Bar Carrera: New York

yum yum yum! this is a teensy little tapas bar, without tables, but two long bars along the wall, exquisitely stocked ALL spanish wine list, with perfect sherries starting at only $4! it's my new favorite tapas spot!! little perfect, authentic spanish bites from well balanced, salty brined manzanilla olives to gambas al aljillo start at only $3.50, prices that should be the norm for tapas.

the beautiful, clean space was perfumed with garlic & flamenco when i walked in & the little bagettes are seemingly fresh baked, although i'm not sure how they'd do it in the tiny little space. in any case, they were soft and tasty, the olive oil was golden & fragrant and each dish was perfect. a leg of pork was displayed on the back bar, complete with the foot attached, and each slice of jamon was cut to order, ensuring freshness and satisfaction with every plate. the bufullo mozzerella was fresh & creamy and the selection of wines was impressive with bottles from basque and many regions that are relatively unknown to serious wine drinkers. bar carrera offers something on that list for everyone, from glasses to bottles that priced as high as $120. desserts are simple, featuring fresh flavors. my friend ordered the strawberry sangria, rich with cognac & nutmeg, as well as the marscapone & strawberry baguette while i opted for a delicious de la frontera sherry (laced with moroccan spices & orange blossom) and paired it with a smooth goat cheese & membrillo

although i've yet to go 2 spain, i've known spanish food for years. this place is highly spiced, highly authentic & highly full of flavor. considering the price and quality of the food here, this is going to be a very popular summer spot for a nosh. the portions arent skimpy, the food here is just as good as boqueria and for a fraction of the cost. save boqueria for the expense accounts, head to bar carrera for true spanish satisfaction.

beacon: orlando, florida

this is the restaurant that inspired this blog.

i had my birthday dinner, although delayed by a few days, at this gem & it was more than worth the wait.

the atmosphere, in a chic, newly renovated orlando downtown space, was elegant & beautiful, with every detail down to the beautiful wallpaper refined. the beautiful decor is welcoming & warm, in shades of cardamom, chocolate & champagne & the menu leaves no question that the chef, duffy (who was sadly not present on this magical night), has thought things through...
we started with the amuse bouche. it's been years since i was brave enough to sample steak tartare, and this appetizer featured not only this surprise, but crabcake, a hickory smoked shrimp salad & a simple, albeit perfect buffulo mozzerella with pan roasted teardrop tomato and basil, dressed with maldon salt & extra virgin olive oil. although i'd made up my mind to skip the tartare, i was glad i didnt, when i discovered it dressed with a rich, white truffle emulsion and a sliver of white, delicate cheese. the amuse bouche was tasty enough that we fantasized about ordering round after round after round...

for the entree, i opted for the gallette of crab & shrimp, which turned out to be a large, flaky crabcake with a few shrimp chopped in, and was accompanied by a succotash like none i'd had before. super sweet kernels of locally grown corn, with tiny pearls of zucchini, carrots, and red pepper, laced, strangely with applewood smoked bacon. the result was strangely not overpowered by the smoke flavor, but were matched brilliantly. the green veggie that came with the dish was delicate, almost like a sea vegetable, but was unfamiliar & even now, i cannot recall the name. the portion of my entree was large enough that i was able to have half of it on my return flight the next day, for THE most elegant & tasty in-flight meal of anyone on the aircraft!!

my pal, dana, opted for the filet mignon, of which i had half, and let me just preface this by saying that i have eaten a LOT of meat in my years of dining and traveling back & forth to Brasil. this was the finest, most exquisitely seasoned, most perfectly cooked piece of beef i have ever encountered. EVER.

sweet desserts were skipped in order to indulge in a cheese plate of humbolt fog blue, a classic humbolt fog and a goat's milk cheddar, with fancy red seedless grapes, smartly sliced in half, along with toasted pecans, and black mission figs. the entire dinner was woven smartly together with a 2003 cabernet from deloach vineyards.

i dont know when i've had a meal that was so good. i'm looking forward 2 many meals at this delicious place!!