Bistro Dalia:
Salamanca and Chorizo
By Imad Bennani
for East Leeds Magazine, January 2012

First of all, I'd like to wish you all a belated Happy New Year. As we're still in the depths of winter, I thought it would be a nice idea to take you on a tour of the Mediterranean and let you know where some of my influences come from. I'm going to start with Spain and the city of Salamanca.

Fortunately, I've got a bit of inside information as my brothers partner, Monica, who also works part time for Bistro Dalia is a proud Salamancan.

"Salamanca is in the province of Castilla y León, near the Portuguese border. The old town was recently classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site. We are very proud of our 12th century University, which is Spain's Oxford or Cambridge. We are also proud of our two cathedrals, the old one is from the same era as the University and the ‘new’ one is a mix of 17th century Gothic and Baroque.
Outside the city, it's quite rural and very famous for Guijuelo ham. When I was a child, it seemed the whole city used to make an annual pilgrimage into the provinces just before Christmas. We used to buy a whole carcass and take it back to the city, where we'd cure it, dice it, marinate it, hang it up, make chorizo, it was a fun time with a lovely rustic charm."

After hearing Monica and her passion for Guijuelo, especially Chorizo, I sourced a supplier direct from Spain and now it's the only kind of chorizo we use in the restaurant. It's completely different than what you'd buy on the high street and once the aroma rises from the pan, it's a pleasure to cook. Our Ensalada Charra, fuses the juices of chorizo and baby mushrooms. Chorizo mixed with onions and mushrooms make up our Risotto and Pizza. The beauty of this Chorizo is, it's so tasty, it's easy to keep the ingredients simple, the taste speaks for itself.
For the Spaniards, eating out is a national pass time and the food is down to earth and uncomplicated. I'm sure everyones got their own memory of an evening meal as the sunsets over the Med. With this in mind, this month I'm introducing a special two course fish plateau for two people. The starter consists of calamari, white bait and king prawns and the main course a choice of sea bass, seam bream or salmon, oven baked with meditteranean veg in a lemon white wine sauce. If you have a holiday memories and would like your own twist, let me know when you book and I'll do my best.

Besseha - To Your Health, Imad Bennani

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Tuesday - Friday 5pm - 10pm
Saturday 12 - 10pm
Sunday 12 - 5.30pm

Early bird specials
5- 7.30
2 courses £10.95
3 courses £11.95
Private Parties catered for

A La Carte Menu
Sunday Carvery
Private Parties

0113 232 6006 0788 408 2345
bistrodalia@mail.com
Inside East Leeds Snooker Centre
Crossgates, Sandleas Way
LS15 8AW

http://www.eastleedssnooker.co.uk/dalia.html

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