We did this editorial last month, so have decided to update it now on our website to include our tapas experience in Sugarcane Cafe Bistro, Comber
GNI Magazine – Issue 51
The Gourmet Boys
Talk Tapas
May 2022
We’re on pages 72 and 73 and you can read the article below.
We may currently be “enjoying” the dampest, dullest spring in living memory, but there are many wonderful local restaurants who can whisk you away to the Iberian Peninsula, culinarily speaking, and serve up some sunshine on a plate with their tapas-style sharing dishes. This month, we thought we’d share five of our favourites with you.
Sugarcane Cafe Bistro – Link
Sun’s out, and there’s a feeling that summer might, just might, have eventually arrived. So our thoughts inevitably turn, not to the ubiquitous British Barbecue, but to the Mediterranean, and all those glorious tapas-style sharing plates we adore when we’re in Spain. And so when Pete and Emma from Sugarcane Café Bistro asked us to come down to sample their fantastic new Tapas Menu, we hopped onto Turner The Tandem, and sped off along the Comber Greenway.
This new frequently changing menu has many of the usual favourites; seafood paella, patatas bravas, albondigas, plus some more unique offerings; the dish of stuffed vegetable dumplings with an olive and tomato dressing was something we’d never tried before, and the sundried tomato & goats cheese pies were perfect crispy triangles of flavour.
Head chef, Alicia, ensures that everything is authentically Spanish, and will go out of her way to cater for all dietary requirements. She adapted the tortilla to make it veggie-friendly, and also sent out some incredible mushroom & herb croquetas as a meat-free alternative to the pepperoni & parmesan ones on the menu.
Other standout dishes were the stuffed chicken roll with romesco, the hot chicken wings with wedges, and our absolute favourite tapas, Gambas Pil Pil: juicy king prawns swimming in garlic and chilli oil. Heaven! All washed down with a generous jug of fruity Sangria, what better way to spend a sunny summer evening.
Sugarcane serve their Tapas menu Thursday-Saturday evenings from 17:00 until 21.00 alongside the Bistro Menu.
Drop in
phone : 028 9187 3388
email : info@sugarcanecafebistro.com
2 Taps Wine Bar
Boasting one of the city’s largest outdoor terraces, 2Taps Winebar & Restaurant in the heart of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter creates the atmosphere of summer all year round, and we love the warm welcome, Mediterranean vibes, and delicious sharing plates.
We began with a selection of breads with basil pesto, black tapenade, smoked sundried tomato tapenade, olive oil & balsamic vinegar, and Pimientos del Padrón with mojo picon dip. From the Seafood section, the Pickled Mackerel with peppers, onions, & chilli oil is a great new dish, & the Gambas Pil Pil are a classic Spanish favourite.
These were followed by a selection from the vegan menu; Flat Cap Mushrooms with basil pesto & tofu, and a smoky Moroccan Vegetable Tagine. All accompanied by Patatas Bravas, Ensalada Halloumi, and a carafe of Pagos de Araiz chilled Tempranillo, this was a lovely sharing-style meal with friends.
Ocho
We return time and time again to this Causeway Coast Tapas restaurant, for its delicious, Spanish-influenced dishes, locally caught seafood, award winning meats, and a focus on local produce.
The seafood is outstanding; Garlicky Gambas Al Pil Pil, and a fish special of Pan Seared Sea Bass with White Crab & Chive Sauce, Wild Garlic, & Celeriac Fries, were both excellent.
There are lots of meat-free options too; the Aubergine “Three Ways”- fried aubergine with butterscotch miso, tempura aubergine with dukkar & tahini dressing, and baked aubergine with harissa and honey- was a terrific Vegetarian dish.
There are also plenty of authentic, Spanish favourites on the menu, the Patatas Bravas with paprika tomato sauce, chilli oil & brava mayo, the charred & salty Padron Peppers, & the Creamed Spinach with Parmesan, are traditional tapas dishes.
But Ocho also provides some brilliantly inventive twists such as the Okonomiyali Fries – thinly sliced chips with Kewpie Japanese mayo, tonkatsu sauce, bonito flakes and black sesame seeds. And the Croquetas de Queso with Beetroot Pannacotta & Cherry Sour Cream has been featured in “Yes Chef” magazine, and it’s not hard to see why.
Desserts are also irresistible; the Five Mile Town goats cheese Cheesecake had a sweetly savoury tang, and the Pecan Pie was a sticky, nutty indulgence.
A wonderful meal in this brilliant Portstewart restaurant. It truly is hard to beat.
44 Hill St
The terrific tapas at 44 Hill Street, one of our favourite spots in the Cathedral Quarter, is a celebration of the flavours of the Mediterranean, using local products from independent producers in a selection of modern small plates, ideal to share with friends and family.
The history of the building in which this vibrant restaurant is housed ranges from a bonded warehouse to a butter merchants, and this is evident in the industrialised interior, from the exposed brick work to the metal beams dating back to the last century. There is also a wonderful outdoor space for al fresco style dining.
We ordered a selection of tapas to share, and all of them were tasty, authentic, and great value for money. We especially enjoyed the Crispy Goat’s Cheese Fritters with Lavender & Honey, the Crispy Pork Belly Bites with Apple Compote, the Deep Fried Brie with Fruit Chutney, the minty vegan Tabbouleh, the Calamari with Garlic Mayo, and the Mini Fishcakes with Tartare Sauce.
The Belmont
The Belmont Bistro & Bar’s “Small Plates Menu” makes this East Belfast institution the perfect spot for a light lunch with a glass of wine (or two!)
The tapas style menu is excellent value; pick any four small plates for £20, more than enough for two to share.
We had the Fish Tacos, crammed full of haddock, prawns, salad, guacamole and drizzled with sriracha, the Mushroom Bruschetta with goat’s cheese, the Salt & Chilli Squid with crispy slaw, and an outstandingly creamy and luxurious Prawn Risotto. All washed down with a couple of glasses of vino, The Belmont, especially after its gorgeous new revamp, provides the ideal venue for an inexpensive lunch in relaxing surroundings.
Edo
Latin for “I eat”, EDŌ is a Tapas style restaurant in the City Centre, and is ideal for those wanting to enjoy a range of taste experiences through a sharing themed menu.
“Para Picar”, with our amazing cocktails, we chose some Pimientos de Padrón with Chicken & Thyme Salt, and “Banderillas”- little anchovy and olive flavour-bombs.
From the “Verduras” section we loved the Confit Squash, with Hazelnut & PX Vinegar Caramel, and the Braised Jerusalem Artichokes, with Cep Cream & Pickled Mushroom. The Parsnip Fritters were covered in a light, crunchy batter, and the Fried Aubergines with Sesame & Truffle Honey was one of our favourite dishes on the menu, and a must-try for vegetarians.
For Dessert, we enjoyed the Caribe Milk Chocolate with Praline & Lime, and a very generous wedge of Young Buck, with Sesame Crackers, & Rhubarb & Cranberry Chutney was the perfect way to finish the meal.
Here’s a link to the GNI Magazine website https://www.gnimag.com/
