Torres Spanish Wines and Arte Cafe

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Torres wines are featured tonight at Arte Cafe in Cerritos, Sold out dinner. Bargain for $59. A lot of people late because of an accident on  the 91 freeway so we got off to a late start.

We started out with a Chopped Salad.  Heirloom tomatoes, Machego cheese, roasted beets, avocado and sherry vinaigrette. Salad was very good and paired well with the Pazo das  Bruxas,  Albarino,  Rias Baixas.

A bowl of cold Gazpacho was next. Shrimp and avocado, Very spicy. I ate the shrimp and avocado . A couple of spoonfuls of the gazpacho was more than enough for me.Had excellent flavor but I tasted the heated for quite awhile. Not the thing for a wine dinner.  A Jean Leon 3055 Rose was paired with this dish. I did like this Rose. Full of flavor. Not whimpy at all. Named after a family member, Jean Leon who owned LaScala restaurant.

Third dish up was a Pulpo y Chorizo. Grilled octopus with Fingerling potatoes, Spanish Chorizo and olive oil.  Chorizo was very good. Octopus was a little tough. Most went back to the kitchen. A 5G's Garnacha, Campo de Borja was paired with this dish. A nice wine and paired very well.

A plate of Paella was next. Loaded with clams, mussels, shrimp, chicken  and andouille sausage. Good flavors. But I have had better Paella and I have also had worse. Portions of seafood was good.  Paired with a Salmos Red Blend, Priorat. My favorite wine if the evening.

Last main dish served was a Solomillo Steak, grilled ribeye with red wine reduction, pisto Machego with patats bravas (mixed veggies, mushrooms, squash, onions). Steak was perfect. Nice char on it and sizzling when it came out.. The surprise wine of the dinner turned out to be a Mas La Plana Cabernet Sauvigon, Penedes. Wine Spectator gave it a 93 rating.. Excellent pairing and very good wine.

Dessert was a Housemade Spanish Flan served with a Brandy Alexander made with Torres 10 Brandy and Torres Spanish Orange Liqueur.  Nice touch to the evening.

Question is and not only this restaurant - why do they served one pat of butter for two large rolls. 

Dinner was good, wines were good and I won a bottle of wine as a door prize. Good evening.