Lorca Churros, Coffee & More Opens in Stamford

Sarah Green January 06, 2013

There is a place -a tiny, subway tiled place- where dreams really do come true. Layla Dam, owner of LORCA- Churros and Coffee bar- has created Mecca for those in NEED of sugar sprinkled, fried choux and a cup of wickedly awesome Joe. Located in the heart of Stamford at 125 Bedford Street, Lorca is the new jewel in town. The design is funky, complete with a wall mural created by Dam's brother Chris. But "Why LORCA?" I asked. As I dined on the divine, the answer was clear. Passion.

Ms Dam was born in Granada, Spain - hometown, also, of the famous poet/author, Federico Garcia Lorca, - and her heart yearns for that place. She grew up in Darien and has longed for the romantic, ancient town of her infancy. You can take the girl out of Granada but why take Granada away from the girl? She moved back to Seville for a time to study the art of CHURRO creation and LORCA is the fruit of her research.

The choux pastry she fries contains only butter, water, flour, and eggs. Instead of a raising agent it employs high moisture content to create steam during cooking to puff the pastry. And here, in Layla's new, diminutive locale, she makes piping hot Churros to order. Once prepared, they are doused in confectioner's sugar. And finally, there are three delectable sauces in which you may gently dunk your Spanish doughnut: home-made deep, dark chocolate, a Mexican inspired chocolate complete with cinnamon and a touch of chile powder for a wee kick and, my poison, the dulche de leche (prepared by slowly heating sweetened milk to create a product that derives its taste from caramelized sugar).

Order, and two minutes later, the warm, crunchy treat is yours to bathe in the ambrosia of your choice. And if you crave more, there are a variety of home made Spanish cookies as well as many WAVE HILL pastries and breads for purchase. If it is savory you desire, Dam bakes fresh quiches every day and, coming soon, fresh sandwiches will be available from Station Eats down the road.

And the WEDDING? Well, the groom to this Churro bride is the spectacular coffee, masterfully created by renowned barista Kyle Tush (formerly of Counter Culture and Terrain fame). Like a sculptor with his clay, Tush manipulates the "La Marzocca" hand-made espresso machine and serves up HANDSOME COFFEE (from L.A.) in the form of espressos, cappuccinos, mochas and lattes at just the right temperature, with plenty of microfoam (when required). These are finished off with expertly done latte art, designs with the crema (an emulsion of coffee oil and brewed coffee) and the microfoam (which is a foam of air in milk).

So while LORCA the poet's guitar "gently weeps for distant things," my heart happily weeps with the thought of the proximity of these thoroughly authentic Churros and the outrageous, HANDSOME coffee to wash them down.

For me, and for you my friend, piping hot CHURROS are only a heartbeat away. LORCA is Churro heaven. And yes, I admit it. I DID take a sip of the Dulce de Leche sauce straight out of the "take home" cup on my way back to earth. My name is Sarah and I am a Churro-holic.