After trying it for the first time a few weeks ago with colleagues, I returned to Patria last night. With Nellie, obviously. It was one of the best meals we’ve had in Toronto in quite a while. We sat down and asked our server to bring out whatever chef felt like giving us. Here’s what appeared:

Cocktails

• Spanish Manhattan (Bulleit bourbon, pedro ximénez sherry nectar, angostura bitters)
• Cava Nuevo (bombay gin, lemon, simple syrup, cava)

First

• Aceitunas (house marinated olives)
• Selección de embutidos (ibérico lomo + ibérico chorizo + jamón serrano + morcón salami)
• Fino Electrico dry white sherry

Second

• Pimientos de padrón (blistered peppers + sea salt)
• Ensalada de remolacha (beet salad + apple juice reduction)
• Gambas al ajillo (fresh gulf shrimp + garlic + parsley)
• Cordoniu rosé Cava

Third

• Bombas con salsa brava (chorizo + aioli + spicy piquillo sauce)
• Grilled pickerel
• Pimientos rellenos de buey (piquillo peppers + oxtail + manchego)
• Estrella Inedit wheat beer

Dessert

• Churros con dulce de leche (spanish doughnuts + cinnamon sugar + dulce de leche)
• Floralis Moscatel

It was all good, but the highlights were the chorizo, the ensalada, the bombas, the churros, and (for me, anyway) the pimientos. We also loved the non-traditional drink pairings…no table wine, and even the use of a great beer in the right spot.

.:.

Cover photo by hamburguesanostra, used under Creative Commons license