Despana: ¡Que tienda mas maravillosa!

I've just returned from Spain - well, more accurately, Broome Street, but I might as well have been in Spain for all the Spanish delicacies I just purchased and ate! For eight months, Despaña has been plying Iberophiles with all kinds of good things: chorizo, Serrano ham, sherry vinegar, fragrant Primicia olive oil, tuna-stuffed olives in escabeche, cactus marmalade from the Canary Islands, poached pears, Asturian cheese, tortas de aceite, and licorice bonbons. And that's just the grocery! In the ready-to-eat section, there are various sandwiches on ciabatta (some options: dry-cured pork loin with Manchego, spicy chorizo with Mahon cheese and Basque peppers, and white tuna wth white anchovies) tortilla española (two flavors: potato or chorizo-pepper), desserts like requeson y miel (white cheese and honey), and some really great espresso. (There's only one table, so try to grab it!)

Now, please excuse me while I put away my artichoke hearts, ali oli, artisanal asparagus mousse, whole piquillo peppers, and dry-cured fish sampler.

Despana: 408 Broome St., (212) 219-5050.