AlwaysInformed: Despaña’s Bocadillos

Arthur Bovino — December 15, 2009

Assorted bocadillos from Despaña.

As The Times noted last week, Despaña, Broome Street’s Spanish food retailer, recently opened a tapas café with three communal tables at the rear of the store (Grub Street reported plans to serve wine and beer too). This should serve as a reminder that they make some of the city’s best bocadillos.

If you haven’t visited Despaña (view) in a while, there are fifteen sandwiches. There’s something about the bread that recalls true European sandwiches. They’re tough and chewy in a good way— something you really have to just bite into and pull at. Savory selections range from the Vegetariano ($8.00) to the Iberico Ham ($25.00) with toppings that include bonito, boquerones, and lomo embuchado.

While they’re all very good, some of the best include: Traditional Chorizo, Chorizo Picante, the “Despaña,” and Iberico Ham. Not to be forgotten, especially by sweet sandwich lovers, is the warm, pressed “Nocilla,” a melted Spanish chocolate hazelnut spread ($5.00).

 

Serrano Ham Slices, Goat Cheese from Murcia and a light tomato-garlic spread.

“Despaña,” ($8.50) A bocadillo worth being the store’s signature. The goat cheese gets into all the crevices of the bread’s large holes, the tomato-garlic spread dampens the bread slightly with the flavors of pan con tomate, and the Serrano ham, well, it’s just pretty damn tasty.

 

Despaña Chorizo, Manchego and Extra Virgin Olive Oil (warm, pressed).

“Traditional Chorizo,” ($8.50) Chorizo supplies a decent amount of heat and spice, oil softens the bread a little, and the slightly sharp Manchego does well pressed, melting without becoming gooey.

 

Thin Slices of Iberico Ham.

“Iberico Ham,” ($25.00) If you’re looking to get full quickly, choose something else. This is a sandwich to savor. It consists of a single ingredient, the impressively flavorful, thinly sliced Iberico Ham, delicately laid between two pieces of substantial crusty bread.

 

Chorizo, Mahon cheese, Piparras, Sliced Tomato and Aioli (warm, pressed).

“Chorizo Picante,” ($8.50) Similar to the “Traditional Chorizo” bocadillo, but with piparras (Basque spicy guindilla peppers).