I know some of you are missing my blogs on my life here in Texas (well, at least my mom is, and I'll flatter myself that a few more of you are. Aren't we all curious when someone visits a foreign place?). So, I thought I'd tell you about my new favorite restaurant--Cafe Malaga--in downtown McKinney, or as the natives call it "on the square."
In Spanish-bar-style, the restaurant serves "tapas" or food that comes on a small plate. The cuisine favors the Mediterranean, with an emphasis on the Andalusian region of Spain (okay, that info comes from their website, I'm certainly no expert on Spanish food). Yum! is about the best word I have to describe it.
The idea is to either order several small things or some larger plates (meant for two people) and share. That way you get a little taste of several things, rather than one huge restaurant-sized portion that comes served on a barge.
We ordered the spicy couscous (love the way it feels on my tongue),
Spanish tortilla (eggs and potato "pancake" with a dijon yogurt sauce--much better than any omelette I've ever eaten),
chicken kebab (very spicy, and so saucy),
goat cheese and brie plate with crackers and fruit (heavenly),
5 cheese fondue with fry bread (about the only thing that started to hurt my stomach--the bread was a little oily for me, but the fondue--wow!),
hummus, baba ghanoush and artichoke tapanade with pita bread (I could live on this alone),
and sauteed spinach with pine nuts and golden raisins (also a little spicy).
To top it off, we had chocolate covered almond cake and rustic apple tart for dessert. Both a perfect ending to the meal.
The atmosphere was loud (perfect for me) and casual and elegant at the same time. It was a mixture of arms reaching over each other to sample the next dish and bites off each other's individual items that we ordered. While I don't recommend this type of eating with, oh, let's say strangers, hostile enemies, and people with highly communicable diseases, I think this style of sharing and enjoying the same foods adds to the satisfaction and enjoyment of the whole experience.
Definitely a must see if you ever come visit!
