Tinto Spanish Restaurant

Two nights ago, I had a date with a nice guy, whom I met a Tinto restaurant on Shepard. As I told myself, "B don't be late…You’re always late." Ha - I was early! I saw my watch and it was 8 on the dot. AMAZING!!!!... It’s been a few years since I've been early to anything. LOL...I walked in the restaurant and the hostess says, “Welcome back!" I was in shock because I forgotten to mention- I was here having brunch last Sunday with my girlfriend Glenda. Not only that we ordered so much food but drank way too many white sangria’s....Hello- they were bottomless!!!!


As she sat me down at the table she handed a wine list and I thought maybe I will stick to a nice Riesling. Once the server greeted me- I quickly changed my mind and got white sangria again. I looked over the menu and wanted everything!! O' yes everything! When I am hungry I want devour everything until I can't. Well 10 minutes or so he walks in and it was so awkward because he gave me his hand while I was getting up to give a greeting kiss on the check. In between all the shuffling the kiss didn't happen and I gave him my hand and sat immediately down. He asks- "Well tell me what is good or what would you like to order??" So I ask, "Do you like everything?" He says - "Yes!" Great will let’s get a few tapas then a paella valenciana for the main course. We order a pulpo (octopus) a la gallega, fritura de mariscos (fried mix of shrimp, calamari, and fish), scallops with a lemon butter sauce, and black rice with squid ink topped with fried calamari. The pulpo was cooked to perfection and very tender served warm over thin sliced potatoes with a dash of paprika. I would say a bit salty and potatoes needed a min more to blanch. The seared scallops were phenomenal and very juices to each bite. I hate when I order scallops and they are over cooked. Moving along to the fritura it was nothing out of the ordinary considering I've had the best fritura de marisco in Alicante, Spain. Here is where you can find the freshest seafood. Right along marina there is a boardwalk of restaurants and bars and selling almost exactly the same food. However, the price and ambience is what catches your eyes. As for the Squid ink rice with calamari it was missing the taste of sea. Just bland to my taste and didn't care for it much.

Paella time!!! I have to say in the few Spanish restaurant this one has the best then Rioja's. Honestly, in my days in Valencia, Spain I didn't have descent paella but the Fallas were spectacular. Hopefully next year I will experience one! We didn’t finish even half of it and moved along to Torte de chocolate with Venezuelan cacao. It was rich and most exquisite in taste. For all you chocolate lovers- this was one great piece of chocolate torte. I had a great time eating away and now I’m ready for bed.

I hope my experience enlightens you to try Spanish food or try Tinto's restaurant in the infamous area of River Oaks. As for the date you might wonder what happened. It’s for imagination only how it ended.

Braised Chicken with Mushroom Sauce..

This morning my sister and I were just famished and had chicken in the fridge. We both thought Chicken with a mushroom sauce or Chicken Cacciatora. Its kind of a knetic sister thing... we think and sometimes wear the same color with out us knowing until we see each other. We decided braised chicken with mushroom sauce would be perfect on this "i want to rain but i probably won't day." Carolina heats the pan and drizzle olive oil. She places the chicken and throws in salt and pepper. In the next 4-6 min the chicken browns on all sides. She chopped a qt onion and two cloves of garlic and immediately throws it in the pan with a couple of table spoons of butter. Here i stand next to her and say " Lets put some white wine to give another flavor!" but i only had a decent Riesling." Ha...she says- "now B give me my space I'm in the kitchen now...I will decide if i want wine or not! Stop acting like mom." I laughed- its true. I do act like mom in the kitchen annoying and irritated when things don't go my way. I never thought I would admit to myself that I do act like her most of the time. Well back to the chicken, instead of making the mushroom sauce from scratch. Not because I didn't want too but I didn't have mushrooms! We put in a can of mushroom sauce into the pan. Place the top and let braise for another 12 min. Meanwhile, I quarter some potatoes and Carolina placed a pot to heat for the rice. You must be thinking "wow two starches in one meal?" Its the Latin in us to eat rice! While the rice is cooking, the potatoes are placed in a skillet with butter, salt & pepper, and thyme for a nice aroma and taste. We place the top for the potatoes to steam and cook through for 10 min until fork tender. This meal was simply accomplished in under 30 minutes and may I say it hit the spot in all our belly's. By the way, I wrote my first blog, had my two girls and niece at the table coloring next to me and helped my sister cook...? I know it might sound a bit chaotic for some but multitasking is in my nature. Now whats dinner?????