Meeting the Sister...at Pipa

10.22.09 It was time to meet the family! At least the sister. For the special occasion, we went to Pipa because it is one of my favorite tapas bar in the city (next to Tia Pol, of course). Even though I was nervous about meeting her, I wasn't nervous about chowing down the savory dishes. We shared...

Crispy Calamari – lightly floured calamari rings, smoked paprika aioli, cabbage

Gambas al Ajillo – sauteed Ecuadorian shrimp, garlic, chillies

Pupo Gallego – sauteed Octopus, roasted potatoes, black olives, paprika

Piggy Back Dates – almond-stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates, endive leaves

Jumbo Asparagus– grilled asparagus, avocado aioli

Lobster Paella– half lobster, saffron valencia rice, shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels, chorizo, tomato escabeche

The dishes at Pipa tend to be salty and overpowering. The sangria helps mitigate the garlicky taste, but me being Korean and all...I love it! Even if you don't like Spanish tapas or strong flavors, go for their sangria and chandeliers. They have beautiful chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. I wish I could take one home, but 1) I don't have anywhere else to put it in my tiny apartment and 2) they only look good at Pipa.

The sister, the food, the boyfriend...all very good.