Carcamusas (Toledo, Spain)

Wandering the streets of the medieval town of Toledo, I walked into a small family restaurant (Café Bar El Almacen) on Plaza Salvador. There were no customers except for the three men who avidly discussed the logistics of using their trucks for the harvest and an older lady who incessantly played an electronic game of chance in the back of the bull-fighter-decorated restaurant.

As is traditionally done in Spain, the restaurant offered a prix-fix lunch menu; an appetizer, a main dish, drink and dessert. I was craving paella, so that was my appetizer. The list of mains featured standard Spanish fare, plus a couple of lesser-known options, Carcamusas and Deer Steak. It turns out that Carcamusas is a traditional dish from Toledo. It's a melange of pork meats (chorizo, loin, etc.) with a few vegetables and served with potato fries and bread (a beef version also exists). The restaurant keeper brought out a bottle of wine and told me to feel free to drink however much I wanted (I had 2 glasses). I finished off the meal with homemade flan.

This was quite a filling and enjoyable meal; nothing fancy, just a good-ol' home-cooked epicurean delight!

Barcelona (New Haven)

I was once again charmed during my second visit to this superbly designed restaurant in downtown New Haven.

The menu includes a variety of tapas, cheeses, hams and wines as well as a few personal dishes and traditional Valencian paella. The ambience can be romantic and mellow, however tables with groups of people are the norm. The music selection is eclectic and enjoyable spanning Iberian Flamenco, Cuban classical son, Brazilian Bossa Nova and spanish slow pop.

The bread is served fresh and warm and is quite memorable. Very few tapas are not outstanding, but my favorites are: Chorizo with Figs, Grilled Hangar Steak, Cauliflower Cazuela, Avocado Salad and Papas Bravas. The dessert menu leaves nothing to be desired; do not miss the Crepas Salguero. I recommend going in a group, ideally 4-6 people and by all means share dishes!