I love Spain!
If I could move tomorrow I would, seriously!
I love the sun, the relaxed atmosphere, the food…..ooh and the Sangria!
Why we have held off visiting La Tasca in Durham for so long is beyond me and that was rectified this weekend with a visit by Evie, Ethan and Myself.
We were first in at lunch time which meant we could chat with the lovely staff and find out some more details on what La Tasca really is! Tapas means small Spanish savoury dishes, typically served with drinks at a bar so I was expecting small picky type plates where you could try bits of everything. I think if it had been both myself and hubby on a date night we would have ordered a few of the different plates and picked from each, sampling a few different flavours etc.
However as it was I was on my own with two of the children so they got to choose from the childrens menu. They still got to feel special as they were allowed to pick 3 items from the range of foods available, they chose fish fingers, fries and garlic bread. Yes this is available on normal menus but I have found the kids love to do as we do so to have the option of mixing and matching what they wished made it a little more special for them.
At the top of the menu it states that if you wish you can order a starter, followed by tapas, then paella – who am I to argue with the written word! So… Aceitunas Especiales. Amazing, large fragrant Gordal olives from Seville and Calamares, Crispy squid, sprinkled with sea salt, served with home made paprika & roasted garlic mayonnaise followed by Paella de Mariscos (Seafood Paella) were my choices. Boy what good choices they were too!
The olives were some of the biggest I have seen and having been coated in oil and sprinkled liberally with sea salt, these meaty olives were the ideal start to the meal.
Once the calamares arrived I had to explain to Ethan that they were NOT onion rings, after which he actually tried some and LOVED THEM! Bonus! The mayonnaise was a delicious light and had a not too garlic flavour which highlighted the crispy batter! Delicious and very moreish!
Ethans eyes lit up when he saw the muscles atop of my paella and being the lovely mummy I am I did share (…but I’m sure I didn’t sign up to sharing food when I had kids!) A delicious blend of tomato, onion and seafood, this paella was the best I have ever had! Toasted and caramelised around the edge this added to the authenticity of having a pan served portion in the heart of Spain! (I am now seriously begging hubby for a holiday abroad soon!)
Some how we all managed to squeeze in a dessert, included in the childrens menu, they ordered brownie with strawberries and churros with chocolate sauce and marshmallows!
Having never had churros before I’m not sure who was more excited, me or the kids! Then checking over the dessert menu and the sorbet being off that day I opted for the salted caramel ice cream waffle coated with chocolate sauce and chocolate popping candy – well what is a girl to do when presented with that option, it would have been rude not to!
Overall our experience of La Tasca Durham is one we wish to repeat over and over! The service, the food and the atmosphere was first class. When we need that little break away from a wet and windy North East day and an escape to sunnier climbs we are heading straight back!
XOXO
Debbie