The Complete Tapas Line-up at Andele Tapas Bar de Cebu

 I have always dreamt of going to Spain and to try out the tapas there ever since I saw it featured in a Food channel. I also heard tales from friends and relatives about how amazing it is to go bar-hopping to different Tapas bars in Madrid.  It was some sort of fantasy that came true when I was recently invited to taste the tapas of Andele Tapas Bar de Cebu at Mango Avenue. On that night, I was transported to Spain and saw a glimpse of the food that my Spanish ancestors were enjoying. Don Carlos Andres Olano tasted 26 different tapas and enjoyed them like a true-blue Spaniard.

 The tapas bar is managed by the people behind Marshall's Irish Pub. Chef Larry Marshall was there to welcome me and handful of bloggers to the food-tasting event.  He told us that we will be trying out all the tapas that they will be serving at Andele Tapas Bar de Cebu.  I had a light lunch so I expected myself to conquer all the 26 tapas. It was harder than expected....

The Tapas at Andele Tapas Bar de Cebu

1 of 26 Albondigas

Meatballs with Bread and Sauce 

We started the night with a serving of Albondigas.  The beef meatballs were served with a tomato based sauce and toasted bread. I ate mine ala pincho which means I put my meatball on top of my bread and put some sauce. It is a pretty good start of a long night of eating.

2 of 26 Allioli 

The classic combination of garlic and oil on top of a bread and served with potatoes

 I love the "sweetness" from the allioli.  The good thing about tapas is that the servings are small which allows people to interact with each other. I was able to make friends with my seatmates and we were able to talk about our different blogs.

3 of 26 Bacalao

Salted white fish sliced thinly served with bread and tomatoes

 The bacalao was really awesome.  The fish was crispy and I thought it was not a fish.  It tasted really good. It was the standout among the first few dishes.

4 of 26 Calamares 

Rings of battered squid with salsa dipping sauce

 The calamares were mildly seasoned. It was a typical fried squid with a batter.

5 of 26 Beer Battered Calamares

Squid dipped in Beer Batter before fired to a crisp then served with a sweet and spicy sauce

A different version of the calamares as Chef Larry Marshall used beer in its batter.  This had a more Asian flair as its crispier and it was served with a sweet and spicy sauce.  I liked this better than the other version.

6 of 26 Bird's Nest Chorizo

Julienned potatoes shaped like a bird's nest filled with yummy Spanish Chorizo topped with fried quail eggs, jalapenos, and black olives

If there was an award for the best-presented tapas for that night, I would definitely pick the Bird's Nest Chorizo.  It had an edible "nest" made of potatoes.  The chorizo with quail egg, jalapeno, and olive was also awesome.

7 of 26 Carne Mechada

Tender Beef slow-cooked with potatoes and onions

Another tomato-based dish.  The carne mechada had a very pleasant aroma.

8 of 26 Chorizo al Vino

Sausage slowly cooked in Spanish Red Wine.

This was my favorite chorizo dish of the night. The Spanish red wine made the chorizo more flavorful.

9 of 26 Camarones y Chorizo Pinchos

Spanish Chorizo Slices and Shrimp with aioli on a bamboo skewer

The shrimp and chorizo goes well together.  It was an awesome surf and turf tapas on a stick.

10 of 26 Croquetas

A popular dish in bars and homes in Spain made of mashed potato

It was to really pleasant to eat.  Many of the guests that night raved about the croquetas. It had a creamy texture and tasted wonderful. The slaw accompanying the dish provided an excellent complement to the croquetas.

11 of 26 Empanadillas

Bite-sized baked pastries stuffed with meat and vegetables

This somehow reminds me of my mom's empanadas. The pastry was crunchy. The filling is really fragrant and I enjoyed the chickpeas. The size was perfect for 2 to 3 bites. 

12 of 26 Gambas

Prawns sauteed in spicy salsa

If you like spicy food, you would enjoy the gambas.  

13 of 26 Parma Jamon y Queso en Pan

Parma Ham and Cheese on a bread topped with olives.

Since I love ham and cheese sandwich, it was expected that I would have fun eating the Parma Ham and Cheese.  Parma ham has always been my favorite when it comes to hams because of its saltiness.

14 of 26 Raxo

Pork seasoned with garlic and parsley with added Spanish paprika

Andale's Raxo was very fragrant.

15 of 26 Setas Al Ajllo

Champignons sauteed with olive oil and garlic

16 of 26 Mejillones Rellenos

Also known as Tigres, these stuffed mussels are very spicy

These mussels were really spicy.  It is quiet overpowering to some people, but I was able to eat at least 3 pieces.

17 of 26 Cojonudo

A kind of pinchos,  it is made of a slice of bread topped with Spanish Chorizo and quail egg.

This was another variation that included bread, chorizo, and quail egg.

18 of 26 Pincho Moruno

Sticks of spicy meat

This tapas would remind you of barbecue.  It would be perfect with some wine, beer, or shots that Andale Tapas Bar de Cebu offers.

19 of 26 Zamburinas

Renowned scallops served in marinara sauce

The Zamburinas was another dish that would make non-meat eaters happy. 

20 of 26 Tortilla de Patatas

Spanish Omelet made of lots of potatoes and onions

Andele Tapas Bar de Cebu served us two kinds of omelets.  This version is filled with potatoes and onions. I wanted rice with this one.

21 of 26 Papas Con Mojo

Small potatoes boiled in salt water then slightly roasted then served with mojo sauce

I was surprised that potatoes can be transformed into an excellent tapas bar dish.

22 of 26 Solomillo ala Castellana

Fried pork scallops served with onion and cheese sauce

Among the 26 tapas, I would rank this one in my personal top 3. The Pork, onion, and cheese combination just worked for me. 

23 of 26 Taquitos

Baby tacos filled with ground beef, special seasoning, onion, shredded lettuce, and cheddar cheese.

For messy eaters like me, the bite-size taquitos would be the perfect size for tacos. 

24 of 26 Salmon Ahumado

Smoked Salmon stuffed with Feta Cheese topped with bacon then served on a bread.

This was the most expensive dish of Andale Tapas Bar de Cebu and I understood why. It was a great marriage of flavors and textures. The smokiness of the salmon combined with the fat and crispy bacon, and creamy feta cheese, was a #foodgasmic experience.

25 of 26 Patatas Bravas

Fried potato slices served with salsa brava

26 of 26 Tortilla Paisana

A tortilla (omelet) made with vegetables and chorizo.

Bonus: Churros

Fried long doughnut-style bread that is sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. Served with chocolate dipping sauce and whipped cream.

The food tasting was capped with a delicious serving of churros. Eating something sweet bread was the best way to cap a dinner an amazing spread of tapas from Andele Tapas Bar de Cebu. I was surprised that I was there till the end and I went home with a #happytummy.

I was really happy to taste all 26 + 1 dishes at Andele Tapas Bar de Cebu. I had a great introduction to Spanish tapas and I would probably go back there with some friends one of these days. After the food tasting, my desire to go to Spain has increased.  I would want to explore the countless of tapas bars there. 

If you are looking for different food and drink experience in the Mango Avenue area then I would really suggest that you check out Andele Tapas Bar de Cebu.

Andele Tapas Bar de Cebu

A tapas bar located at Mango Square Mall, Gen. Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City

Open: Daily from 4:00pm till 1:00am
Phone: 032-416-4048 or 0917-6312413
Visit http://www.andeletapasbar.com.
Email: info@andeletapasbar.com

Andele Tapas Bar de Cebu

4.5 stars -
"An excellent place for tapas in Cebu." 
Carlo Andrew Olano 
Try the Salmon Ahumado, Bacalao, and the various chorizo dishes.

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