♫♪♫ Bésame, bésame mucho, como si fuera esta noche la última vez.
Bésame, bésame mucho, que tengo miedo tenerte y perderte después. ♫♪♫
That is the song that greets me as I enter this small, quaint and cozy Spanish restaurant on Nakpil.
And how befitting it is.
The song.
For tonight. ♥
♫♪♫ “Kiss me, kiss me a lot, as if tonight were the last time.
Kiss me, kiss me a lot, because I fear to have you and to lose you afterward.” ♫♪♫
Champiñón al ajillo - button mushrooms wading in luscious garlic and olive oil.
Love the garlic!
Gambas al ajillo – sautéed shrimps in olive oil and garlic. Shrimps are a bit overcooked,
but still, gotta love the garlic!
Salpicao – succulent beef tenderloin cubes in garlic and olive oil. Beef is tough and rubbery. It’s really the garlic that makes this dish. I love it! (the garlic)
Almejas al horno – clams baked to perfection, served straight from the oven. I guess you already know what I’m going to say... Love the clams + garlic!
Tabla de quezo – a tempting platter of the finest Spanish cheeses… NOT!!! Errr… as you can see, there is only one kind of cheese and it’s aged Manchego. Firm, slightly salty but not too strong, with aftertaste of sheep’s milk.
Calamares a la plancha con alioli – grilled squid with creamy alioli and calamansi
Callos – ambrosial ox tripe stew, cooked Madrileña style
Sorry, Atkins! Believe me, I tried, but…
Paella Valenciana – with pork, chicken, seafood and vegetables
Paella Negra – squid ink paella
Paella Marinera – seafood paella
This is how I like my paella – mixed. And more black than orange, please!
And finally, the most exciting, the most awaited, the main event of the night…
Cochinillo al horno a la Castellana – roast baby pig. Oink!
See how the beautiful, crisp and tasty skin of this baby pig glistens. How there is just the thinnest layer of fat underneath that crackling. How the meat inside is so succulent, so fall-of-the-bone tender, so moist and juicy.
I do not care that it is still a baby. This little pig is a temptress.
And it should be punished.
The pig beater
And then…
♫♪♫ Bésame, bésame mucho, como si fuera esta noche la última vez.
Bésame, bésame mucho, que tengo miedo tenerte y perderte después. ♫♪♫
Kiss me, oh baby pig, kiss me a lot, as if tonight were the last time.
Kiss me, oh baby pig, kiss me a lot, because I fear to have you and to lose you afterward…
Uncle Frank, Uncle Pat, Patrick Jr., Frances, half an Oreo, Florence, Jr, Me, Mom, Auntie Kiddie, Auntie Vangie, Auntie Babie
Casa Armas: 573 J. Nakpil Street corner J. Bocobo Street, Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines. Tel: +632-523-5763, +632-523-0189
There are quite a few branches of Casa Armas around Metro Manila, but the Malate branch has always been my favorite.
