People always ask me what I love about being a food blogger. A few reasons I can think from the top of my head is that this has been an amazing outlet to pursue my love for photography and writing. I love all of the different types of people I’ve encountered paths with and find this blogging community incredibly inspiring.

But one of the things I really love about being a food blogger?

Being able to try new restaurants.

I’ve been lucky enough to have been invited to try many new restaurants:

And last week, Salero invited me to experience Chef Ashlee Aubin’s new spring menu.

Salero, (which translates to “wit/charm” according to Google) features “Modern Spanish” cuisine from the Basque region. Rather than tapas, the menu is divided into appetizers and  entrees.  This hot spot is located in the West Loop and was most recently recognize as one of the best new restaurants by Chicago magazine. The inside of Salero is simply mind-blowing with it’s simple yet rustic look. Everything has clean lines, warm tones and soft lighting. They paid very close attention to every detail, including the candles lining the east wall.

Here were a few of my favorites from their new spring menu:

The Grilled Pork Jowl with farro negro, green romesco, mojo picon, puffed barley, pickled shallots and feta powder was easily my favorite dish from the night.

Lentil-scallion fritters & Greek Yogurt

Steak Tartare with hand cut filet, guajillo salsa, quail egg, horseradish yogurt, homemade brioche

This Chocolate Ganache Cake honestly just melted in my mouth – this was infused with amaro sabayon, blueberry compote then topped with hazelnut crunch, cocoa nib & raspberry tuile, chantilly.

The perfect dessert to end our meal – I’m a huge fan of anything meringue, so naturally I fell in love with this Grapefruit baked Alaska, a grapefruit sherbet manchego cake then toasted with a vanilla meringue.

Salero is a place where Spanish cuisine lovers will be satisfied, not only with the exceptional food but also the extensive wine list and the attentive and impressively knowledgeable servers. And for those fiery grilled pork cheeks, of course.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary meal to facilitate this post. Review and all opinions are my own.