Friday, February 3, 2012

Tasca

I LOVE TAPAS!

I fell in love with Spain after I spent a semester in Valencia. 3 of my favorite things are tapas, paella, and sangria!! Tasca is right around the corner from me and I am a frequent visitor. I love going with a few people, 2 or 3, and ordering a variety of different tapas. I say 2 or 3 people, because if there were more I definetly would not be able to have seconds of my favorite tapas!
Now I do have to say the Sangria here is a little fruity than in Spain but much much much better than most places in Boston that use way too much fruit juice. Also, make sure to ask for the $5 pitchers!! (And $5 bottles of wine on some nights) This is a little secret not everybody knows about.


I love the atmosphere here, its dark, rustic and romantic, reminds me of being in Spain. 

So let's see what haven't I eaten here? .....

First, bring your own dinner rolls. They serve a bread basket with an amazing white bean spread. I've eaten by the spoonfuls when I forget my gf bread, it's that good! It is also accompained by a small plate of fresh Spanish olives, makes me feel like I'm back in Valencia.

The Gambas al ajilo (Sizzling garlic shrimp)  served in a mini skillet and is still sizziling when it arrives at the table. Great flavor but tiny shrimp, even though there were a lot.

I also love the Atun salteado - perfectly prepared slices of rare peppered yellow-fin tuna over a mixed bean ragout in a saffron Dijon ailoi. Not a big fan of the beans but the tuna melts in your mouth.

The duck confit is a stand out. It is a small, petite duck breast and legs that are so juicy and moist, very well seasoned, with a nice size portion of a cider-spiced red cabbage and apples.

Two of my all time favorite Spanish tapas, and staples all across Spain, are the Tortilla Espanola (Spanish Omelette) and Patatas Bravas (fried potatoes in a spicy tomato and garlic aioli. Not the ''Omelette" is nothing like the American omelette. It is full or potatoes and onions and about 3 inches thick.

I could go on and on about every dish, but I won't, I will leave some surprises for you. In addition to the tapas I just raved about I also recommend:
- Jamon Serran and Queso Manchego (Cured Spanish Ham and Cheese)
- Steas Ronan (portabella mushrooms)
- Solomillo
- Brie a la plancha (baked brie, apples and raisin chutney - also one of my favorites)
- Mejillones (mussels) Very Typical of Spain
- Salmon ahumado (smoked salmon - again, I loved this)

For entrees I've tried the Grilled Salmon, cooked to perfection but a little too much sauce, I would ask for it on the side if that is possible. Don't get me wrong, it is good, just too much. And sauteed spinach is one of my least favorite things, and theirs is extra oily (gross). I've also tried their Paella, both the Seafood and Valencian style, which has chicken, chorizo and duck. I prefer the seafood over the meat, the chicken was a bit dry, but the Seafood Paella is out of this world, and huge portion sizes. I love it! Definetly have to get this, it's even big enough to split, especially after eating all those tapas....
 Zarzuela de mariscos (top) and Sefood Paella


Other entrees I recommend:
-Pato asado (roast duck legs)
- Zarzuela de mariscos (seafood in a lobster-tomato broth, bring some bread for dipping!)

So by now you are thinking come on there has to be something she doesn't like! And there is. I did not like the Patatas aioli, it's just a fancy name for a potato salad with garlic mayonaise, onions and capers. Stick to the patatas bravas.

Also dissapointing was the Pulpo Gallega - octopus - a traditional dish from Galicia (Northwestern Spain). This was also one of my favorites in Spain and I was unimpressed by their version; it was a little undercooked and way too oily. I also did not like the Carne tartara (tatar of beef), even though my boyfriend loved it. Rare beef was never my thing anyways.

They also have a 3-course prix fixe "stimulus" deal that is very reasonably priced during the week.


Gluten Free Menu Items


  Ensalada Tasca                                                                                            
Organic greens, tomato, and olives tossed in a red wine vinaigrette. no crutons    
                                   
  Gazpacho   (Chilled piquant tomato and cilantro soup)   No Croutons                 

      Sopa del día        (Homemade soup of the day)   No Croutons                         
             
Pulpo a la Gallega                                                                                       
Octopus served on olive oil sautéed potatoes with smoked Spanish paprika
    
Patatas alioli                                                                                              
Potato salad with garlic mayonnaise, red onions and capers                  

Boquerones                                                                                                            
Marinated fresh Spanish white anchovy filets over tomatoes and red onion                         
 Jamon Serrano y Queso Manchego                                                               
Cured Spanish ham and shaved Manchego cheese, no tomato toasted crostinis                                         
Carne tártara                                                                                             
Tartar of beef tenderloin topped with a wild mushroom and shallot duxelle served with cornichons and chopped egg, no crostini                 

Setas Ronan                                                                                               
Roasted portabella mushrooms with shaved manchego, capers, red onion in a sherry
vinaigrette without roasted red pepper toasts        
    
Pincho de pollo y chorizo                                                                              
Grilled chicken and chorizo skewer with peppers and onion in a spicy chili sauce

Tortilla española                                                                                           
Traditional Spanish potato and onion omelet                                                
        
Gambas al ajillo                                                                                            
Sizzling shrimp in garlic with chili pepper                                            
        
      Asado de cerdo                                                                                             
Char grilled pork loin over a rosemary infused white bean ragout with mushrooms     

Patatas bravas                                                                                              
Fried cubed potatoes in a piquant tomato sauce and garlic aioli   
                                                                                               

Confít de pato                                                                                               
Fall off the bone succulent roasted duck leg served over braised red cabbage   &apples     
        
Solomillo                                                                                                  
Petit filet mignon (3oz) served without a red wine sauce with mushrooms     
                                                 
     Caracoles                                                                                                    
Escargots baked in traditional herbed garlic butter with cognac    
        
Carpaccio de atun                                                                                       
Sesame crusted pan seared tuna over a black bean & mango salsa with wasabi 
aioli 
      
    Atún salteado                                                                                          
    Peppered yellow-fin tuna over a mixed bean ragout in a saffron Dijon aioli     
  
     Brie a la plancha                                                                                                   
    Grilled imported Brie cheese with a homemade savory apple & raisin chutney 
    served without the grilled baguette                 

Mejillones                                                                                                  
Fresh mussels steamed in a white wine tomato broth with garlic and onion, served
without grilled herbed crostinis
      
       Salmón ahumado                                                                                         
Smoked salmon served on a potato pancake with red onion, capers & dill crème fraîche                    

Entrees

Bistec de ternera                                                                                                 
Grilled 12oz top filet steak over garlic mashed potatoes with a red wine jus and creamed spinach (no creamed spinach allowed!)  


Salmón a la plancha                                             
Grilled filet of salmon in a white wine basil sauce over spinach and mashed potato                                   
Paella de mariscos                                                                                                  
Shrimp, scallops, mussels & calamari with saffron rice cooked in a lobster broth (individual portion)

Filete de cerdo al rioja                                                                                         
Dijon mustard and herb crusted roasted pork tenderloin served with a mixed bean ragout and spinach over a scallion potato cake in a red wine shallot reduction     

Pollo al jerez                                                                                                          
Oven roasted boneless breast of chicken stuffed with chorizo, Manchego cheese and spinach without sherry mushroom sauce                                            

Pato asado                                                                                                            
Roast duck legs with braised red cabbage and apples over scallion mashed potato with blackberries  

Filete de buey                                                                                                     
Grilled 10oz Black Angus filet mignon over a scallion potato cake and vegetables no  cognac and green peppercorn sauce   

Zarzuela de mariscos                                                                                              
Shrimp, scallops, mussels & calamari in a zesty lobster and tomato broth without garlic toasted crostinis 


Paella Valenciana                                                                                                       
Chicken, chorizo and duckling in saffron rice with roasted red peppers and peas (individual portion)
    
Pescado del día                                                                                                      
Chef’s daily fresh fish special    (Check with manager about sauce/breading)     



Location: 1612 Commonwealth Avenue  Brighton, MA 02135. Green B line to Washington St. t Stop
Website: http://www.tascarestaurant.com/

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