuit acted as a way to soak up all the gooey goodness! This dish is one I would definitely return to Pies'n'Thighs for!

Rob Evans

We ordered a side of grits, which no one at the table was impressed with. It was pretty bland and lacked in flavor in every way. Not even the cheese or the red pepper topping could bring excitement to this side. This dish needed more butter, texture, and seasoning.

Side of Grits

Dessert Menu

Even though we were all full, we couldn't leave Pies'n'Thighs without ordering pie! It would be sacrilegious to go to a restaurant with the word pie in the name and not order one!

Amazing Pie Display

We decided to order the Candy Bar Pie for the table to share, which was a special for the day. It was layers of shortbread, brownie, and almond nougat, in a chocolate shell. The waiter described this as a snicker pie, so we all knew you couldn't go wrong! The Candy Bar Pie arrived at the table and we all were drooling. It was better than described, since when I think of Candy Bar Pie, I think of the one I had at Momofuku, and this one was much better than that! The shortbread crust was crispy and soft like a cookie, just what you want on your pie! The brownie was as fudgy as can be, while the almond nougat was creamy, sweet, and crunchy! The outer shell of chocolate melted in your mouth and acted as shield to keep this gooey goodness all together in one piece. I may need to pre-order this pie next year for my birthday, because I may be dreaming about it till then!

Candy Bar Pie - Special of the Day

Im in Heaven!

I would rate my experience at Pie'n'Thighs as good, not excellent. The drinks, Chicken & Waffles, and grits were not the best, but the Rob Evans and the dessert were unfathomably delicious! I also love the chill atmosphere and unique character of this place with most of the tables and chairs being made out of old desks from a school. Next time I am out in Williamsburg, I may have to return for a Rob Evans and Candy Bar Pie!

Our nice window seat!

Serena's Wine Bar: A lovely new addition to the UES!

My boyfriend and I were very excited to see Serena's Wine Bar (1268 2nd Ave.between 66th and 67th St.) open up not far from our apartment. We feel that a good, traditional wine bar is hard to come by these days with the abundance of mixology and craft beer places opening, so this was a pleasant surprise. Serena's is a bright and airy traditional wine bar, with the standard charcuterie/cheese platters, flatbreads, panini,  salads, and tapas that we have all come to know and love. It's the simple things in life that we cherish. 

Serena's is quite affordable and offers a happy hour special everyday, which unfortunately I cannot remember the deal since I did not go during happy hour, but I recall it's a good one! 

We went during the afternoon on a holiday weekend and the refreshing atmosphere was exactly what we needed after walking around the city on a hot day. The service was not the fastest service I have ever received, but neither of us was in any rush, and figured they were short handed due to the holiday. 

As per usual, we ordered a selection of small plates to share to try a smorgasbord of things. 

Fresh Burrata Mozzarella - Heirloom tomatoes, roasted peppers, olives, basil, arugula 

The fresh burrata was served beautifully, with it being presented on top of a bed of arugula, and surrounded with tomatoes, roasted peppers, olives, and sprinkled with balsamic vinegar. I loved the addition of the peppers and the arugula to this dish, since normally it is served with only tomatoes. The presentation made it into a salad that I would consider ordering in the future to eat as a salad, rather than a shared appetizer. The burrata was tasty and creamy, however I like burrata extra creamy! The best burratas are the ones that ooze and basically fall apart the second you stick a fork in. Even though this one was more of the consistency of mozzarella with a burrata center it was still very delicious!

Stuffed Grape Leaves

The grape leaves were delicious! I am very picky with grape leaves, because when done wrong, they can be VERY wrong. These grape leaves were the perfect consistency, with tons of flavor, and spices packed inside. This dish was also served with a beautiful presentation with tomatoes, arugula, and lemons accompanying it. Everything just seemed so fresh and healthy with the additions of vegetables and arugula on the platter:) These first two dishes made me feel less guilty about the charcuterie and cheese platter that was to come...

Crunchy Baguette Served with Charcuterie and Cheese

The charcuterie and cheese platters were either 3 for $12 or 5 for $18, all mix and match, which I thought was a great deal! I love when you have the ability to choose whatever you want on your platter in any combination. The platter was served with fresh baguette slices, and also some pumpernickel style bread with grapes, jam, and mustard to accompany the platter (I unfortunately did not take a picture of the pumpernickel, jam, and mustard platter!)

Mix & Match Cheese and Charcuterie - 5 for $18

We ordered a combination of prosciutto di Parma,  bresaola, goat cheese, camembert,  and asiago cheese which we were given a bountiful helping of each! The cheeses were very fresh and of great quality, and the meats were additionally very fresh and delicious! My boyfriend accidentally dropped his whole slice of goat cheese on the floor (slippery little sucker) as soon as the platter came to our table, and the waiter was very accommodating in bringing him another goat cheese to make up for his casualty.
We were given plenty of time to enjoy our food and drink our wine and were not rushed through our meal, which I loved. Serena's has a more European feel in that way, where you are given the time to enjoy your food and wine at your own leisurely pace.
The wine list is a little lacking in  variety of choices, but every type of wine is offered and at moderate pricing. I enjoyed the wine I ordered and felt that the waiter was helpful in making the right choice.
I definitely plan to return to this gem of a spot because of the lovely atmosphere, service, great basic food, and location! Being at Serena's makes me really appreciate wine bars for their basic food and great experience. I hope to check out their happy hour next!

Cotta: Amazing Artisanal Pizza on the UWS!

We were looking for a good place to eat on the UWS for a last minute dinner with friends after happy hour.  Friends who used to live in the neighborhood suggested we try Cotta (513 Columbus Ave.), and I am so glad we listened to their suggestion!
The ambiance of the place is cute and romantic, but also good for groups. We were able to eat outside since it was a nice night, but the inside is also very warm and inviting with exposed brick and wood accents!

Arancini - risotto balls of the day 

We started with the arancini, or risotto balls, which are one of my favorites Italian specialties. You can't go wrong with a fried ball stuffed with rice, cheese, peas, and meat. These little balls packed a lot of flavor into a little surface area. They were nice and crispy on the outside, while heavenly creamy on the inside. Dipping them into the marinara sauce added to the flavor by offsetting the creaminess with the garlicky, tart tomato flavor. MMM MMM good!

Baked Ricotta with foccacia

The baked ricotta that was served with foccacia bread for dipping was also a winning appetizer! The ricotta was so flavorful and so creamy with the added spices and oil combined to create such an amazing flavor! This was one of those dips that we had to practically lick the bowl clean; it was that good!

Brussels Sprout Pizza - mozzarella, brussel sprouts, pancetta, and parmigiano

For the meal, we ordered two very different types of pizzas to share for the table. The Brussels sprout pizza,  is a white pizza, with mozzarella, brussel sprouts, pancetta, and parmigiano reggiano. It was very gluttonous and savory. I would have never thought that brussel sprouts and pizza would go well together, but they definitely did. It was a very nice addition to the pizza, which I see myself having in the future! The bitter flavor of the brussel sprouts combined with the salty flavor of the pancetta, and the creamy mozzarella was a great combination. The pizza crust was nice and crispy, while still maintaining some doughiness that I love in pizza.

Parma Pizza - mozzarella, arugula, proscuitto & parmigiano

For our second pizza, we selected the Parma Pizza. It has mozzarella, arugula, proscuitto, and parmigiano. The arugula was very fresh and crispy, while the proscuitto was the perfect level of saltiness to offset the creaminess of the mozzarella and parmigiano. The pizza had the perfect level of marinara sauce on it to add to the flavor, while not being too saucy. The only downfall was that the proscuitto was not cut with the rest of the pizza and was laid on top, so we had to cut it ourselves. But all in all, a delicious pie! 

I definitely would recommend checking this place out for pizza, especially if on the UWS. It's good to know you don't have to travel all the way to the East Village or West Village for fresh artisanal pizza. 

The Pullman Kitchen: Excellent Happy Hour and Life Changing Sandwiches!

After walking by The Pullman Kitchen (959 2nd Ave at 51st St.) and noticing the newly renovated interior  with the bar area being more prominent, I decided to finally give it a try. The new layout was much more inviting than the previous layout since the bar was moved closer to the front and it now seemed more of a place to hang out rather than just eat.

The happy hour deals at The Pullman Kitchen were also pretty unbeatable for midtown. They offer and extra long happy hour from 11AM- 7PM with $5 select draft beer, $5 house wine, and $5 appetizers (mini classic sliders, chilequiles, and tater tots). Another plus is the crowd is more mature, so don't expect to see the Turtle Bay clientele here! 

The wine for happy hour was served in a personal carafe which was nice because the portions were correct and allowed us to pour into our glasses at our own pace. It was definitely a nice personal touch. 

For the appetizers we ordered the mini classic sliders, and also the chilequiles. 

Mini Classic Sliders

The mini classic sliders were not what I was expecting from the name, but we were pleasantly surprised by what we received. They were a miniature version of the Pullman Classic Sandwich, which was a grilled cheese sandwich with NY sharp cheddar, beefsteak tomatoes on Pullman bread sliced into 4 pieces for sharing. My favorite part was the serving of pickles in the center, which were nice to put inside each piece of the sandwich. I liked that this appetizer was easy to share, and also pretty light on the stomach leaving room for more food :) It wasn't the most exciting appetizer, but sometimes you can just never go wrong with the classics.

Chilequiles

The chilequiles appetizer was also something I was very surprised by. I have to admit that I had no idea exactly what they were. I solely based my decision to order them on seeing a food truck prepare them on a show on the Food Network. Ever since then I have wanted to try them, and I finally got my opportunity! When we received them,  they looked very different from what I saw in the TV show. We loved them regardless! They were soggy tortilla chips covered in melted queso Oaxaca cheese with roasted tomatillo salsa verde. What a concept! I loved how the chips were completely covered in salsa and cheese. This was more of a fork kind of meal rather than a dip. I do wish that it was served with extra tortilla chips to dip into the gooey queso. I personally love Huevos Rancheros for brunch, so this appetizer was definitely a winner for me since it was similar in texture to the soggy chips in Huevos Rancheros! It had so much flavor, with the creamy cheese and spicy salsa! I loved how the creaminess from the cheese complimented the spice so perfectly. The lightness of the sliders was made up for in this dish since it was much heavier!
My only complaint about happy hour was that the food took forever to come out in a not so crowded restaurant. We loved happy hour there so much that we soon returned for lunch and it was life changing!

Chicken & Waffles

After reading about the chicken & waffles sandwich on Yelp, I had to try it! I have had standard chicken & waffles before and was never the biggest fan, but the Pullman Kitchen's Chicken & Waffles is the most unique I have ever seen. It is buttermilk fried chicken pieces, pepperjack cheese, and Vermont maple syrup inside of cornbread waffles, which created a sandwich! This combination was unreal and life changing, ...I can't stop talking about how amazing this sandwich was! I am already looking to return to the Pullman Kitchen for another. The spiciness of the pepperjack cheese was offset with the sweetness of the Vermont maple syrup, which were both soaked up with the tender and juicy buttermilk chicken. Everything about this sandwich was amazing; except for the calorie count I am sure! The sandwich was paired with a pickle and of course waffle fries to add to the waffle theme :) The waffle fries were very tasty, crispy, and fresh!

The Slow & Low Sandwich

The Slow & Low Sandwich

The second sandwich we shared was the Slow & Low sandwich which was slow cooked brisket, house made bread and butter pickles, chipotle ketchup, and horseradish cheddar all served on sourdough bread. We had the option to pair the sandwich with salad and I think it was a good choice based on the rest of our meal :)
The brisket was very meaty and tender and there was a lot of it! This was a man's sandwich, packed full of meat and pickles and messy as can be! I had to eat it with a fork and knife, but I didn't mind because it was worth every bite and every napkin. The pickles gave the sandwich a nice crunch and also added some freshness to the otherwise savory sandwich.

Roasted Beet Salad

I wasn't sure what my friend, who is Gluten Free would eat here, because of all the scrumptious sandwiches on the menu, but the waitress advised they get a lot of gluten free clientele and could handle it! She ordered the Roasted beet salad, which looked very good! The salad had two types of beets on it, which added different flavor and also beautiful presentation to the salad, and was served over a very good helping of arugula, shaved fennel, and goat cheese with balsamic vinaigrette. No fear, the Pullman Kitchen can serve delicious healthy food too!
I will definitely be returning here for happy hour, lunch, and even dinner! Next on my list is brunch, or perhaps completing their challenge of eating their "Grilled Beast of Midtown East" in one sitting! The Grilled Beast of Midtown East is a grilled cheese sandwich consisting of: fried chicken, bacon, ham, melted pepperjack, cheddar and muenster cheese, kale, tomatoes, spicy cherry peppers, and two cornbread waffles drizzled with maple syrup between two pieces of grilled sourdough. It comes with a pile of roasted fingerling potatoes and house pickles, which all equals 5 pounds of food! Can you win the challenge?!!

Socarrat Paella Bar: Paella done to perfection!

When my boyfriend's parents suggested having a last minute Sunday dinner at Socarrat (953 2nd Ave.), I was very happy, since I was there for Valentine's Day and remembered that it was the best paella I had ever had! I've been craving it since!
It was nice going there on a Sunday night because it wasn't overly crowded. We had hoped to get a table upstairs to muffle the sound from the bar area, but unfortunately the upstairs was closed. Instead they seated us as far as possible from the bar area.

The bartenders and waitresses did not waste any time on offering us their signature red sangria, which was the perfect balance of sweet and dry that made us all wanting more all night long. To be honest,  I did not leave Socarrat 100% sober, as this stuff was delicious and potent! 

For appetizers we ordered a selection of tapas to share, all which were very interesting and different from each other. Socarrat has an extensive tapas menu with a variety of dishes. They were all very easy to share in a group since the portions were large enough for 5 people rather than 2 people like most places.

Coles de Bruselas - Brussel Sprouts, raisins, and mint yogurt

We started with Cole de Bruselas, which are charred brussel sprouts seasoned with spices and topped with raisins and a little mint yogurt mixed in. Luckily, the dish was not overloaded with raisins since I don't like raisins, and it was easy for me to pick around them. The spices gave the brussel sprouts tons of flavor with a little bit of a kick. The mint yogurt added a light, refreshing flavor to offset the spices. The collection of flavors in this dish was mouth watering delicious.

Gambas al Aijillo - Shrimp in garlic olive oil and guindilla pepper

The Gambas al Aijillo, which is shrimp in garlic olive oil was excellent, I could eat it every day. There were chunks of garlic floating around in the olive oil that I couldn't help but eat. This is one of those dishes that the bad breathe is worth every bite of garlic, because who wants to avoid the garlic? Not me! When the shrimp was all gone, we used some bread to dip into the garlic sauce,  every ounce of the garlic olive oil had to be eaten!

Tocino con Sandia - Grilled pork belly, watermelon & micro-greens 

The Tocino con Sandia, is grilled pork belly over a slice of watermelon was a very interesting concept. I had never even considered pairing these two items together in a dish, and we all really liked it! It added a nice light summer taste, to a dish that was already full of heavy, juicy pork belly! The mixing of the sweet melon with the savory pork was a winning combination. The pork was lightly seasoned with sweet and flavorful barbecue sauce, and grilled to the perfect consistency so that each bite of pork was tender and oozing with flavor.

Pulpo a La Gallega - Charred octopus, potatoes, and pimenton olive oil

The Pulpo a La Gallega, is charred octopus wrapped around potatoes seasoned with pimenton olive oil. Pimenton is the Spanish name for paprika, which is used in most Spanish dishes, especially over meats and eggs. This dish was beautiful in presentation and amazing in flavor! The octopus was charred perfectly, and every bite was meaty and very pleasing to my palate. The pimenton added just the right amount of spice, while the creamy texture of the potatoes added textural depth to the dish.

Cordero Paella - Lamb, short ribs, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli 

We originally planned to order two paellas to share for five people, which was more than enough! Since my boyfriend and his father are both allergic to mushrooms, we made sure to ask the waitress which paellas had mushrooms in them, especially in the sauces. The waitress helped us select two paellas that she assured us we would be safe ordering.
Our first paella, the Cordero Paella, had lamb, short ribs, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli in it. I noticed as I was eating this delicious dish, that there were actually tons of mushrooms in it, and the sauce seemed to be of a mushroom base as well! This was deeply upsetting since we specifically had spoken to the waitress about this. Luckily, my boyfriend and his father had not actually tasted the dish yet when we noticed this. We therefore, had to order a third paella for us that was mushroom free. The girls all loved the Cordero and were very happy we were able to have it anyway since it was very hearty with all the meat and also very creamy due to the mushroom based sauce. The lamb and short ribs were very tender and just shredded easily with a fork. The charred brussel sprouts and broccoli also made this dish for me, since I loved burnt veggies. Also, the bottom of the pan had very burnt rice stuck to it, which was amazing! I found myself literally picking at the bottom of the pan with my spoon at the end to make sure every drop of this paella was eaten.

Langosta Paella - Lobster, calamari, shrimp & scallops 

The Langosta paella had lobster, calamari, shrimp and scallops in it, which is the ultimate seafood lovers' paella! I didn't love this paella as much as the Cordero because it  had more of a red sauce base, which didn't taste as savory to me, but it was still very good. I loved the peas that were floating around in it, because it added some textural excitement and also a little nutrition to this dish :) There was a generous amount of seafood, and I especially loved the lobster claws! I do wish there was a little more lobster in the dish,because then we all would have been able to get a claw :)

Socarrat Paella - Chicken, beef, calamari, shrimp, bass fish, cuttlefish, mussels, clams, and green beans

The Socarrat Paella was the third paella we ordered so that the boys at the table could have a second type of paella to try, and also so they didn't leave hungry. The Socarrat had a similar sauce to the langosta, which was more of a red base. It had chicken, beef, calamari, shrimp, bass fish, cuttlefish, mussels, clams, green beans, and peppers in it. If you want a little bit of everything, this is your dish! I am still very partial to the Cordero, since that one was a whole other level of tastiness from the other two paellas we had.
At the end of the meal,  we were all very impressed with the quality of the paellas and were definitely stuffed to the brim. When our check came, the waitress had charged us for all three paellas, which we believe was not the right thing to do, since we would not have ordered three paellas if she had guided us correctly when we first ordered. When I said something to her, she fixed the bill to give us half off of the paella. This was still disappointing since it was not our fault and we still would not have ordered a third paella. When I spoke to her a second time about this, she corrected the bill by removing that paella all together. Thank goodness!
I definitely recommend Socarrat if you want good paella. It is good for groups, and also good for dates since there is nothing more romantic than sharing food on a date! I have had other paella in the city, and this one is by far the best!