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Sultry summer nights are soon upon us. Imagine, after a long sweltering day, sitting down in a cool and cozy bistro in the heart of the business district yet discreetly far away from its madness, noshing on delicious tapas and washing them down with well-chilled and refreshing Sangría, bright with the flavors of good rioja and fresh fruits. Maybe even to the accompaniment of a little live jazz music. That’s Calderón. At the back of Classica Condo, just off H. V. dela Costa Street in Salcedo Village.

My brother’s childhood friend and my fellow food-adventurer, Monchet Carballo, is one of the proprietors of Calderon Cocina Tapas y Bebidas. In fact, the restaurant takes its name from the street, F. Calderon St., in Little Baguio in San Juan City where he lives and where he first established this neighborhood eatery/tambayan a couple of years ago.

When a branch was opened in Salcedo Village, I checked it out and tried a few dishes, which I featured here. We also tried the Macadamia Sans Rival, which I liked but was not able to photograph because it disappeared faster than you can say “Cuando hay hambre, no hay mal pan“. But I’m definitely going back for more tapas, definitely more sangría… and maybe another slice of that yummy sans rival (I’m not sure but I think it’s from the Kitchen of Gay Vasquez in Valle Verde).