Photos and story by Marta Tarantsey
Saccatore and Cozy Booths on Main
101 E Main Street, Phone 541-779-0135 www.4daughtersirishpub.org
This February, I was reminded that a tapas destination’s menu will draw you back in until you try everything on it. I had the chance to sit down for a leisurely dinner there twice in the last few weeks and had to share the variety of dishes that I had a chance to taste. I also learned that this is the one spot where you can get paella in Medford, and I was not about to pass up the chance to score some.
On the first visit, I enjoyed a Mahi Mahi that was very fresh and cooked to a perfect crust. My dining companion enjoyed a three-empanada medium plate and croquetas, a traditional Spanish deep-fried appetizer. The second time around, my approach was more in tune with the spirit of a tapas bar, where you often select dishes to share, to create an opportunity to enjoy all types of flavors for your entire table. My companion ordered the Sexy Human cocktail made with Hot Monkey vodka and passionfruit puree, a drink I learned they have enjoyed here many times before. I enjoyed my two Mojito mocktails. We started with the Spanish appetizer plate (Marcona almonds, stuffed olives and capers, and some pickled veggies) served on a three-section platter. Paellas typically take a bit longer (although we were informed the vegetarian one often is cooked slightly faster than the other options), so I ordered the garlic saffron shrimp appetizer as seafood sounded great that night, and I wanted something warm and solid as the main dish arrived. Both smaller plates came out quickly, and the shrimp was served with three baguette slices to soak up the juice; the sauce was butter-based, and I made sure to use the bread to pick it up at a good pace as the shrimp and the sauce cooled down very quickly.
The paella arrived in the pan in which it was cooked, as is customary, so watch the hot edges and don’t touch it without the towel wrapped around the handle provided. Paella will often have a toasted crust of rice grains at the bottom of the dish, called saccatore, considered a delicacy by some, and the stellar toasted crust was certainly there as I spooned out the dish onto my plate. The flavor combination spoke of comfort food, and this was probably the creamiest paella that I ever tried. When the menu warns you that the 12-inch pan feeds 3-4 people, they certainly mean it! My companion and I took home a box of the leftovers. I would be interested in trying the seafood paella next time to see how the flavors are different there.
A highlight of both dinners was the old-school leather-upholstered dining booths (although the restaurant also offers bar-style and dining tables and bar seating) because they offered comfort and felt private for my catch-me-up-on-your-life dinners.
