Sangria: two for one tapas at the bar, 5-7

I was leery about trying Sangria. Trendy tapas just didn't appeal to me.

The atmosphere was swank and clubby. I told Mr. Food Nut that it definitely would be a "night out" kinda place on the weekend. At 5pm, no one was there outside of the staff.

Our choices:
Beef Empanadas(instead we were served Chicken and Spinach).
This was not an authentic empanada. Although it was good, toasty and warm, very freshly made, the dough was puff pastry.

Chicken Croquetas
I have no complaint about this dish except to say that I prefer my croquetas fried a little longer to get a deeper color. I'm thinking panko breadcrumbs with fresh parsley surrounded the filling. Also, not very traditional.

Queso de Cabra: goat cheese with tomato sauce
A very generous portion of cheese sprinkled with bread crumbs surrounding a boring crushed tomato base with no flavor outside the tomato. Mr. Food Nut agreed that Iberico does this dish better with a better quality cheese and a more flavorful sauce. This did not stop us from eating the entire thing. It was good enough.

Chile Relleno:
By far the best dish we had. The small green peppers were filled with chorizo and that Mexican cheese I won't attempt to spell, (like the dog).
It was drizzled with a spiced crema.

1/2 pitcher of very good Sangria with lots of alcohol soaked fruit, 4 better than average tapas(though hardly traditional in preparation), and a full stomach.

Total cost for two with tax and tip: $29.

The space is decorated well, but quite modern and more of a "clubby" loud music feel.

I'll go anywhere for a deal. There is no way I would pay full price for these dishes, when M-F, from 5-7, I can get them half-price. I hope this promotion sticks around.

1/2 pitcher of very good Sangria with lots of alcohol soaked fruit, 4 better than average tapas(though hardly traditional in preparation), and a full stomach.

Food Nut,

Is this the place your mentioned where the Sangria is prepared with Vodka?

Too bad, we don't have the Tapas tradition as executed in Spain: buy a drink and get free snacks.

Regards,

No, it is Cafe Laguardia that serves their Sangria with Vodka and a bottled Sangria.

I have no idea how the restaurant SANGRIA makes theirs, with the exception of the possibly brandy-soaked fruit.

That reminds me. The large suburban (I leave out 'soulless' to be nice) corporation I work for has started offering sangria in the vending machines recently. Non-alcoholic sangria flavored carbonated beverage. Bizarre.

Anyone ever had this concoction? I don't think I want to try it.

vegmojo

vegmojo wrote:That reminds me. The large suburban (I leave out 'soulless' to be nice) corporation I work for has started offering sangria in the vending machines recently. Non-alcoholic sangria flavored carbonated beverage. Bizarre.
Anyone ever had this concoction? I don't think I want to try it.

Non-alcoholic sangria-flavored?? If you take out the alcohol, aren't you just left with fruit juice? Or are they including some wine flavoring? Yikes.

I'd buy one just to read the ingredients.

Best,
EC

That was my reaction to non alcoholic Kahlua.Isn't that coffee flavored coffee if you remove the good stuff?

vegmojo wrote:That reminds me. The large suburban (I leave out 'soulless' to be nice) corporation I work for has started offering sangria in the vending machines recently. Non-alcoholic sangria flavored carbonated beverage. Bizarre.

Anyone ever had this concoction? I don't think I want to try it.

vegmojo

I've had it.. they sell it at cub foods and a lot of supermercados and smaller mexican markets.

It's pretty foul.. kind of sickly sweet without any of the acidic bite you get from most other sodas. But apparently some people like it a lot.

And yes, it tastes pretty much like carbonated fruit juice.

-ed

The carbonated sangria is typical Mexican market pop. I don't believe anyone ever intended purchasers to think it is the Spanish alcoholic drink. It basically tastes the way grape pop would (does) taste when the peculiarly northern North American Concord grape is not used.