Sol Y Sambra Tapas Bar and Restaurant – 462 Amsterdam NYC

Translation?  It’s getting hot in here!!! Ma needs a drink!

Last weekend I hopped the train inbound to NYC to meet up with my best girl, Stacey and hit the streets for some cool street fairs, an awesome tapas lunch, and some drinks before we took in a matinee of Sex and The City 2.  I know, I know we should have been drinking cosmos but the mercury was rising and I was looking for some sweet summertime refreshment, enter the beloved Sangria!  Who could resist a pitcher of wine sweetened with brandy and fruit???  Uh, I’ll take two.

Now my absolute fave Spanish restaurant in the NYC is a place down in the village called Sevilla, on the corner of Charles and 4th.  But we were way uptown and had to catch a movie so we decided to hoof it to Calle Ocho which was much closer to Stacey’s apartment and we had heard, all the rage.  We walked into Calle Ocho and it was like I had just entered a restaurant version of Studio 54.  Super trendy and way too crowded.  Nixed that idea and went outside and thought, hmmm, I’m in New York, I could throw a rock and hit about a thousand great eateries, let’s roll the dice…we ended up at Sol Y Sambra Tapas Bar and Restaurant, 462 Amsterdam if you’re in the area.  Awesome!  I loved it.  The staff was super sweet and totally accommodating of our lame requests to be sort of outside on the patio yet still inside near the a/c.  I’m totally high maintenance even without the kids in tow.  The food was well presented and oh so tasty.  I highly suggest you stop by.

Secondary to our sangria, we had some great tapas!  An amazing manchego cheese plate, an incredible baccala (salt cod) croquettes, a beautiful white asparagus salad, a delicious chorizo, and of course gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp).  Uh, yes, we needed a wheelbarrow to get out the door afterwards but it was sooo worth it.  And we were walking all the way back home again which was 25 blocks or so.

I don’t know what they put in their sangria at Sol Y Sambra but it was delish.  I thought I’d give you the recipe for mine, also deserving of 5 stars if I do say so myself!

Ingredients:

• 1 Bottle of red wine (I suggest a Rioja but you could also use Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, or Shiraz)
• 1 Lemon sliced
• 1 Orange sliced
• 1 Lime sliced
• 1 Apple slice
• 1 pear sliced
• 1/4 cup  sugar
• 1/4 cup  brandy
• 2 T triple sec
• 2 Cups ginger ale or club soda

Combine in a pitcher with ice or frozen grapes and berries, stir, pour and enjoy!  Did you know I used to be a bartender?  Well, I was.  It’s actually how I met the hubs.  Yup, I was slinging drinks in Beantown and he walked in one night.  That’s a story for a different day. So I used used to tend bar so lemme give you some variations on this one.  Don’t drink?  You could make this up with some grape juice or cran-grape cocktail instead of the wine?  Just leave out the brandy and triple sec.  What is your favorite summertime drink?  Whatever it is, get out with your girls and enjoy!  Ole!

Ok, personal bloggie side note…Can I get a woot-woot???  That’s right baby 200 followers.  I’m so excited.  Big shout outs to The Caffeinated Globe my very very special and near and dear to my heart 200th follower.  Who will be 300???  Hurry up, tell your friends!

Linking this up for my girl Holly’s Tickled Pink at 504 Main.