So while the three of us have varying tastes in favorite restaurants/meals/foods, there is one thing we all agree on - tapas is one of our favorite experiences. I think its the ability to try different foods, textures, and tastes all in little bites. So when we had a large group to cook for, we agreed without a blink of an eye that a tapas night was in order. And included in our guests of honor were our favorite team from Harry's Wine! (Many thank you's to William, Patrick, Janice, Christelle, and Greg for not only joining us and being fantstic company but also supplying all the wines!!!)
So a little forewarning. No matter how much we tried to plan in advance (I'm living off take-out for the rest of the week because I don't want to see the inside of a kitchen until next Sunday), we made a few mistakes. We dropped plates, forgot about things in the oven, and as the wine glasses were refilled our picture quality got worse. But that's ok... 9 people, 16 dishes, and over 15 empty bottles of wine later - we consider the evening a success.
COCKTAIL HOUR
Cocktail - Lemon Basil Martini
Muddled basil, vodka, lemon seltzer, ginger ale, fresh lemon juice
These were all equally delicious. Serrano Ham is a very salty and cured and looks like prosciutto. However it paired well with the light melon and was used in lieu of bacon for the figs. However, the figs were the big winner of the cocktail hour!
THE TAPAS
Okay, so we didn't get pictures of everything, however we may find some later, so check back for more pictures.
Pork Tenderloin Slices over Crostini with Manchego Cheese
Fried Calamari in Balsamic Sauce
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| Roasted Mushroom and Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppers |
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| Roasted Cauliflower and Manchego Handpie (A burnt one - forgot to photo the 2nd batch) |
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| Cold Calamari Salad (Told you the picture quality improves with each bottle of wine) |
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| Balsamic Glazed Fried Calamari |
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| Garlic Shrimp |
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| Chorizo and Figs (I'd say we're about 3/4 of the way through the wine bottles at this point) |
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| Beef Empanada |
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| Ham and Manchego Croquettes |
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| Pork Tenderloin Crostini (This photo is only included to show that we really did burn a lot last night... rookie mistakes) |
So let's review. Everything (when not burnt) was delicious, however there were some favorites as well as some adjustments I'd like to point out. The roasted mushrooms were a big hit, but obviously we didn't follow the exact recipe and stuffed them in baby bell peppers. (Becuase they are so cute!) We roasted about 30 min at 350. We baked the manchego and cauliflower empanadas, but we deep fried the beef empanadas. The garlic shrimp were good, but I was looking for a thicker, richer sauce to have it in. (Looks like we'll be visiting Jamie over at La Paella for some trade secrets on that one.) The chorizo and figs were delicious... can't wait to cook that one again!
DESSERT
I realize at this point we have an odd obsession with panna cotta. I promise it stays off the menu for a while. However this recipe was the best we've made so far when it comes to taste and texture. Let me point out some mistakes and the quick fixes, though. We originally made the panna cotta in mini-muffin tins in hopes that everyone would have little individual panna cotta. Unfortunately, it did not "slide out" of the muffin tin at all, and we ended up scooping it into little shot glasses instead. The flan was delicious, although purists may turn up their nose because it does have cream cheese in it. (We halved the cream cheese, though.) We did make those in muffin tins as well, but when removing them from the pan, a lot of caramel stuck to the bottom. (Hence rum glazed bananas to hide it!) Overall - both delicious.
WINES
Please visit the link above and check out what they are all about! And if you're ever in the area on a Saturday afternoon, swing by Harry's for a free wine tasting. (Tell them the blog sent you!) Harry's -you completely outdid yourselves... we weren't worthy of such spectacular wines.
There were so many delicious wines and these are in no particular order...
Flor de Raim Cava Brut
A fantastic way to start the evening with a smooth and brilliant sparkling wine!
2011 Monte Castrillo Rosado
A dry rose with deep cherries and fruit but a dry mineral finish.
2009 Petalos Bierzo
Wine Spectator - 93/100
Slightly smoky with well-integrated flavors of mineral, wild berry, and fresh herbs.
2009 Tinto Pesquera Crianza
Wine Advocate - 93/100
Smooth and lush with a dark fruit bouquet and aromas of vanilla, fallen leaves and spices.
2010 Abad Dom Bueno Godello
Wine Advocate - 91/100
A fantastic and crisp white with no oakiness and a clean minerality paired with citrus and pear.
2009 Maurodos Prima Toro
Wine Advocate - 90/100
Earthy minerals, espresso, truffles and blackberry with a lovely dense finish.
2005 Ordonez, Jorge Malaga Old Vines Moscatel
Wine Advocate - 94/100
2009 Tinto Pesquera Crianza
Wine Advocate - 93/100
2010 Abad Dom Bueno Godello
Wine Advocate - 91/100
A fantastic and crisp white with no oakiness and a clean minerality paired with citrus and pear.
2009 Maurodos Prima Toro
Wine Advocate - 90/100
Earthy minerals, espresso, truffles and blackberry with a lovely dense finish.
2005 Ordonez, Jorge Malaga Old Vines Moscatel
Wine Advocate - 94/100
A superb dessert wine with rich flavors of honey and a bouquet of lime, mineral, and tropical aromas.
So overall, tapas night was a success. We enjoyed it immensely and look forward to having everyone over again. (But maybe something like firing up the grill and doing burgers instead... much easier.) Once again, thank you very much to those who joined us!
Next Week - Cinco de Mayo
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