Bite Club: South American tapas with a side of sushi
A surprising combination of South American and Japanese culinary traditions offers fun and fancy tapas in central Phoenix.
State of play: Mixela opened last August on 24th Street just north of Osborn Road.
The menu, which changes regularly, features traditional tapas alongside sushi.
Chef and co-owner Gian Franco Brugaletta was born in Venezuela and studied cooking in Italy. He also has a lifelong love of sushi, per the Phoenix New Times.
Co-owner Valentina Huerta was born in Mexico and spent much of her life in Europe.
Best bites: I ordered the green chile beef empanadas and pulled pork arepas.
The beef was perfectly seasoned and a little spicy, and the chewy arepas overflowed with delicious pork.
My wife loved the Bacalao empanadas with Spanish cod.
For dessert, we shared the red wine-poached pears with Amaretto cream. I highly recommend this sweet treat to wrap up the meal.
Zoom in: Don't forget about the drink menu. I ordered The V, with mezcal, pomegranate, ginger, lime and Mexican chocolate.
It was a unique combination of flavors. The smokiness of the mezcal stole the show, while the pomegranate softened it, all complemented by the subtle chocolate.
My wife's Sirena — elderflower, limoncello and bubbles — was a light and refreshing sipper.
What's next: Before their current menu selections change, I'd love to go back and try the Moroccan chicken stew and the lamb parmentier, the latter of which I envied as a server brought it to a nearby table.
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