[Chicago] Cafe Ba Ba Reeba

Location Review:
2024 North Halsted
Chicago, IL 60614
773-935-5000

Menu

Even before my visit to Chicago, I had heard so much about the great Spanish cuisine in the city. And after personally visiting the city, I can definitely see why. During a lunch time visit to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba (@cafebabareeba), I had the pleasure of tasting some dishes from their Spanish tapas menu, crafted by Chef Tim Cottini. If you're not interested in ordering small plates, they have regular lunch and dinner menus that offer classic Spanish entrees. Regardless of what you settle on ordering, you can be assured your meal is as close to Spanish roots as it gets:  the charcuterie, cheese, olive oil, rice and spices are imported directly from Spain!

#Paella Cooking Class at Pimenton

Location Review:
Pimenton Spanish & Mediterranean Fine Food
681 Mount Pleasant Road
Toronto, Ontario
(647) 343-4870


I don't know about you, but just looking at this picture of paella makes me hungry. I'm a big fan of paella, but never in a million years did I think that I could cook up this Spanish staple dish. I'm not too bad of a cook, but something as complex as paella? No way.

And so I was elated when Mary Luz Mejia from Sizzling Communications invited me to attend one of  Pimenton's paella classes. I know absolutely nothing about Spanish cooking, but never fear, chef Jose Arato is here! And thank goodness for that. Owner and head chef of Pimenton (@PimentonTO), Jose Arato takes his Venezuelan background and many years as a chef at the Hyatt Park Hotel to everything that he does. Pimenton offers lots of cooking classes, catering, charcuterie, wholesale, cooking supplies, and food to go.