Sabor of Spain

1301 Fourth Street

San Rafael

(415) 717-7410

www.saborofspain.com

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Spanish Vinotecca

Dinner nightly, closed Mondays

Entrées (dinner): $18 - $26

Excellent, Spanish-only wine list

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     Sabor of Spain is anything but an ordinary restaurant. Owner Maika Llorens and her husband have managed to bring a slice of her native Spain to downtown San Rafael. And after only two years, it’s already won several awards, including 2007 Small Business of the Year from the Marin County Board of Supervisors and San Rafael Chamber of Commerce and 2007 Best New Restaurant and Best Wine Tasting Room in the North Bay Bohemian.

    The place not only boasts authentic Spanish cuisine, but also a shop with Spanish wine, ceramics, artwork and more; entertainment including Spanish guitar and twice-monthly Flamenco performances; wine tastings; and its own wine club. Its wine list features only Spanish wines—which, in my opinion, are truly among the unsung heroes of the wine world. Kind of like Spanish food is to the culinary world. Many people don’t realize just how good it really is.

    I invited my friend Ian to join me because, like myself, he enjoys all things Spanish—especially food and wine. We started with a flight of Temperanillo, Grenache and Tinto wines (three Spanish reds), with a ham and cheese plate that included manchego cheese, chorizo and serrano ham with fresh, sliced bread. Next came two salads: the tres colores had fresh tomatoes, avocado, pequillo pepper, mangchgo cheese, olives, basil oil and a balsamic reduction and its flavors seemed to sing; the espinacas had baby spinach, baked goat cheese, candied walnuts, cherry tomatoes and a raspberry sherry vinaigrette. Both were large in size and taste.

    Next, we couldn’t resist some tapas. First came the melon con jamon, which is sliced cantaloupe wrapped with Serrano ham and served with sliced manchego cheese and dried figs. A favorite Spanish dish of mine, I simply adored the salty/sweet combination. We also ordered the datiles, which were fresh dates stuffed with roasted almonds and then wrapped and grilled with bacon. Ian was practically ecstatic over them. Absolutely delightful, they were put on the menu due to their popularity as a catering item.

    Next we tried the piquillo peppers stuffed with seafood mousse and topped with lobster sauce. Rich and decadent, the dish’s main feature, its mild-flavored peppers, are only grown in Spain.

    Last we shared one of the specials, which was a perfectly grilled rib eye, only lightly seasoned and then topped with a dried porcini mushroom sauce and garlic, served with horseradish mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables. It practically melted in my mouth.

    For dessert we tried a flight of Spanish sherries, along with traditional flan (custard topped with caramel) and a generously sized chocolate torte.

    Before I visited Sabor of Spain, I was sincerely hoping it would have the wonderful flavors and sleek look of what I’d experienced in Spain—and it most certainly did.