The slabs of jamón serrano hanging in the window are the first clue as to Pimentón’s offerings. José Arato’s East York space is part grocery store and part takeout joint, with a dash of cooking school on the side. The essence of Spain links everything together. Fire engine–red and lime-green walls set off rows of high-end products (think homemade strawberry jam and wedges of goat cheese), and salads and sides greet visitors from the countertop display. We couldn’t help but fall for the flauta Spanish sandwich. Translating as “flute,” the flauta ($25) is a traditional Catalonian pick. Spotlighting the hand-sliced jamón ibérico, this Barcelonian go-to revs up the meat with tumaca — a blend of tomato sauce, olive oil and salt — and presents the goods in the region’s flute bread (another version of this sandwich, with jamón serrano, is considerably less extravagant at $12).
