#PeachysPicks #Alcala A Peachy's Pick Since 2012 Summer 2024 by #Founder #ExecutiveChef and #Owner #JesusMartinez 246 East 44th Street Manhattan
Founder, Owner and Executive Chef Jesus Martinez with his son Sam, a chip off the old block
Just as amazing as the famous Garlic Shrimp is the Grilled Tuna.
Click here to see the GARLIC SHRIMP IN ACTION!
Garlic Shrimp by Jesus should be on your bucket list in life
It's not who you know, it's WHOM YOU KNOW and we know Jesus Martinez, Founder, Owner and Executive Chef of Alcala. It hits the high notes in the summertime, starting with their signature Gazpacho. The cold Andalusian soup has a stellar presentation and is a beacon of refreshment on a hot summer day. Alcala was first a Peachy's Pick in 2012, and it earned a return feature in February 2024. Furthermore, it's one of the hottest new superstars of Peachy's Picks that has earned a feature in Sensational Salads, our newest culinary column.
If Peachy was stranded on a desert island and could only have garlic shrimp from one place, right now she would pick Alcala. It is more than a pretty face in that video, it is continuously triumphant.
Note pictures are always unedited.
You win like Jesus, or we do not publish.
In real life the lighting and the food are this perfect:
You could put the Gazpacho and the Garlic Shrimp together for something different.
So yes, the Gambas al Ajillo, Garlic Shrimp, is a religious experience for Peachy and not just because his name is Jesus! She sees God when she eats them. If you are looking for shrimp that have a flavor freshness without the garlic overwhelm that Peachy covets and gets a natural high off of, opt for the Gambas en Salsa Verde, below. It's a nice change of pace for summer and the sizzling sauce is now magically parsley.
To refresh your memory, these are among the best salads in all the land.
In particular, Ensalada de Salmon Marinado is a winner with wild Atlantic Salmon sliced to the right thinness and marinated in top-secret bespoke Jesus Martinez ingredients that you'll love. The dill accentuation is laudable in particular and dill is a highly underrepresented menu item everywhere. Mesclun salad with evoo and sherry vinegar dressing is just terrific.
Not to be outdone is the Sardinas a la Parrilla con Ensalada. The Sardines themselves arrive in style from Galicia, Spain. They are set off brilliantly by the mesclun salad and pimento oil with tomato. So healthy and delicious, and wonderful for the summer season!
If you are a vegan or vegetarian and feel like restaurants don't think of you when it comes to the main course, Alcala has it covered. Plato Vegetariano is a classic winner of assorted sauteed vegetables with broiled shiitake mushrooms, green asparagus and artichokes among other nutritional sensations of the vegetable variety. Alcala typically has equal amounts of locals and tourists visit, further testament to Jesus's personal pursuit of excellence.
On the other hand, if you are carnivorously inclined, Chuleton Cabrales is calling your name.
Steak tapa in a Cabrales cheese sauce is a favorite of Jesus himself and we bet you have not had this yet! It is the ultimate combination of steak and cheese in all its delicious exquisiteness.
Atun Encebollado was truly outstanding and is by far the best Tuna we have had in 2024 anywhere. It's ideally grilled giving it sublime flavor and the scalloped potatoes that come to the party are standout in their own right. Caramelized Spanish onions add the right hint of flavor and freshness is the greens it luxuriates upon. Also extremely high on the Peachy absolutely loves it list are the carnelones. Cannelloni of spinach and shrimp, a genius combination, with tomato and indulgent rich Bechamel sauce are so wonderful we believe this should not be merely Tapas: it should be an entree.
Red Sangria is excellent with oranges and green apple and of course Jesus has his own vineyard in Spain evidenced by his face on the bottle, another element that truly sets Alcala apart from its competition.
Finally, the Paella de Mariscos triumphed as the final Jesus Martinez firework edible of the evening. It's high quality in particular not only because of the elevated specific ingredients: squid, shrimp, prawn, clams, monkfish and mussels, but also because of their high count and dominance over the rice which at less competitive places can be used as filler. Actions speak louder than words: Jesus personally goes to the fish market three times a week and hand picks every single selection he tells us at 2am at Hunts Point. That's dedication! Jesus is fantastically competitive and your appetite will be ignited by his tremendous talent in bringing the quality ingredients to his specially designed recipes and you'll dually be won over by his genuine charisma and true joy in having you as a guest.
Alcala continues to be Highly Recommended and it is one of Peachy's favorites right now!
