www.pintxoseattle.com
It's sunny and it's warm today in Seattle. The air hangs heavy and still as we sit sipping a chilled beer and glass of house cabernet. Tuesday's workday is all wrapped and the masses adjourn to take advantage of what is left to be had from the day's failing sunlight.
I've been pretty excited to try "Pintxo" since the first time (K) and I walked past it one evening. After all, Mom's side of the family does originally hail from the Basque region of Spain.
Growing up in New Mexico, we specialized in our own specific variation of Latin food. While we combine the many flavors of Spain (Due in part to the colonization by the Spanish), Mexico (Those that where assimilated), and our own local twists, flavors, and spices to make something you can only find in New Mexico, we really don't eat tapas or pintxos per say. When we eat, it's a full meal deal. Posole and carne adobada, tamales and pinto beans, tortillas, chile, chile, and a whole lot more chile (again it's an "e" not and "i". This ain't Texas we're talking about).
Pintxos (Basque), or pinchos (Spanish) is the northern Spain version of tapas, a small snack typically eaten in bars while hanging out with friends or family. The main difference between pintxos and tapas (aside from regional name change) comes from the aspect that pintxos are usually served "spiked" or skewered to a piece of bread. What hooks me is the love of using Spanish sausage and all variations of fish (smoked, salted, pickled, etc.)
Pintxo in Seattle, Belltown if you will, aims to focus and bring the flavors of Spain to us through fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Blah, Blah, Blah, let's get down to how the food is, shall we?
(Happy Hour Selections)
So let's begin with the "hooch de jour":
Beer- "Ridgetop Red"
Brewery- Silver City Brewing, WA
Profile- American Amber/Red Ale
ABV%- 6
Taste- Nutty and sweet, but not too sweet. There's a nice little intro effervescence, and has a light malt flavor. It did have a pretty quick finish, which was a bummer for the amount of initial flavor that this beer brought to the party. However, I would certainly drink it again (he says after 2). It's an easy drinker that would be a great dinner companion, or a smooth operator to bring along to a BBQ.
My Rating- I give it a 4 out of 5 for a red ale, or a 3 in my overall preferences when it comes to beer (I love me some dark brews). I've had a pretty poor experience with reds thus far, but "Ridgetop" and the "Boston Brick Red" from Sam Adams are certainly restoring my faith. It's no Baltic Porter, but it gets you where you want to go in my opinion.
Atmosphere
Pintxo is pretty "A-typical" for the Seattle scene. It has a relaxed, trendy, slightly industrial bar feel. The chefs behind the counter knock out noshing plates like you where at a sushi bar, liquor shelves weighted with local distillery offerings, tunes ranging from dubstep to dance bump as hipsters park at the bar in pastel high-waters and trucker caps.
Not that I was overly disappointed, but I was hoping for a little more of a "cultural Mediterranean" experience. I should have known better. After all, this is Seattle and you have to play to the audience around here. Maybe some Spanish guitar/hip hop mixes would have made for a cool vibe, or even the "Chill" station from Pandora. Something with a little more spirit to it. Again, I have visions of a bustling place, food as far as the eye can see, wine being sipped as laughs ring out, the sounds of Pavlo setting the soul on fire....
Aside from my own romantic musings, the place was pretty cool. And at 4 food items, 2 beers, and 1 glass of palatable Cab Sauv for $27 and change after tax, you can't complain too loudly. Besides, who would listen, right?
The Grub
We decided to roll with a couple orders of the Tortilla Espanola, Marcona Almonds, and the Bacon Wrapped Dates. Now, (K) has had the Spanish Tortilla, in legit Spain, before. According to her it was spot on. This was my first encounter with it where it was not just a potato omelet (no offence Preservation Kitchen and Main Street Ale House, you have my heart with your Polenta Tots and Smoked Duck). I thought the tortilla was fantastic! Essentially it is a cold potato omelet, but it's all in how it is built. Thin sliced, not diced, potatoes and onion suspended in tender egg like a layered cake, served with a garlic aioli. Absolutely brilliant and simple! Spanish Tortilla
The order of Marcona Almonds on the other hand were a different story. As you will see on the happy hour menu, they are listed as "lightly" fried in olive oil. Truth is, these puppies came drowning in it. I know those cheeky Mediterraneans love to go heavy on the olive oil, but these where a bit much. After our server, who I'm fairly certain was Macklemore moonlighting as a grub slinger that night, dropped off a second attempt at these, we decided it may just be the better option to strain them through a napkin, lest order attempt number three be laced with loogie.
Which brings me to the Bacon Wrapped Dates....
For a guy who has fought the long hard battle these past eight years with dieting, fitness, and an overall obsessive mentality with health and achieving a Men's Health like physique (now realizing I just gotta be me, baby hit or miss), these did raise a little fear in that primal, gym rat brain of mine. Juicy sweet dates, filled with fresh goat cheese, wrapped in glistening pork and broiled....... Manna from heaven. Unadulterated bliss. If I could brush my teeth with these, I would.
Of course, I felt like a cheater. Like I had just committed treason. So many years wrapped up in my own head, denying myself the enjoyment of life's simple pleasures. Never understanding that it's ok to live a little. Give yourself a little grace. Always afraid that one bacon wrapped this or that would send me sky-rocketing back to the 240 lb. days of my youth. I can freely admit this now as a reforming addict. Addicted to chasing superficial images of the ideal male. These where not just an appetizer, but an eye opener. "Relax you fool" they cried. "The world will keep turning, your friends and family will still love you, you will rise to see another day".
After our dinner munch, (K) and I strolled through the Olympic Sculpture Park along the Seattle waterfront while taking in the sunset. I highly recommend a visit. While contemporary art my not be in some folks' wheelhouse, the view of Puget Sound is near unbeatable.
In Conclusion, give Pinxto a try when next you find yourself hanging about in Belltown. Just beware the oil slick almonds.
Eat Well, Live Well,
-Chris
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