Tapas are traditionally consumed at night, shared with friends and family while drinking beer, wine or vermouth. On a recommendation, we recently visited the Solcs Kulturals (SO:KU), a cultural center in Benimaclet, and were delighted to find out that they offer a lunch menu that includes three tapas per person. Tapas for lunch? Why not!
Solcs Kulturals means Cultural Grooves, which is also the name of the organization behind this establishment. In addition to running the bar and restaurant, they also sell records, books, and clothes at a separate location. And if that wasn’t enough, they also organize a steady stream of music and cultural events, many of them held at the center in Benimaclet.
It didn’t surprise us at all to learn about the cultural program at SO:KU, because walking into the bar felt like entering a theater. There was a stage with tables in front of it, and we initially feared we weren’t in the right spot. But then we spotted the bar, and the signs announcing the menú del día. This space also happens to be the cafeteria for the Centre Instructiu Musical de Benimaclet, who has classrooms in the same building.
On this particular day we ordered and shared with each other:
Mike
- Beet Hummus
- Moussaka
- Caramelized Onions with Chorizo
- Apple Cake
Juergen
- Tortilla de Patatas
- Meatballs
- Chicken Curry
- Carrot Cake
The €10 per-person price tag includes three tapas. There were several dishes to choose from and we decided right away to share everything, which is how tapas are meant to be enjoyed, anyways. All of our mini dishes were served at the same time.
Mike’s beet hummus was just so colorful, especially in contrast with the carrot sticks they added for dipping and Jürgen’s tortilla, which came with little bacon bits was cooked to perfection, with a moist center. The chicken curry was a bit different; we expected it to be served with a coconut based sauce but instead it was a broth — still delicious. While the meatballs were excellent, the moussaka was just decent (we’re tough judges, having spent too much time in Greece). But the big surprise was the chorizo with caramelized onions. We really loved the smokey flavor of the sausage combined with the sweet flavors of the onions
This was fun and it was satisfying to see our empty tapas bowls stacked up in front of us on the table. Now we were ready for desert: home baked carrot and apple cake, which hit spot. We also opted for coffee, which wasn’t included in the menu but was the perfect way to round up our first tapas lunch.
We made sure to grab a program as we left. Perhaps the next time we return it will be not for lunch, but to check out some of the events that take place here. Visit the calendar on their website for more information.
From our Valencia Menu del Dia Blog