The National Council of Teachers of English convention was in Chicago, this year, giving me an opportunity to try Mercat a la Planxa, a restaurant associated with Iron Chef Jose Garces.
I opted for the La Mesa de Jose (Chef’s Tasting Menu) with the wine pairings. During a nearly two hour feast, I enjoyed multiple dishes served as 3 courses.
The DÁTILES CON ALMENDRAS (bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with almonds) didn’t last long enough for me to take a picture, but they were scrumptious. I highly recommend trying them and wish I could replicate them at home.
The first course also included a bowl of olives and a meat and cheese plate (1 of each) that included bread, spreads, and pickles for create-your-own sandwiches. The waiter identified my favorite spread as bacon marmalade, and I snacked on it the rest of the night – dipping fruits and breads in the sweet-savory jam.
The Martin Codax Albarino paired well with all the first course dishes and probably was my favorite of the three wine pairings.
The second course included two little pasta pouches filled with a soft cheese-based filling and served over a barley-sausage dressing. I never found this item on the tapas menu for a definitive identification, but it was beautiful and delicious.
The second course was paired with a Gine and Gine Garnacha/Carinena/Cabernet blend and also included a COSTILLAS DE TERNERA flatbread (beef shortribs, horseradish, paremsan, and bacon). The flatbread was finger-licking good, and messy enough to justify the finger licking.
Garlic shrimp were more forgettable. The shrimp were cooked well, but the flavor was nothing special. Or perhaps they simply didn’t live up to the earlier items.
The final course was served with a Dehesa Gago Tempranillo, which paired well with the final meats and vegetables.
The ESPINACAS A LA CATALANA (Catalan Spinach with raisins, pine nutes, and apples) was texturally satisfying and welcome break from a meat-heavy tasting menu, but I wouldn’t order it on its own.
The prawn and lamb looked beautiful with their paired sauces, but the prawn had an off taste and the lamb was a bit too fatty for my liking. Still, I appreciate the creative plating, and I wish I had the recipes for the sauces.
The PATATAS BRAVAS (spicy potatoes with spicy paprika aioli) were equally attractive on the plate and more appetizing to eat. The paprika packed a punch, demanding the careful pairing with the tempranillo for this course.
The plate came with two bites of the spicy potatoes, just enough to finish off the evening.
For those with room, the restaurant also serves a complimentary appetizer of toasted (grilled?) bread with a bruschetta-like spread. It tastes good, but the spread softens the bread a bit too much for my liking.
The desert menu also looked appetizing, but after the tasting menu and wine pairings, I was too full to try anything else.
With attentive service and a lively atmosphere, the evening was delightful. I’ll happily return for multiple orders of the bacon-wrapped dates the next time I’m in Chicago.