Sampling Sherry at Pata Negra Tapas

UPDATE: Pata Negra is now CLOSED :(

Last Friday night, I met a friend at this wonderful little Spanish tapas restaurant called Pata Negra at 345 East 12th Street in Manhattan.  She happens to love sherry, as do I,  and so we specifically made a date to go out and drink it.  It's not always easy to find another sherry aficionado (especially one who is fun to hang out with!), nor is it easy to find a good sherry list in a Manhattan restaurant!  Many people assume sherry is sweet and not something they would drink during a meal.  In reality, most sherry is dry and goes really well with food.  

When I walked into this cozy, candlelit restaurant, I sidled up to the small 4-seat bar and was immediately welcomed by a waitress, who introduced me to the owner, Mateo.  I noticed how both his and her eyes lit up when I asked to see the sherry list. From that moment on, I was in Mateo's hands, who has a treasure trove of information on wine, particularly sherry.  He offered 2-ounce pours so we could sample many different sherries, and before the night was through, he was dispensing 1-ounce pours from some of his private stash!!  

While waiting for my friend to arrive, I started off with two different Manzanillas, an Orleans Borbon and an Equipo Navazos, which were quite different in style but both equally delicious. Sipping these sherries made my appetite come alive, so I ordered some spiced olives and Marcona almonds to nibble on while Mateo explained the complexities of the Tradicion fino he had just poured me.  The evening continued like this after my friend arrived, and we ordered a great assortment of food, including a delicious thinly sliced Mangalica jamon served with bread, olive oil, and tomatoes.  We continued with the garlicky shrimp with pimento and, of course, more fantastic sherries… finos, amontillados, olorosos. When it was time to leave, I felt like I had spent the evening at a friend's home sampling a wonderful collection of special wines!

Next time you are in the mood for Spanish cuisine, you must try Pata Negra.  In addition to one of the best sherry lists in NYC, they offer a wonderful selection of Spanish wines, beers, and sangrias.  And the food!!  You will enjoy authentic Spanish cuisine, including many types of jamón and a variety of tapas... yummy.  

Salud!