"November 7, 2011 Halloween bonfire night are traditionally associated with being a whole lot of fun for kids. For me, however, it’s the perfect excuse for some food indulgence (like I need an excuse… Although I have been known to dress up in some weird and wonderful costumes and go out on the hunt for sweeties, this year my Halloween was a much more grown up affair as I celebrated Dia De Los Muertos with my good friend Sarah at Birmingham’s own little slice of South America, Bodega . Their event included a pop-up shop, a special cocktail and a healthy dose of delicious food. Whenever I frequent Bodega (and it happens a lot it takes me an age to decide what to eat. Do I play it safe with a tried and tested Burrito or do I dare try something new? This time, however, greed got the better of both of us, as we opted for the Bodega Selection platter with a selection of some of their best dishes, like Pork Carnitas Tacos, Patatas Bravas, Frijoles, Nachos, Albondigas Cubanas and Chipotle Chicken Quesadillas. Plus we got a side of sweet potato fries! I tucked into the Albondigas Cubanas first of all, tender and juicy beef meatballs in a deliciously rich red wine and tomato sauce, which were a flavour explosion in the mouth. Definitely gives Italian meatballs a run for their money! The patatas bravas in the same sauce were equally as impressive. Next up I tucked into the quesadillas which had the tiniest hint of spice, delicious flavour and stayed crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. Just the right amount of cheese complimented the chicken and made the quesadillas surprisingly light. The nachos were a surefire winner, smothered in tomato salsa, fresh guacamole and sour cream topped with melted cheese. You can’t go wrong with that combination and these were definitely right. The Pork Carnitas Tacos were also really good, with succulent, spicy shredded pork in a soft shell taco. The biggest surprise for me though, were the Frijoles. Call me uncultured, but on paper"
