I should spend the first moment with you, teaching you what I’ve learned: How to pronounce the name of the restaurant. It’s Gijon, Hi-Hon for those having difficulties with the hota, of Julio.
Success. We figured it out together, and instead of telling you how charming the place is, and how delicious, I will walk you through my spectacular menu of Wednesday night.
A little Tinto de Verano, to start.
That’s a summer wine. It paved the way to a full-bodied, lovely Tempranillo, later in the experience.
Spanish food is honest, say owner Alejandro ‘Encyclopedia’ de Arruabarrena, it doesn’t hide under fancy sauces, nor spices; we cook with excellent olive oil, high quality salt, and just one kind of typical pepper, with a fragrant, gentle flavor; what you see is what you get, take your time ordering, focus on the experience, food is there to be enjoyed.
You eat at home, here you dine, he ruled.
I opened the menu. The restaurant lists 130 dazzling dishes, cold and hot tapas, main courses, chef specialties, rice dishes, paellas, meats, fish, sides, extra sides, salads, and desserts, besides 190 wine labels with every region of Spain represented, including white and red sangria in pitchers, or by the glass.
I must schedule a return visit.
From the cold tapas, we ordered DÁTILES CON BACON, my favorites any day of the week, dates filled with blue cheese, and wrapped in bacon, on a bed of smooth and creamy potato mash, and from the hot selection GAMBAS AL AJILLO, and GULAS AL AJILLO, cold water shrimp sautéed in garlic and baby eels swimming in the same irresistible combo of olive oil and garlic, only here with an added yummy pepper. On my trip to Spain light years away, we stopped at a little seaside fishing village and had eels, for lunch. Xixon’s perfect tapa brought back good memories of carefree travel.
We had to also have the TORTILLA ESPAÑOLA, and my foodie dinner-companion said: CON CHORIZO, adding some zing to the already fantastic Spanish potato omelet.
We couldn’t resist the TOSTAS DE SOLOMILLO DE CERDO, sliced pork tenderloin over toast, under slightly sweet caramelized apples, and from the Chef Specialty section, PATA DE PULPO CON ESPUMA
DE PATATA A LA GALLEGA, two giant Octopus tentacles, with Galician potato foam, just off the chart fantastic and I am not calling it octopus arms, because I watched “My Octopus Teacher,” and swore to never have these appendages again. Alas, the flesh is weak.
We accompanied the CAFÉ ESPRESSO with TARTA SANTIAGO CON HELADO, wait until you hear this: Almond tart with Turron ice cream, a unique dessert, that overshadowed the BROWNIE CON HELADO. But, once a brownie lover, always a brownie lover, and Xixon bakes a good one.
Just before leaving we tried the LENTEJAS GUISADAS, Alejandro ‘Encyclopedia’ de Arruabarrena insisted, when he heard I liked lentil stew. It was thick and comforting, and we polished it off, shamelessly.
And now to the encyclopedia:
There is a lot to learn about Spanish food, and the star of the kitchen, the black, pedigree Iberico pig. Alejandro likes educating his guests: Raised in complete freedom in forest pastures, roaming freely, the chanchos graze exclusively on plants, drinking spring water and during the last six months before slaughter they feast on bellotas, acorns, and these acorns, lend the ham its amazing flavor.
Pedigree Iberico, 18 to 24 months old, delivers the Pata Negra. You may combine Jamon Serrano, the less aristocratic ham with Manchego cheese, but the Belotta, you must have it on its own.
Next time he promised to tell me about cheeses, especially the goat variety, Queso de Cabra or Delicias de Cabra, made of goat milk with various degrees of ripening.
Xixon is a well-established restaurant in refined Coral Gables, on Coral Way, in Miami. It has been serving patrons for 21 years. Then a repeat-repeat Aruban guest, suggested to Alejandro and his wife Karina Castro, to open a Spanish restaurant here, and the rest is history.
Xixón, is the name in Asturian of the second most important capital of Asturias, Gijón. Open from 5 to 11 Monday to Saturday and on Sunday from 11 to 11.
Special offer for Happy Hour from 5 to 6. At Paseo Herencia, Palm Beach.
