Once upon a time, I had a super stressful day at work. I let myself be talked into “30 minutes” at Camaradas, a unique and artsy bar (and “nuevo Puerto Rican” restaurant) around the corner from my office.
Even though it was a work night, sangria was first on the agenda:
Now, as we’ve discussed, I do not like wine. But how could I resist this?
Our server, Alejandro, distributed the sangria, and a glass landed in front of me. Whoops.
Thirty minutes quickly turned into over an hour, as the others systematically continued to refill my glass with more and more sangria. Every time we emptied a pitcher, I went digging for the apples and oranges amongst the ice:
Even tipsy, I will fight to save the crumbs!
Alejandro noticed my determination to rescue the fruit, so he delivered to me my very own plate of cut apples, on the house:
Best. Service. Ever.
Between the apples and the buddha on the wall, the stress of the day just melted away 🙂
As the stress melted away, so did the night. Before:
After:
Nydia ordered the Camaradas platter “so you can take a picture for the blog.” I’m very good at following instructions:
This platter included alcapurrias, pastellilos, chicken skewers, yuca tostones, and platano tostones. I took some of each:
Soooooooooooooo good!
And then I went back to my pitchers of wine-soaked fruit.
And somehow four hours went by. And there were a million pictures on my camera.
I think there may have been dancing with Alejandro:
More sangria:
And apparently, more food.
Jose shared a wedge of quesadilla with me, and Lillian shared her salad. Because I did not already have a bushel full of winey apples in my belly or anything.
And the next thing I new, three desserts arrived right in front of me. I swear I did not order them. But mannnnnnnn, did I eat them!
Empanadas de chocolate:
Flan:
And maduros del barrio (the best one! fried sweet plantains with caramel and ice cream):
My coworkers are a bad influence. Bad. Bad. Bad. But in such a good way.
The end 😀
What is your favorite part of sangria: the wine or the fruit?
Tales of Expansion: Baby Butternut Edition 
You’re KILLIN ME!!!! UGHHHH!!! That’s it. I’m coming to Brooklyn. I’m not kidding.
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yum, i love the fruit too!!!
looks like a fun time 😉
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Ah that sangria looks amazing! I must go there! It is so sad ordering sangria at a place and they put no fruit in there! So I’d say both?!
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Oh my God why are there no restaurants near that near me? Ideally, in my house?
Picking between wine and fruit is too hard. That is the whole *point* of sangria, you don’t *have* to!
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Looks like a lot of fun. I love the idea of chocolate empenadas. I’ve never had sangria, but I imagine I’d prefer the fruit.
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The wine!
That was the most fun post I’ve read all day!!!
YAY for coworkers talking you into drinking and eating fierce Latin food!
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Great pics! I have to say, I am not a HUGE red wine drinker, but I do like it sometimes. Sangria, on the other hand, I LOVE! I don’t like it made with white wine, only red, and I will drink it any day, any time. The fruit is nice, but I prefer the drink part! You are so funny eating the fruit from the bottom, I bet it was nice and alcohol-filled!
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Sarah!
Oh, I miss you! Looks like your current co-workers are pretty cool though. AND, I love your hair like that!
xoxo!
Dana
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Next time you’re over my house, we’re making sangria.
I love the fruit, but only because they’re alcohol soaked 🙂
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That place sounds awesome!!! Sangria + dancing are 2 of my faves 😀
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