If oil prices are preventing you from traveling or buying those nosebleed-priced tickets to Spain or Argentina, don’t get out that Kleenex and weep. It’s time to look on the bright side of things instead of curling up into a tiny, depressed ball on the floor of your studio.
Remember it’s easy to travel to a new country anytime in New York – with our palates. Virtually every block of the tourist-milling, skyscraper-infested city has a culinary adventure, from Thai to Ethiopian.
La Zarza is the latest stamp in my gastronomical passport book. A tiny restaurant on a corner of 1st Avenue and 10th Street, it highlights an impressive bar with a huge selection of South American and Spanish wines.
After sipping several sangrias and contemplating the fusion of two “culinary sister” countries, Tomas Antelo and Mario Larrea decided to create La Zarza to blend both the food and nightlife of Spain and Argentina. But chef Jorge Rodriguez, formerly of Chimichurri Grill, isn’t impervious to weaving a bit of Middle Eastern flair now and then into the dishes.
La Zarza’s signature appetizer is the Datiles. These little packages of almond stuffed dates are wrapped with Argentinean smoked bacon and served with hearts of palm. The restaurant makes a decent Crocantitos (crispy calamari, served with Argentine honey with a micro greens salad). Although I am not a fan of octopus, La Zarza grills the Pulpo a la Gallega (Spanish octopus) perfectly tender and then accompanies it with a white bean salad and lemon preserves.
Other notable dishes include the Croquetas (almond-crusted goat cheese croquettes) and the Conchitas Cerviche with Bay scallops, salsa verde, avocado and pico de gallo. The slow cooked steaks like the Entrana al Hierro grilled skirt steak, served with a warm chimichurri and grilled asparagus is right on the money.
Whatever palate gives you pleasure, the restaurant’s chief mixologist has your back. The pitcher of white Sangria with the Alamos Sauvignon Blanc and Clerico Del Rey formula (consisting of peach puree and mango rum) with a touch of pineapple finished my hearty meal.
New Yorkers – all you have to do is catch a subway to 14th St. Union Square and walk a few blocks. As for you L.A. folks, well, you figure it out….
La Zarza, 166 First Avenue
New York, NY 10009
212-477-1111
www.lazarzanyc.com