Barley Paella With Squid
Lunch @ "The Commune Social" (www.communesocial.com/), a Tapas Bar, associated with Jason Atherton.
A smart deviation from the usual rice Paella.
Barley (or Job's Tears) is a tough grain to work with. So kudos, to the chef for making this dish work.
My friend was at first puzzled why the Paella looked like a stew until the light bulb lits.
Barley is more chewy than rice, and comes with a grainier aroma and taste. The use of squid and all its sweet seafoodness, surprisingly worked well to mask some of that offending grainy aroma. Of course, using tomato to enhance the juiciness and umaminess of the dish smartly works to the dish favour too.
I was quietly impressed.
Barley Paella With Squid
Lunch @ "The Commune Social" (www.communesocial.com/), a Tapas Bar, associated with Jason Atherton.
A smart deviation from the usual rice Paella.
Barley (or Job's Tears) is a tough grain to work with. So kudos, to the chef for making this dish work.
My friend was at first puzzled why the Paella looked like a stew until the light bulb lits.
Barley is more chewy than rice, and comes with a grainier aroma and taste. The use of squid and all its sweet seafoodness, surprisingly worked well to mask some of that offending grainy aroma. Of course, using tomato to enhance the juiciness and umaminess of the dish smartly works to the dish favour too.
I was quietly impressed.