A taste of Spain in Taichung

---By Douglas Habecker　Translated by Jean Huang

LA BODEGA

3, JingCheng 2nd St.
(04) 2310-7006
Hours: 6:30 pm-12 am
www.labodegatw.com
Credit cards accepted
with added 10% fee.

La Bodega's cozy Mediterranean ambiance, bearing closer resemblance to a Spanish tapas bar eatery than anything else in Taichung, is a big draw for old and new patrons, as is the friendly service and satellite football (soccer) games. Owner Laurent Rubio is French but was born in the southern Spanish province of Andalusia. Together with his wife, Grace, he offers a very extensive, all-Spanish menu that includes dozens of tapas dishes--vegetables, potatoes, meat, seafood and sandwiches--plus main courses. Popular tapas selections include the NT$100 Tortilla Espanola Spanish potato omelette, NT$150 Aceitunas Marinades (marinated olives), Berenjenas Con Queso (fried eggplant with parmesan cheese), the creamy and cheesy Valencia Patatas, Parma Ham Plate (NT$180) or sandwich, Al Bondigas (meatball with tomato sauce), NT$200 Chorizo Spanish Sausage, and garlic shrimp or clams. A cheaper and better way to enjoy tapas is to select one of the Tapas Set Menus (NT$450-650), which offer a variety of dishes for one price. For main courses, don't miss out on the all-time favorite Paella Marinera (NT$260), with saffron rice and seafood offered in a small wok. Also popular are the Couscous selections (vegetarian, lamb, etc.). There are four set-menu meals (NT$350-430). The well-stocked bar also serves homemade Sangria by the glass or pitcher and Spanish wines.

PLAZA DE ESPANA CAFE TAPAS

381-33, DongShan Rd., Sec. 1

For young Taiwanese owner William, this cute-looking little Spanish restaurant and its cuisine are a true labor of love and commitment. Over the course of many visits, he came to love Spain, particularly the southern city of Seville. Exploring that city until he found his favorite paella dish, he then attempted to convince the reluctant owner to give up her secret recipe. She relented and, after six months of work at the restaurant, William was ready to come home. Paella, he explains, originated in the port city of Valencia, where hard-working fishermen, after selling their catch, would cook up the varied leftover seafood with rice grown in that area. His main dish is the seafood Paella de Marisco (NT$200 or NT$250 set with bread, soup, salad and drink). However, he plans to add chicken ("Con Pollo"), mixed chicken and seafood, and vegetable paella dishes around the end of October. As it takes a little longer to prepare paella, it's best to call and order ahead for that dish. Among favorites on his tapas list are the Spanish Meatball (NT$60), Shrimp with Garlic (NT$70), and Mediterranean Pork Chop (NT$70), made with basil, parsley, mint, orange and other herbs for a sweet and sour flavor. He also offers various spaghetti dishes (NT$89-150), like Clam and White Wine Sauce and other toppings, plus a very good Vegetable Spaghetti Baked Cheese (NT$99). Plaza De Espana is located near the DaKeng Scenic Area, just past where SongZhu and DongShan roads join.

TAPA TAPA SPANISH RESTAURANT

12, DaLong Rd.
(04) 2323-6254, 2327-0225
Hours: 11 am-10 pm
10% service charge (except for take-out). Credit cards not accepted.

Veteran Taichung restaurateur Jane Liu--once famous for her Aloha restaurants--first traveled to Spain about five years ago and immediately fell in love with the romance of its culture, language, dance and food. In addition to annual visits to Spain, particularly her favorite city of Seville, she tranformed her Aloha eatery into a full Spanish restaurant, with the aim of giving local residents a taste of that country's enjoyable food culture and ambiance. The menu starts with about a dozen tapas items, such as the popular Cheese Roll with Tomato (NT$70). However, the main event for many diners is the paella selection, starting with the traditional fish and seafood Barcelona Paella De Mariscos (NT$198). Tapa Tapa's most unique dish, though, is the Arroz Negro Con Sepia paella (NT$218), featuring rice in a black squid-ink sauce, covered liberally with all sorts of shrimp, shellfish and other seafood. Don't let the deep black color scare you away from this savory dish. Other popular items include the Spanish-Style Lamb Gigot cooked with Tomato, Onion, Pepper and Vegetables (NT$350) and the Spanish Seafood Salad (NT$150), a light, healthy mix of seafood, olive oil, red wine and fresh vegetables. Enjoy your meal with a glass of Sangria (NT$120) and finish up with a Crema Catalana dessert. Wonderfully romantic contemporary Spanish music and live Latin-style music on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday help set the mood.

VIVA CAFE

39, XueFu (ShueiFu) Rd.
(04) 2285-3708
Hours: 9 am-11 pm
Credit cards accepted.
No service charge.
Parking available.

As loyal customers are well aware, Viva Cafe is a local refuge for true gourmands, thanks to owner Lin Yu-hsing, himself a connoisseur of fine European dining. Among the four three-month food festivals that rotate throughout each year at the restaurant, April to June is for Spanish cuisine. At this time, six Spanish main courses are featured, including returning favorites like Viva's tasty Paella and three to four brand-new dishes introduced for the first time. However, you don't have to wait until next year to enjoy good Spanish dining here, as Mr. Lin keeps a number of Spanish main courses and tapas dishes on the menu year round. This includes a Spanish-style Roasted Veal Prime Rib-eye Steak, made with natural sea salt in a Spanish wok and served with a garlic sauce. This is available with a NT$980 set that includes appetizer, soup, salad, coffee or tea, and a Spanish dessert, Green Fruits With Garlic Honey Tepuila. Another main course is the Turbot Fillet Papillote with Saffron Butter (NT$580). After the fish is coated with saffron, butter and mushrooms, it is wrapped in paper and baked. Also from Spain is the Spaghetti with Squid Ink and Tomato Sauce (NT$320), prepared with octopus, shrimp and other seafood, plus imported Spanish squid-ink pasta. Tapas includes the Deep Fried Squid (NT$120) and Baked Crab with Secret Sauce, which uses imported Atlantic Ocean blue crabs. Available Spanish wines include some Riojas.