A Night Of Faith Middleton & Flamenco At Ibiza Restaurant In New Haven

On a torrential autumn evening, I returned to my favorite restaurant to enjoy an event featuring my favorite radio personality. The restaurant was Ibiza in New Haven,

the event a culinary tour of Spain, and the personality Faith Middleton, beloved host of WNPR’s popular talk show “Food Schmooze.”

Posted on a pillar was a sign board that hinted of all the great things to come.

Organizing the Ibiza dinner was Amy Williamson, special events and development coordinator for CPTV/WNPR.

Williamson introduced Middleton,

who addressed

her rapt fans.

Middleton also introduced Mark Raymond of Frederick Wildman & Sons, whose wines were featured at the dinner.

The Spanish wines served included: a dry 2008 El Coto Rosado, Rioja; a crisp 2008 El Coto Blanco, Rioja; a lovely 2005 El Coto Crianza, Rioja; a rich 2004 El Coto de Imaz Reserva, Rioja; a regal 2003 Museum Real Reserva, Castilla-León of which Middleton is a huge fan; and a glorious 2001 Barón de Ley 7 Viñas Reserva, Rioja.

Middleton also introduced shoreline food writer Lee White (center) and Bee & Thistle Inn & Spa owners David and Linnea Rufo.

Middleton praised the talented musicians who entertained guests throughout this festive evening, including guitarists David Giardina (center) and Val Ramos (right)

as well as these lovely young ladies who played other instruments or contributed vocals.

All eyes were on flamenco dancer Alison Bogatay whenever she took the floor.

For a stretch, some of the guests even got up and danced with the performers.

Throughout the festivities, guests were brought a steady parade of imaginative tapas. The first tapa featured goat cheese, beet and walnut shoehorned onto an endive leaf.

The second tapa was a cube of tortilla Española, the traditional potato and onion omelet topped with a sliver of piquillo pepper and a dot of mayonnaise.

The third tapa showcased fresh white anchovies marinated in cider vinegar and served on olive oil toasts over an avocado-and-cilantro purée.

I’m a sucker for Ibiza’s pulpo a feira, steamed octopus sprinkled with Spanish paprika and extra virgin olive oil.

The fifth tapa turned out to be rich, flavorful squid ink croquettes with an herb aïoli.

The sixth tapa that evening was fried Padrón peppers, most of which were sweet but a few of which were rather spicy.

The seventh tapa was pan Catalán topped with Ibérico ham, a revelation to guests who had never tasted this ham from free-range, acorn-fed black pigs.

The eighth tapa (of which I had about eight servings) was crispy quail leg and grilled quail breast in a piquillo pepper vinaigrette.

Tender grilled pork loin, melted Tetilla cheese and piquillo pepper over toast was the ninth tapa.

Despite all of the wonders that had preceded it, the tenth tapa—foie gras croquettes topped with fried quail eggs—drew oohs and aahs from guests.

The eleventh tapa was beef tenderloin brochettes with gaufrette potato, herb aïoli and chimichurri sauce.

The twelfth tapa featured a crispy ravioli filled with baby lamb and mushroom and topped with a Cabrales blue cheese foam.

The thirteenth tapa turned out to be braised short rib with caramelized onion and steamed asparagus.

The last two tapas were sweet rather than savory. The fourteenth tapa was caramel custard with poached pear and lemon peel ice cream.

And the fifteenth, and final, tapa was an old Ibiza favorite—chocolate almond croquettes with lemon gelatin and coconut foam.

Accompanied by fine wines, these fifteen tapas were an absolute tour de force for anyone with an appreciation of fine contemporary Spanish cooking. Toward the end of the evening, Middleton paid tribute to Juan Carlos González, part owner and manager of Ibiza, and Manolo Romero, its executive chef (shown here on another occasion).

And here’s González’s son, Daniel, who does an admirable job behind the bar.

And here, of course, is Middleton again, with spouse and publicist Fern Berman.

Finally, I close with the photographic evidence that a great time was had by all.

Ibiza Restaurant, 39 High Street, New Haven, 203-865-1933