Barcelona, Spain: Tapac 24

We almost gave up looking for this place. Tapas generally are like small portions of appetizers which people eat whilst they drink. We had tried tapas in a couple of restaurants and bars and they typically were pretty much the standard fare. I didn’t like it and S wasn’t crazy about them either. But we still ordered them nonetheless simply because that’s a big part of Spain, their TAPAS. So we came across this joint in our Spain Bible and it sounded gastronomical. It didn’t sound like the typical Tapas we had been having. The book mentioned “truffled grilled cheese sandwich of mozarella and Iberian ham” and we knew, WE HAD TO FIND THIS PLACE. We walked A LOT but believe me, it was worth it. We were kicking ourselves for not checking the place out earlier so we could have it more instead of only discovering it on our last day in Barcelona. Don’t get me wrong, TAPAC 24 is not located in an isolated area, in fact it’s pretty much in the middle of the shopping district, we just had a tough time finding it. But when we did….Mmmm..everything there was delicious.

When we first arrived, there was a slight queue but we were quickly seated. The entire place was bustling with activity. It felt really lively and everyone was just sitting, enjoying great company with good food and wine/champagne. It felt terrific just being there. S and I were seated at the counter and the waitress very kindly translated the SPECIALS menu for us. They had an English regular menu but the SPECIALS menu was in Spanish. She was patient and helpful. Thanks to her, we made good decisions and ordered all the right food. It was really YUMMY. It was gourmet styled tapas if you ask me.

As usual we ordered our wine/beer, then we feasted. I ordered my usual caprese and I was delighted to find that it was prepared similarly to the one at Valentino’s. The cheese was nice and fluffy and the basil/pesto was done perfectly. The cherry tomatoes were very sweet and as a whole the dish was absolutely amazing. Mmm….just thinking about it makes me wish I could taste it again!!

We saw another table order mushrooms and they looked mouth-watering, literally. And so we ordered the same. Prepared with garlic, the mushrooms not just looked good but tasted awesome as well. ooooh I miss Spain…a MUST try if you ever head down to TAPAC 24. What sets the tapas here apart from your regular fare. You can taste the grill and the garlic. Mmmm…it’s like mushroom “escargots”.

We ordered some beef cappacio-like thing too which when served reminded me of my Valentine’s dinner with S in 2009. The way the meat was served and its preparation was very similar. This was very tasty although a tad rare for my liking. Still the presentation and the flavour of it won me over as a fan.

Now here come’s the prize. Although a simple sandwich, this is the highly recommended Truffled Grilled Cheese Sandwich. The bread was soft yet crisp. It was thin and went extremely well with the cheese, ham and TRUFfLES!! I am not a fan of bread, but I loved this sandwich! It was very palatable and you could taste the hint of truffles with every bite. Absolute heaven.

Many places serve this tomato bread which I don’t really fancy but S loves it. They essentially cut the tomatoes and rub the juices over the bread. After which, they toast it. Very simple but obviously yums to S who orders it every single time.

 

S and I were really regretful that we discovered this place so late. It’s one of those places that you would just go back over and over. The prices are reasonable, service is fast and friendly. And the ambience is casual, inviting and warm.

Love the idea of the open kitchen. The place is unpretentious and really just what it is – a good time and good food. CHEERS!

Tapac 24

Carrer de la Disputacio 269

93-488-09-77

Opens Monday – Saturday, 8am – midnight

Metro: Tetuan

Rio Grande in Seville

Although it was recommended in the book, S and I actually didn’t pick this restaurant because of extensive homework done. We were highly recommended by our hotel concierge to check this lovely place out and it turned out to be one of our best meals in Spain and our best meal in Seville.

Of the 3 cities we visited (Madrid, Seville and Barcelona), Seville is the most traditional. In fact it looks like a small town and you barely see any sky scrapers around. In fact, I think at a distance we only came across 4 towers and even those weren’t near the area we were at. Perhaps there is a more cosmopolitan side to Seville, but S and I liked it that it was more laid back, more personable and intimate. I remember being surprised that the people here actually practice siesta. At 2pm in the afternoon, many shops were actually closed. It’s quite interesting actually. I felt like it was the afternoon of Chinese New Year Eve in Singapore. That’s probably the only time I see most of Orchard Road closed as people rush home to prepare for the Reunion Dinner.

So anyway, the Rio Grande is about 10 minutes walk away from our hotel. Situated at the bank of the river, the view is magnificent. And we were blessed by such a glorious day that just looking straight ahead, was like looking at a portrait. The sky was a beautiful shade of blue and there were a few clouds in the sky. The view from the restaurant was literally scenic to the point of wonder and awe. Facing us on the opposite side was an old building which we later realised housed a tradional Flamenco restaurant which we were to have dinner the next night. Beside it, was a circular stadium used as a bullfighting ring. Bull fights in Seville are held every Sunday so try to plan your trip. S and I didn’t manage to catch any bull fights and we were sorely disappointed. Bull fights are now illegal in Barcelona, so don’t bank on watching yours there.

On to the food. First, let me just say that we were thoroughly impressed that our waiters could speak English. He spoke it fluently and understood us perfectly. Service was also impeccable.

We started off with an interesting ice cocktail that was supposed to help cleanse our taste buds. It was yummy…*slurp* Very refreshing too! They also served us some small stuff that tasted like very delicious fried crab/fish cakes.

Thereafter we had our appetizer. I ordered a Gozpacho which was extremely fresh and pretty good although I think the one at Madrid still tops the charts for the best Gozpacho I have had.

For our main course, S ordered the hake which is a common fish in Spain and it was delicious. I am not too sure how they prepared it but whilst it seemed lightly flavoured, it had a very nice after-taste, and what it was they used to make the sauce, it went very well with the fish meat chosen.

I had the pork which was very tasty (and I don’t like pork usually). I like the way they combine different flavours into a single dish. The meat was tender and the pork wasn’t smelly. The portions served were just right.

As you guys know, I am not a desserts person. These were recommended by our waiter and they were very good indeed. Not too sweet and not too heavy. If it’s anything to go by, we finished it even though we so full by the end of the meal!

S majorly misses Spanish coffee. They come in a small cup and they smell and taste really good. Not like an espresso but really just coffee in a small cup that’s fragrant and relaxing.

We ended off with coffee and tea. Not to mention the wines we drank throughout. I love it how wine is a standard at every meal and how affordable (cheap) it is in Spain. Did I mention how I love getting happy high in the afternoons especially accompanied by a good meal and S of course..Mmmm…I miss Spain. Think this has got to be the first time I have had such bad withdrawal symptoms from a holiday!

Rio Grande (Andalusian)

Calle Betis s/n

95-427-39-56

Daily 1-4pm, 8pm-midnight

Where to Dine in Spain – Madrid: Taberna del Alabardero

First, let me give credit to the guide book that S and I heavily depended on during our time in Spain. Just before our trip, S had just flown to the States for business (he literally touched down the morning of the day we flew to Spain!) and there, he purchased this book called Frommer’s Spain 2010 with a Foldout Map. The book recommended places to stay, dine, and visit. All chronologically according to location and price range. There were also the usual tips of what to expect in terms of prices for transportation, some simple Spanish etc. I must commend this book for its detailed yet concise descriptions. It was an easy read and reference. Should you be traveling to Spain free and easy like we did, you might want to grab hold of this book. Even before you start booking your accommodations!

Taberna del Alabardero

S and I had just visited the Royal Palace (which was magnificent by the way) and the Cathedral next to it. We decided to check out this recommended restaurant which was labelled “inexpensive” and in the vicinity of the Royal Palace.

Taberna del Alabardero is a quaint little restaurant with al fresco dining as well as indoors. The front of this cosy restaurant is a bar area which is filled with people standing around with drinks in their hands and munching tapas. According to the guide book, this place was popular for its wide selection of tasty tapas.

We were brought further in to the restaurant seating area which was cheery and had a family feel to it. The man who served us (thankfully) could speak English relatively well and he graciously passed us ENGLISH menus (some places only have them in Spanish which makes it quite a pain to order). The seating area was brightly lit and many pictures lined the walls. There was also a huge mirror in the centre of the room. Something I noticed in Spain is that all the mirrors are like show pieces. They are extremely clear and sharp (if I make sense).

We started off with a half bottle of Rioja (a common Spanish Red Wine which is so cheap yet tastes way better than many of our house pours). I also ordered a glass of Sangeria which was extremely refreshing. We decided to order the 2 most popular tapas dishes just to try as well as a famous Spanish appetiser – Gozpacho. As it turns out (and we find out more over the course of our trip), S and I aren’t fans of traditional tapas but rather the gastronomical tapas (you will see in my review of Tapas 24 later on). The Gozpacho on the other hand was the BEST I had in Spain. And believe me, I ordered this dish at quite a number of places. The Gozpacho here was not only refreshing, the cold soup was light and not too thick. It was also served with freshly chopped onions, green pepper, crotons, cucumbers, tomatoes. Excellent. I loved it.

For our main course, S ordered the better dish. Beef Cappacio with Shaven Foie Gras, Truffles, some shaved Parmesan and Wild Rockets. It’s the ultimate combination. I loved it! My favourite Beef Cappacio of all time had been the one served at Dozo in Singapore, but this has since been replaced by the one here. It was HEAVENLY. Mmmmm…wish I could taste it again!!!

I ordered a steak which frankly was very tasty as well. My beef was nicely grilled and very juicy. It was served with sea salt which I later realised was rather common in Spain.

For dessert, we were recommended some chocolate thing served with a caramel structure and coffee ice cream. It was actually pretty good and it looked incredible too! Check it out!

This was actually one of our better meals in Spain. Made some dining mistakes here and there. Should you be in Madrid, I highly recommend you to dine here. Now although stated as inexpensive in the book, the main courses here typically range from 18euros to 30euros. Which I guess converted to SGD could be relatively expensive. But it’s pretty worth it for the quality of food. Wine is cheap in Spain so feel free to order! During our stay, we drank wine, tea and coffee everyday. Living the life as they call it.

Taberna del Alabardero

Address: Felipe V no.6 Telephone no.: 91-547-25-77

Open daily from 1pm – 4pm and 9pm to midnight. The nearest Metro station is Opera.

Don Quijote Spanish Restaurant

Nicely tucked amidst a row of shophouses along Lorong Kilat, this Spanish restaurant already has quite a good following. In fact S and I made an effort to check this place out after having been highly recommended by friends. The unassuming restaurant is cosy and intimate. The ambience is quaint with no attempt to be flashy or atas.

Upon entering the restaurant, we were warmly greeted by one of the service staff who introduced us to the menu as well as a History101 of the restaurant and it’s founders. Now, I have a memory of a sponge but one with short retension power, and as this entry is a little short of a month late, I can’t recall what he said!!! S if you are reading this, perhaps some help here?

I’ll have to admit that I am not your most adventurous foodie and I will have to say the menu didn’t exactly entice me. I was frankly at a loss of what to order. I flipped through the menu a couple of times before settling on a steak – medium – and S ordered the fish with pasta (which I was eyeing too). We also had a glass of wine each and sat talking whilst waiting for our food.

Now, I’ll give it that S and I were kinda in a rush that night as we had to pick up some friends, so perhaps that has us a little more impatient than usual. That being said, I must comment that the food took a really long time to be served. Perhaps it’s all in enjoying the company, sipping your wine, and just soaking the chill atmosphere as way of unwinding for the week; but given the timeline we had, I couldn’t quite feel it after the first 15 minutes. There weren’t a lot of people in the restaurant and by the time we got there, most of them were done eating, so it was difficult for me to accept the wait.

Nonetheless, our food finally came and I took my pictures. They looked very appetising and with all the rave reviews at the back of my head, I couldn’t wait to get started.

The first bite into my steak was rather disappointing. In all fairness, the steak was beautifully done. When you cut it open, you literally can see the different colours. The char grilled brown surface, with a lighter shade inside, and the entire middle was just pink. It was very well grilled and the meat was very juicy. Though thick, it wasn’t chunky and in fact, it was very palatable. So what was wrong? I think it was just too bland for my liking. The steak came with a blue cheese dip, which according to S was heavenly. But I am not a blue cheese fan (I know, I know, don’t ask me why I ordered it; I don’t know what I was thinking!), so the dip didn’t really work for me.

S’s pasta on the other hand, I found quite tasty. Not the best I’ve had, and not fantastic, but overall, it had a nice subtle mix of flavours. It came with fish and a generous serving of clams. Pretty good.

We didn’t have time to try the desserts, but on the whole, Don Quijote wasn’t very impressive for me. S says maybe we didn’t order the right dishes. Perhaps. Next time if I do check this place out again, I will be sure to check for dish recommendations. For those who stay around the area and are looking for a quiet nook to just chit chat, wine and dine, Don Quijote is right in the neighbourhood.

 

Don Quijote Spanish Restaurant

#01-09, 17 Lorong Kilat S(598139)
Tel: 6465 1811

http://yum.sg/?component=view_restaurant&restaurant_id=3479

(couldn’t find an official website for the place)