Hola to Spanish dining at Hermosa


Hermosa brings the excitement and aromas of Spain to Westfield Chermside’s new dining precinct.
Created by the people who gave you Olé at South Bank, Hermosa is a vibrant restaurant that captures the feel of sunny Spain and the bold flavours that have made its cuisine so famous.

Start your dining experience here with a wine cocktail from the selection on the sangria menu. There are three made on full bodied red wine, and two on a fruity, sweet white wine. Watermelon mint and lime topped with fresh lime leaves was refreshing. Next time I’ll try the Winter Tinto mix of blood orange, cinnamon and cloves.

In addition to Australian and New Zealand wines on the list, there is a choice of 10 Spanish wines, with many available by the glass. Four Spanish beers are available including Hermosa’s own lager on tap.


Tempting tapas


Nice to see a choice of three types of Jamon (cured ham), a sweet and soft Serrano, a richer Iberico, and the crème de la crème, Paleta Iberico de Bellota. The acorn-fed, dark cured Iberico Bellota ham has been matured for two years and is served with crusty bread and grated tomato. It has an almost gamey flavour which is to be savoured. If you just want a great ham taste, go for the less expensive jamon.

It’s hard to get past the tapas menu as the choices are many and tempting. We started with the paella bombas, which were crisp-coated balls of chorizo-pink coloured rice with an oozy, San Simon cheese interior. Dipped in lemon flavoured yoghurt, they were an excellent way to begin the meal.

A light and crisp coating on the baby calamari made this a very moreish dish, while the 12-hour slow cooked, pimento-crusted beef on mini tacos was deliciously tender.

When a steaming pan of paella arrived at the next table, I definitely experienced order envy. It’s a sizable dish designed for two or three people to share and a must for paella lovers.

We didn’t even start on the bigger share plates, sides and salads but the dessert menu did catch my eye.


Did someone say churros?


If you enjoy a churro, you’ll find they have taken these sticks of fried doughy, sugar-coated goodness to a new level at Hermosa. Filled with lemon crème patisserie and topped with soft Italian meringue finished under the grill, these are little masterpieces. There are four on a plate, and I was happy to share this rich treat.



Where is Hermosa?


Find Hermosa on Level 2 of the Outdoor Dining Precinct at Westfield Chermside. It is open for lunch and dinner.

Bottom line: Tapas $8 to $18; Paella $43 to $47; Desserts $13.

Must try: Finish the evening with a glass of Pedro Ximenez port for $10. Disclaimer: Ed+bK was a guest of Hermosa and is a Westfield Ambassador. This is a sponsored post, but the opinions are my own