Showing posts with label California. Show all posts
Showing posts with label California. Show all posts

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Recipe: Tapa al Antonio from Mediterraneao

I used to live in Hermosa Beach, CA, back from 2004-2008. With all the pleasures of beach life in this beautiful coastal town, the excellent cuisine was one of the largest sources of joy for me. And at the center of that culinary experience for me, was the restaurant Mediterraneo.

FoodSherpas.com recreation of Tapa al Antonio from Mediterraneao in Hermosa Beach, CA

Mediterraneo was a tapas restaurant that specialized in exactly what the name would say: Mediterranean cuisine. They had a well managed menu with select items covering the entire Mediterranean region including typical Spanish tapas, as well as small plates from around the region such as Greek and Middle Eastern fare.

But it was a single Italian dish that was at the top of my list for each weekly visit: Tapa al Antonio. This dish was a simple one of  3 seated scallops, each topped with a shrimp, and served in a shallow pool of one of the best pink sauces ever created. 

The seafood was fantastic. But it was the sauce that was the star of the show. The hardest part of waiting for the dish to arrive was having to set aside the focaccia bread, knowing it was a necessary vehicle to make the Tapa al Antonio the perfect meal.

This sauce from Mediterraneao was so exquisite, that an extra order of bread was a requirement.

Some of my best memories of my time in Hermosa Beach, CA were my visits to Mediterraneao. And I will never forget this dish…especially when I’ve witnessed friends of mine literally pick up the plate and lap the sauce up like kittens.


Below you will find my tribute to the Tapa al Antonio from Mediterraneao. I’ve tested this recipe countless times and it’s always perfect. It’s quick, simple, and wonderful. 




TAPA AL ANTONIO DI MEDITERRANEAO:

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Total Time: 55 mins


INGREDIENTS:

Scallops and Shrimp:

  • 3-4 medium scallops per person
  • 3-4 large shrimp per person
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Pink Sauce:

  • 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium sweet onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 5 cups whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup vodka
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 1/3 cup fresh basil
  • 1.5 cups cream
  • Fresh black pepper



INSTRUCTIONS:

Pink Sauce:

  • Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large sauce pan
  • Add garlic and onions and cook until soft for 5 minutes
  • Add red pepper flakes
  • Stir in tomatoes and vodka, cook for 7 minutes
  • Add salt and black pepper
  • Reduce heat to low and simmer partially covered for 20 minutes
  • Once sauce has been reduced, let sit for a few minutes
  • Transfer sauce to a food processor or blender
  • Add fresh basil
  • Purée until smooth
  • Return sauce to the pan
  • Add cream and stir
  • Cook until warmed through
  • For use with a pasta side dish, top pasta with freshly grated parmesan cheese

Scallops and Shrimp:

Grilled:

  • Salt the seafood and grill just long enough to sear 
  • Add black pepper

Seared:

  • Salt and pepper the seafood
  • Add olive oil to pan at medium to high heat 
  • Add seafood and sear for 1-2 minutes on each side 


Serving:

  • Add a 1/2 inch layer of sauce to each plate 
  • Add the scallops
  • Top each scallop with a shrimp
  • Ideal plating would be a smaller plate to serve as a tapa
  • I garnish with fresh basil flowers


Recommend Side Dishes/Additional Tapas:

  • Always serve fresh, warm bread (focaccia or ciabatta) sliced into 1 inch wide strips from dipping into the sauce!
  • Penne with the sauce, topped with freshly grated Parmesan 
  • Gnocchi with sauce, topped with freshly grated Parmesan
  • Grilled zucchini 
  • Sautéed spinach with pine nuts and golden raisins 













Friday, January 11, 2019

Blackened Rockfish with Maque Choux from Rock’ N Fish in Manhattan Beach, CA




Thursday, January 3, 2019

Black Bean Bun at Din Tai Fung in Torrance, CA



Truffle & Kurobata Xiao Long Bao at Din Tai Fung in Torrance, CA


Mustard Greens at Din Tai Fung in Torrance, CA


Xiao Long Bao at Din Tai Fung in Torrance, CA


Wednesday, January 2, 2019

BBQ Brisket & Ribs from Willingham's World Champion BBQ in Redondo Beach, CA


Tiramisu from Fritto Misto in Hermosa Beach, CA


King Crab Legs with Andouille Sausage from The Shrimp Lover in Redondo Beach, CA


Lobster Bisque from Enterprise Fish Co. in Santa Monica, CA


Thursday, December 27, 2018

Chicken Marsala at Fritto Misto in Hermosa Beach, CA



Pastrami Sandwich at Memphis Minnie’s in San Francisco, CA



Chicken Pot Pie at Daily Grill in San Francisco, CA


Prime Rib from a House of Prime Rib, San Francisco, CA


Recent Comments

Featured Articles

For the past 4 years as an iPhone user, I've been using a number of apps to help avoid any culinary mistakes. I thought I'd share a few of these. Take a look and if you have any others to recommend, please do so!
Cities in Food Photos With each trip, you'll find a photo essay covering some of the culinary delights each city has to offer.

San Francisco Food Photos

Southern California Food Photos

Santiago Food Photos

New York Food Photos

Seattle Food Photos

Buenos Aires Food Photos

Recommend Food

Want to educate us on a type of food, a restaurant or a cuisine we've missed the boat on? Let us know!

Categories

🐂 ( 4 ) African ( 3 ) Airport Food ( 12 ) Alsace ( 1 ) American ( 72 ) Amherst ( 6 ) Argentina ( 49 ) Argentinian ( 1 ) Arica ( 22 ) Atlanta ( 2 ) Australian ( 1 ) Austria ( 1 ) Austrian ( 2 ) Bacon ( 1 ) Bacon and Shrimp Pasta ( 1 ) bacon jam ( 1 ) barbecue ( 3 ) Barcelona ( 44 ) BBQ ( 48 ) beef ( 3 ) Belgrade ( 4 ) Bison ( 1 ) Bol ( 4 ) Bosnia ( 6 ) Boston ( 6 ) Boulder ( 4 ) Brač ( 4 ) Brazilian ( 1 ) Breakfast ( 17 ) Budapest ( 7 ) Buenos Aires ( 41 ) Burgers ( 2 ) Butte ( 1 ) by Jason ( 230 ) by Jess ( 1 ) by Matt ( 588 ) Cajun ( 4 ) cali ( 1 ) California ( 14 ) Canada ( 1 ) Cape Cod ( 26 ) Caribbean ( 46 ) Cary ( 2 ) Casper ( 2 ) Catalonia ( 38 ) Chefs ( 1 ) Chicago ( 2 ) Chicken ( 1 ) Chile ( 204 ) Chile wine list ( 4 ) Chili ( 1 ) Chinese ( 31 ) Colorado ( 4 ) Connecticut ( 5 ) Creole ( 1 ) Croatia ( 126 ) Crock Pot ( 1 ) Deli ( 15 ) Dessert ( 22 ) Dim Sum ( 28 ) Drinks ( 3 ) Dubrovnik ( 5 ) Duck ( 1 ) Durham ( 1 ) Eastham ( 2 ) Elk ( 1 ) England ( 12 ) FacebookPages ( 11 ) Festivals ( 1 ) Fish ( 1 ) food ( 2 ) food photos ( 944 ) Food Trucks ( 1 ) FoodSherpas ( 5 ) foodspotting ( 2 ) France ( 1 ) French ( 10 ) Galician ( 4 ) Game Meat ( 1 ) Georgia ( 3 ) Georgian ( 1 ) German ( 17 ) Germany ( 1 ) Greece ( 3 ) Hamilton ( 6 ) Hartford ( 5 ) hermosa beach ( 3 ) Holiday Meals ( 2 ) Home Cookin' ( 24 ) Home Cooking ( 37 ) Houston ( 1 ) Hungarian ( 1 ) Hungary ( 7 ) IFTTT ( 81 ) Indian ( 11 ) Instagram ( 117 ) International Food day ( 1 ) Iowa ( 17 ) iowa city ( 15 ) Irish ( 1 ) Istanbul ( 10 ) Istria ( 3 ) Italian ( 73 ) Italy ( 14 ) Japanese ( 22 ) Jewish ( 7 ) Kenyan ( 2 ) Keto ( 1 ) Krakow ( 14 ) Krapinske Toplice ( 13 ) Lake Balaton ( 7 ) London ( 12 ) Los Angeles ( 37 ) Lunch ( 13 ) Maine ( 2 ) Manhattan Beach ( 2 ) Massachusetts ( 32 ) Mexican ( 2 ) Miami ( 9 ) Michelin Star ( 1 ) Montana ( 9 ) Montevideo ( 2 ) Munich ( 1 ) New England ( 4 ) New Hampshire ( 2 ) New Haven ( 1 ) New Jersey ( 4 ) New York ( 44 ) NJ ( 4 ) Noodles ( 1 ) North Carolina ( 8 ) Norway ( 13 ) Oktoberfest ( 1 ) Orleans ( 10 ) Oslo ( 13 ) Parrilla ( 8 ) Pasta ( 2 ) Patagonia ( 1 ) Peru ( 4 ) Peruvian ( 9 ) Philipino ( 2 ) Pittsburgh ( 1 ) Pizza ( 40 ) Poland ( 14 ) Polish ( 6 ) pubs ( 2 ) Raleigh ( 8 ) Ramen ( 3 ) Recipes ( 14 ) Redondo Beach ( 2 ) Resort ( 46 ) Resources ( 1 ) Reviews ( 2 ) Russian ( 3 ) Saint Lucia ( 46 ) salad ( 1 ) San Cugat del Valles ( 3 ) San Francisco ( 258 ) Sandwiches ( 5 ) Santa Barbara ( 3 ) Santa Monica ( 1 ) Santiago ( 162 ) Sarajevo ( 4 ) Seafood ( 169 ) Seattle ( 9 ) Serbia ( 4 ) Soups ( 2 ) Southern Food ( 2 ) Spain ( 43 ) Spanish ( 3 ) Split ( 9 ) Steak ( 35 ) Steakhouse ( 3 ) Stews ( 2 ) Strasbourg ( 1 ) Sushi ( 29 ) Syrian ( 2 ) Tacna ( 4 ) Taiwanese ( 3 ) Tapas ( 6 ) Texas ( 1 ) Thai ( 3 ) Thanksgiving ( 1 ) Thessaloniki ( 3 ) Toronto ( 1 ) Travel ( 38 ) Tumblr ( 49 ) Turkey ( 10 ) Uruguay ( 2 ) Varazdin ( 1 ) Vegetarian ( 6 ) Venice ( 14 ) Venison ( 1 ) Vienna ( 1 ) Vietnamese ( 6 ) Villa General Belgrano ( 1 ) Vina Del Mar ( 11 ) Viña del Mar ( 6 ) Washington D.C. ( 8 ) Wellfleet ( 3 ) Wild Boar ( 1 ) wine ( 2 ) wine list ( 1 ) Worst Restaurant ( 1 ) Wyoming ( 3 ) Xiao Long Bao ( 2 ) Yakitori ( 1 ) Zagreb ( 102 )