Do you have friends that throw the best dinner parties? The ones where a casual drop by ends up with bottles of wine on ice and a backyard grill in action. Everyone says, "y'all should open a restaurant."
Well those friends of mine *did* open a restaurant! (If you visit, make sure to ask for Javier or Christiana and tell them I sent you.)
It's called
SER, which stands for simple, easy and real - and is located in Arlington, VA. I can't pretend to be objective here, so I'll let the photos do the talking. Here is a sampling from the three times I've been...
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The Chef's Bar |
I even contributed to the Kickstarter and my photo - and my dog Ike - are on the wall.
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Scavenger Hunt: Find Ike and I on the wall at SER |
The bar is stocked with a great cocktail list, including this gin based concoction called the Campos Rose:
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Campos Rose |
I like to start off my meals there with the fresh thin slices of jamon Iberico, gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp) and the gorgeous salads.
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Jamon & Sherry |
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Gambas al Ajillo |
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House Salad |
If you're feeling adventurous, try the oysters, the goose barnacles (when I was in Spain they were 200 Euro on menus!), the crab salad, the sweetbreads or the steak tartare topped with quail egg.
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Freshly grilled fish |
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Squid in Black Ink |
With dinner (or before), order a bottle of txakoli, a light, fizzy white wine from Northern Spain. It's worth it for the dramatic pour alone!
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Txakoli (pronounced Chock-o-lee) |
We aren't done yet. *deep breaths*
Dessert. Churros with chocolate sauce or flan are an easy choice - and fulfilling. But the Goxua (think strawberry shortcake) or the gooey warm chocolate cake with espresso gelato... Oh and the pineapple tart. You are going to need return trips to SER until you've had each.
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Goxua |
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Chocolate & Espresso Madness |
Still with me? Let's talk Spanish gin n tonics.
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Javier Candon's gin n tonics with lavender |
See. I told you I couldn't be unbiased.
PS. Brunch
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