A New Sarasota Favorite: Jalea

In the past month I discovered Jalea, in downtown Sarasota, and have since been back multiple times to satisfy my new obsession with ceviche. The restaurant formerly known as Sangria, is inspired by the metropolitan city of Lima, Peru. Spanish and Peruvian influence comprise the varied menu, featuring cold and hot tapas, or small plates, which are becoming an increasingly popular dining option for those who prefer to fill up on a variety flavors.

A full-bar that stretches from the front to back of the restaurant creates a casual vibe as well as wonderful traditional cocktails. One of the drinks, the Pisco Sour, is topped with foam, and sprinkled with cinnamon, making it a delight to indulge in the fresh, aromatic, citrus cocktail. Each time I dine at Jalea I pay tribute to the former namesake and order a glass (or two) of the red sangria. It is a beautiful blush magenta color, generously topped with fresh pieces of fruit, and the perfect degree of sweetness. Also available are a variety of Spanish wines and Peruvian beers.

One of the first times I visited Jalea, I had the pleasure of attending a tasting in which we started with a white fish ceviche called Leche de Tigre. It is served in a wine glass, garnished with a cocktail shrimp, and boasts an amazing texture, tasting of light, creamy, citrusy ocean goodness. The “tiny pieces of white fish, corn, onions, and ceviche juice” was the perfect start to the variety of seafood dishes to come. Of these were muscles topped with a fresh mixture of onions, cilantro, cuzco corn, and tomato, parmesan scallops, a decadent paella, and pan seared fish topped with sauteed calamari, octopus, mussels, shrimp, and scallops. Another favorite were the Gambas al Ajillo, shrimp in butter and sherry wine sauce. The sauce was so good we asked for bread to savor the remnants Jalea, the national dish of peru, is a beautiful platter of lightly breaded white fish and seafood, topped with onions, tomato, and yucca that perfectly compliment the deep-fried morsels.

For those that cannot, or prefer not to indulge in seafood, there are many other plates to choose from. These include braised beef with rice and Peruvian-style mashed potatoes, sauteed beef tenderloin atop a wonderful heap of french fries, a nice layered dish of Peruvian mashed potatoes, avocado and chicken salad, and a lovely butternut squash mix featuring lima beans, aji panca, white cheese, and potato.