Malaga – "Dios Mio!"
Don't let the discrete and isolated location of this Spanish gem fool you; this is as authentic as it gets. From the menu, the servers and paintings on the wall, you can tell this is straight out of Espana. Malaga is also the name of a port city in Andalusia, southern Spain, on the Costa del Sol of the Mediterranean. The city of Malaga is most well known as the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, but if you want more info about this city, you will have research it on your own. I can simply guide you through the menu of great food I enjoyed last night.
Ever since I moved to New York I have been in search of a great Spanish restaurant; one that will bring back memories of my days studying abroad in Barcelona. Over the past two years, I have searched and searched, with only a select few making the cut. However, each restaurant had certain dishes that sparked my taste buds and provided me with glimpses of that Spanish flavor I miss oh so much. Malaga, on the other hand, had the whole package. Once you step foot into the restaurant, the music, the waiters and the décor sets the scene for a night out in Spain; all of this, while you forget that the streets of New York are only 15 feet away.
TAPAS:
Patatas Bravas
For those unfamiliar with this classic Spanish tapa, it consists of roasted potatoes with a special spicy sauce. This dish brings back some great memories of Spain and getting tapas after class with friends. The potatoes are usually the easy part, but perfecting the sauce is a whole different ball game. My fellow blogger Jordan Isrow, (who has yet to post in recent weeks) can attest that we tried numerous times in our apartment at Noventa y tres de Santalo to perfect our own version of Patatas bravas. The version I enjoyed last night was the best and most authentic I have found in New York. The potatoes were perfectly crisp and steaming when they arrived at the table. The sauce was a little different than what I am accustomed to, but it was on point. It had a contained spiciness that gave you a little kick at first, but then was subdued after that that.
Fried Chorizo with peppers and onions
Chorizo, yet another tapa classic, was done with perfection. Small slices of the spicy sausage served fried to a crisp in olive oil with peppers on onions. It doesn't get much better than that.
Shrimp in Garlic Sauce
As an avid Spanish food lover, I had to try another staple of the Spanish culture to get the full effect. Malaga must have known I was coming, because they were on point again. Small shrimp drenched in olive oil and garlic, with some parsley and basil served in a small ceramic bowl.
ENTREES:
Chicken Villaroy – chicken breast served in bechamel sauce
I realize this doesn't sound like much, but first let me describe it and then you can just imagine how tasty it really is. Each order consists of two individual pieces, which is more than enough for one person. Each piece of poached chicken is completely breaded, but between the breading and the chicken is a "to die for" bechamel sauce, similar to a creamy alfredo sauce. So let's take a step back and go over it once more. Breaded chicken in a creamy sauce….mmmmdelicious.
Mariscada with green sauce
The presentation of this dish reminded me of paella, except, at Malaga, they served the rice on the side. In the old steel pot, were tons of great shellfish; including, scallops, clams, mussels, shrimp, etc. The fish were drenched in a phenomenal green sauce which really completed the dish. The sauce was a mixture of parsley, onions, sherry and tons of garlic. The real way to eat it is to create a base of rice on your plate and cover the rice with sauce, and then top it off with seafood.
All in all, I really enjoyed my dining experience at Malaga as it brought back great memories of my days in Spain. If you love authentic Spanish food or just finding that "hole in the wall" kind of place, look no further than Malaga.
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