Monday, March 23, 2015
Bravas Bar de Tapas - Healdsburg, Ca
Bravas Bar de Tapas 420 Center Street Healdsburg, CA 95448 Phone 707-433-7700 www.starkrestaurants.com
Mark and Terry Stark are among the most prominent restaurateurs in Sonoma County, owners of Monti's and Stark's Steakhouse in Santa Rosa and Willi's Seafood Bar in Healdsburg. Bravas Bar de Tapas was established in 2012. Executive Chef, Mark Stark, came up with this Spanish Style tapas menu and concept after traveling to Spain and falling in love with the tapas restaurants he experienced there. Hailed by Travel + Leisure as “one of the top 20 tapas restaurants in the U.S.,” Bravas serves
up traditional Spanish and modern tapas-style dining in Wine Country
Chef de Cuisine, Cody Thomasson, was promoted from Sous Chef 8 months ago succeeding former Chef de Cusine, John Stroup.
One of the most enjoyable ways to eat when you can't quite decide on a main dish is to share tapas, or "small plates" done in a Spanish style. I have eaten here at least 3 times over the course of the last 12 months. I trust Mark's ideas and menu creations. He has a bold way of creating fun atmospheres as well as handling local fresh ingredients. This location in Healdsburg is in downtown near the park and resides in what feels like an old farm house remodeled in a modern decor. There is an amazingly inviting patio in the back with an open bar that dares you to get comfortable and then try to leave too soon.
Jeff, the bartender, was very attentive and made great suggestions from the forty-five item menu ranging from Ham & Cheese Bar, Bocadillos, Raciones, Chilled Tapas, Warm Tapas, A La Plancha, and Paella selections.
What We Ate
Pan Tomate($4) - Tomato Toast, Arbequina Olive Oil, Garlic, Sea Salt. How simple and yet so garden fresh and crispy from the perfectly toasted bread. The garlic and sea salt seasoned tomato was spread on the toast like a rustic jam then drizzled in high grade Arbequina Olive Oil to open the pallet with a rich and briny mouth feel. It was devoured as the next dish was presented.
Creamy Chicken, Ham & Gruyere Cheese Croquetas($7) - 6 of these perfectly golden fried croquetas arrived in a paper cone. No sauce accompanied them which I thought was a bold move, yet after biting into one, found them bursting with a creamy texture from the Gruyere and salty notes from the peices of ham found inside. No sauce required!
Foie Gras, Crispy Serrano Ham, Backyard Orange Marmalade($12) - Foie Gras is back on menus in California after a hiatus. I ordered this dish off the Bocadillos (Little Sandwiches) portion of the menu. Two of them were served on a buttery brioche bun. The marmalade was slathered on the bottom bun and the Foie Gras which was pan seared to a soft and creamy texture, was placed on top with a thin slice of salty, crispy Serrano Ham. The sweet, buttery, umami, and salty flavors enveloped the pallet as the soft, creamy, and crispy textures harmonized in the mouth. I would have like a bit more portion of the Foie Gras, but I admit some greed after having missed it so much.
Skirt Steak, Red Onion Marmalade, Valdeon Cheese($13) - This is the cut of meat that the butcher's take home to eat after selling all the other pricier cuts to their customers. If you haven't experienced this unique cut, it's time you do. It boasts the most flavor on the animal and when prepared using high heat for a brief amount of time to achieve medium rare temp, will melt in your mouth like filet. Seared to perfection, the meat was sliced on a bias layered on a sweet red onion marmalade. Three quarter-sized chunks of Valdeon cheese were delicately placed around the steak and a pickled mustard seed liberally garnished the top. Valdeon Cheese is a Spanish blue cheese from Leon. It has an intense tangy pungent flavor that works so well with skirt steak.
Ratings:
Overall: THREE Forks
Food: THREE Forks
Service: THREE Forks
Atmosphere: THREE Forks
Prices: $$ (Reasonable - most tapas around $8)
Why Go: Nestled in the amazing small town of Healdsburg in the heart of breathtaking Sonoma Wine Country, why else do you need any other excuse to find your way here. Mark Stark knows what he's doing and has recreated a special opportunity to dine in true Spanish fashion.
Why Not: If you aren't an adventurous eater, you may find many of the dishes quite exotic for your tastes. I say push through your barriers here.
Rating Scale: FOUR Forks Extraordinary, THREE Forks Excellent, TWO Forks Good, ONE Fork Fair
Price Scale: $$$ Expensive, $$ Reasonable, $ Inexpensive
