Bright and sunny Saturday afternoon in New York City. Walked around the Union Square Greenmarket and then stopped in for lunch at Casa Mono on East 17th St and Irving Place. This tiny Spanish, or rather, Catalan, spot has always been a favorite of mine, and I'm happy to say it is just as good as ever.I began with a glass with the house Cava ($9), which was delicious paired with bacalao croquetas. Delicious, salty, and served with orange aioli. Followed shortly by duck breast with roasted sunchokes and tomatoes and lamb chops with garbanzos and harissa. Casa Mono is also doing a very unusual take on patatas bravas. Traditionally fried and served with aioli, these patatas bravas were fingerling potatoes served in whole chunks, tossed in an amazingly rich tomato sauce that was spiked with smoky paprika and garnished with a handful of thinly cut scallions. Not at all what I was expecting, but very satisfying.
New at Casa Mono these days is a selection of plates from a "whole Hudson Valley pig:" Charcuterie with Sour Puss Pickles, Crispy Pork Belly with Greenmarket Apples, Pork Croquetas with Green Tomatoes and Spicy Alioli, and Chorizo with Fabada and Horseradish. Other can't-miss items on the menu I've had in the past: Pan Con Tomate, Skirt Steak with Onion Marmelaide, Scallops with Clementines.
The tables are cramped at Casa Mono - I received four or five solid thumps in back from waiters scurrying past- but there's ample space at the bar. Service is professional and efficient - I asked about the fantastic olive oil that was served with a basket of crusty bread, and our waiter explained how it was their own Spanish blend, infused with herbs.
The magnificent wine list of Casa Mono and Bar Jamon, next door, is quite simply the best selection of vino des Espana in New York. In a city where Spanish cuisine is notoriously inauthentic, Casa Mono is the real deal. Delicioso!
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