Foodie Friday: Spain Wine Bar
OCEAN CITY, Md. – This edition of Foodie Friday brings us to a tapas spot on top of the world. Spain Wine Bar in Ocean City is an eatery with breathtaking views that prides itself on unique offerings that the whole table can enjoy.
We love to cook here… We love to have families here,” said Executive Chef Oscar Benitez.
A Super Start
Chef Benitez likes to let the ingredients speak for themselves. And the croquettes oozing with jamon serrano, manchego cheese, and bechamel sauce have a lot to say.
First, Chef Benitez rolls the dough into round balls and coats them in flour. Next, they are dipped in egg wash and coated with panko bread crumbs. Then, the croquettes are ready to fry. After their hot bath, they are topped with garlic aioli.
“The way I would describe this is like the best ham and cheese sandwich you’ve ever had in your life condensed down into a delicious little crunchy ball,” said Foodie Friday host Hannah Cechini.
“That garlic aioli is just an awesome counterpoint to the richness of the ham,” added Foodie Photog Mike.
Let the Good Tapas Roll
The beauty of tapas is that there’s always room for more—like our next dish, gambas al ajillo. Chef Benitez lets hand-cracked chilis and fresh garlic simmer in extra virgin olive oil. And just when all that flavor is developing, he adds in the shrimp.
“It’s got this really aromatic, kind of spicy quality that isn’t overwhelming, but it’s definitely noticeable and just elevates the shrimp,” Hannah said.
If seafood isn’t your style, you could also sink your teeth into some montadito. It consists of fluffy toast topped with whipped cheese and truffle honey.
“That spread has a beautiful tartness to it that I was not expecting,” Mike said.
But if you’re looking for a true delicacy, search no further than Spain Wine Bar’s fresh shaved aged Mangalica pork. This little piggy comes all the way from Hungary and is only fed a special diet of acorns.
“It’s like a showcase piece for our guests. When people order it, we come and slice it really thing, piece by piece… When you bite into it, it’s going to feel like it’s melting in your mouth,” Chef Benitez said.
Go Big Before You Go Home
You can order mangalica by the slice, but Hannah recommends enjoying it in the huevos rotos. Think, fresh fries, two runny eggs, and slivers of mangalica, served with bechamel and romesco sauces and dressed up with truffle oil.
“Just the richness from the runny yolk on the crunchiness from the fry, and the saltiness from the ham—it’s just all so beautifully blended together,” Hannah said.
Before the Foodie team goes home, they have to go big.
Try the slow-roasted pork belly. It’s only made more delicious with a sherry reduction, cranberries, and finger chilies.
“Chef has basically candied this pork belly. The fat is melt-in-your-mouth but in the best way,” Mike said.
Meanwhile, Hannah was partial to the parillada lamb chop.s
“These lamb chops are extremely tender, they’re very flavorful, and the romesco sauce is just a really nice, bright note on top of the smokiness and earthiness of the lamb,” Hannah said.
Cinnamon Bliss
Even if all of that food was enough to put Hannah and Mike in a Foodie coma, the team couldn’t pass up on churros with chocolate dark rum sauce.
“I think churros belong on that list of foods, like pizza, that even when they’re not good, they’re still good, but conversely when they’re good, they’re next-level. And, these churros are next level,” Mike said.
Spain Wine Bar
Spain Wine Bar is located at 13 St. Louis Avenue, Ocean City, Md. You can call them at 410-520-4541. If you go to check it out, tell the team that you saw them on Foodie Friday.
