Spanish Tapas

Growing up can sometimes mean siblings grow apart...but not my sisters and I. We are still as thick as thieves and even with families of their own, enjoy the occasional sister outing. Last Tuesday my sister Shellyanne and I made plans to sample the offerings of Spain.
We chose Sangria Tapas Bar, located at 95-41 Sutphin Blvd in Jamaica Queens. I've always passed by this place, wondering what the inside and the food was like but never with enough time to stop in and check it out. We met up at 5pm that afternoon and were pleasantly surprised to see the sign outside that said it was happy hour.

There's a most intriguing curved, wooden door that opens to a warm, cozy and romantically lit dining room with a bar to the left. After being seated by the polite hostess, we took a moment to look around and soak it all in. Rich red velvet drapes flowed from the window panels, Medieval chandeliers hung from the ceiling and blue bottles of crisp water were on every table. I liked the pops of color in the decor.
We reached for our menus and made our selections. With a glass of red Sangria in hand, baby black olives and a basket of bread we chatted about life and made plans to have another sister session. 

First up was the Grilled Calamari in an Olive Oil and Garlic Sauce (Homemade Marinara on the side). It was perfection. The fresh parsley brightened up the flavors and it was a pleasure to cut into the perfectly tender and slightly charred squid.

Chorizo Plancha and Pinchos Morunos were served next. The slightly roasted slices of Chorizo were served with crisp Pickled Vegetables. The Sausage was good but could have used a bit more time in the flame. The Vegetables were a delight however and the combination of salty Chorizo and tart Veggies worked well. Pinchos Morunos were tiny Pork Kababs drizzled with Balsamic Vinaigrette andserved on a bed of Mixed Greens. Delicious! Tender Pork Medallions were grilled to perfection. We were savoring the offering before us when 3 golden spheres appeared on a plate carried by our waitress. I love fried food. I can't help it. So showing up with Fried Codfish Fritters made the server my she-ro. The Salted fish was mixed with Potatoes and Fried to gentle gold perfection. A must have if you visit this place.

We decided to share a dessert of Creme Catalana which is much like Creme Brulee. The caramelized sugary top was a delight to crack into, revealing a smooth, silky custard underneath. Not too rich but just right. A good way to end the night.

Thankfully after all this good food I was headed to the gym as all this tasting can do a number on a girl's waistline :)
For great atmosphere, splendid tapas and polite staff, Sangria Tapas Bar gets a solid A. A great date night spot and FYI Happy hour's from 3pm to 6pm and the selections are great.
   

Mangú Anyone? Tasting The Dominican Republic

A chilly, moonlit New York City night found me craving hearty food and big, rich flavors. Feeling a bit lazy, I wanted to stay close to home this time. No 2 or 3 bus rides to find my dinner would do, so I took out my trusty rusty GPS and found a little Dominican (Domincan Republic that is) restaurant less than 30 minutes away.

With plantains on the brain, I arrived at El Rey located at 147-13 Hillside Avenue, Jamaica NY. I was directed to seat myself, as usual I found a little cozy corner and got comfortable. The waitress came over a few minutes later and offered me the menu. While looking it over I couldn't help but be a bit distracted by the men at the bar. I don't need to dine in silence but this was a bit too much noise for me.
Some moments later I  decided on my appetizers. Alcapurrias and Pastelillos made their way to my table in all their golden brown deliciousness. Although I always associated Alcapurrias with Puerto Rico, I was willing to try it the Dominican way. Fried mashed cassavas encased tasty ground beef. It was good but not the best I've had. Next to face the pallet was the Pastelillos. These pastries are quite similar to empanadas and were also filled with tasty ground beef. I really enjoyed the slightly crispy crust and sweet, meaty inside. My compliments to the chef for that offering.

Mangú with Red Sauce, Pernil (Pork-Roasted) with Salad and Tostones rounded out the entree selections. I wasn't quite sure why Mangu (a dish of seasoned mashed green plantians) would be served with a side of Tostones (crispy fried green plantains) but since I am a plantain lover, I couldn't have enough.
The Mangú was delicious. The taste of fresh garlic was wonderful and when the sauce was added to it an even more delicious bite was created. The pork was both tender and crispy. Mild in flavor, it complimented the bold flavors of the mashed plantains and it's savory sauce.

Halfway through the meal, I found myself full and unable to take another bite. The double serving of plantains were my undoing.
It took some time to get my server's attention but when I finally did I paid the bill and made my way home. This little place is good for a quick bite, meal on the go or to catch up on Baseball scores via the tv over the bar.
For good food but average service and an overly loud dining room, El Rey gets a C+ for this trip.