After my trip to Spain last year, I came back hungry for Spanish food. I wanted to learn some basics and get comfortable cooking this delicious cuisine at home. You'd be surprised how difficult it is to find quality Spanish cuisine in Chicago. With less than a handful of solid choices, I called up chef Cory Morris from one of the top Spanish restaurants to cook one of my favorite dishes with me, paella. Rather than the typical Valencian version most diners think of…bright yellow with chorizo and chicken, Cory prepared a Catalan seafood paella cooked with a very traditional suquet, or fish broth, and lots of seafood. While this version may not be your go-to, you will see the fundamentals of cooking paella from a pro - the pan, the heat source, the techniques and the finished product.

The menu at Mercat a la Planxa is rooted in tradition from Barcelona flecked with some modern touches. Perched on the edge of the Loop off of Michigan Avenue, Mercat is one of my favorite places to dine. Great food, great sangria, great atmosphere. Chef Cory Morris has added some new menu items recently and I'm quite sure, as the fall enters Chicago, some great seasonal items will find their way to Mercat again. Make sure to find your way to Mercat! 

Mercat a la Planxa
638 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago
(312) 765-0524
26 ZAGAT

PAELLA NEGRA
LOBSTER, SCALLOPS, SHRIMP, MUSSELS, COOKED IN SQUID INK SERVED ARTICHOKE & TOMATO SALAD AND SAFFRON AIOLI