Authentic cuisine is not difficult to come by in NYC, and Despaña, a small Spanish deli in the heart of Soho, is no different. In addition to their counter of perfectly cured meats, spreads, cheeses, oils and vinegars, the boutique offers a small seating area for eat-in tapas and bocadillos. The space has about 6 seats, and is perfect for a casual lunch with one or two friends. The bocadillos are their pride and joy, and yesterday we sampled a hot and cold from that section of their menu:
Chorizo Picante
The chorizo picante was spicy, smoky, creamy and crispy. The bread was fresh and had a perfectly baked crust that made the first bite crunchy and savory. The peppers were not overwhelming, and added just enough kick to make the flavor profile a bit more intense. It is made with their own brand of chorizo, Mahon cheese, Piparras (Basque spicy guindilla peppers), tomatoes, and a dab of alioli sauce.
Despaña
The Despaña was our cold sandwich. Comprised of Serrano ham slices, creamy goat cheese from Murcia and a light tomato-garlic spread, the combination of the ham and goat cheese gave this sandwich a slightly pickled flavoring, that was slightly sour and very satisfying.
I would go back to Despaña for the simple, yet flavorful sandwiches that leave you feeling satisfied and re-energized without the food-coma-inducing heaviness that sometimes accompanies a cheese laden lunch. I would also return for their cured meats, which are diverse in kind and flavor.
Despaña is located at 408 Broome Street, NY, NY 10013. Sandwiches run at about $8.50, tapas at about $3.25 per item. Moderately expensive for anywhere else in the city, but about average for Soho.
