Madison: Icon

State Street in Madison boasts a number of restaurants and boutique shops. From the university to the capitol building is a bare 1/2 mile. Among others is a new tapas restaurant called Icon. Two colleagues and I relaxed there at the start of a conference and shared a number of dishes between us. Our choices were:

* Roasted Eggplant Salad with Tomatoes, Scallions and Red Onions
* Imported Cured Spanish Meats with Shaved Manchego
* Baked Goat Cheese with Tomato Sauce and Toasted Garlic Bread
* Jamon Wrapped Sea Scallops
* Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes with pickled vegetables and piquillo mustard
* Rioja Braised Short Ribs with Manchego Mashed Potatoes

I admit my favorite was the goat cheese dish, but I have a thing for it so I wasn't surprised. The eggplant I tried on a dare, essentially, having had eggplant parmesan some years ago and concluded I didn't like the vegetable. Given the seasoning, I can't conclude whether I like eggplant or not. The short ribs were perfectly cooked and amazingly tender -- can't recommend them enough. Admittedly we ordered the cured spanish meat dish in order to get the shaved manchego but we certainly weren't disappointed.

I also tried the Osborne Solaz Tempranillo and it was a great match for these dishes: Intensely fruity with deep aromas of ripe raspberry and black cassis subtly highlighted by notes of leather and peppery spice. A finely structured full-bodied wine showing lots of fruit. It is both elegant and complex with a lengthy finish.