Elite Event: La Marcha

This was me and Joelle P’s first Unilocal Elite party and I’m so glad we went. The CM’s as well as La Marcha put on a great event that has got me super excited for the elite events to come.
The tapas were phenomenal. I consider myself a bit of a Spanish food snob. I grew up in a small town an hour from Madrid and there are only a handful of places that pass my test. I liked it so much I texted my parents from the party to make plans to take them here later that week.
The only downside was the tapas were a bit hard to come by. From where we were standing they would mostly run out by the time it was supposed to make it to us. But I talked to the owner about how much my family loves croquetas, we’re from Spain and make trips just to get our hands on some, and he brought out a tray JUST for us. He’s a really great guy and small things like that made my night.
I need a separate paragraph just to give the croquetas another shout out — seriously those croquetas am I right?!
The tipsy in tipsy tapas was also amazing — the chardonnay was a huge hit amongst our group and complimented the small plates extremely well.
Thanks everyone for making us feel super welcomed and Stephanie (and the rest of the team) for a great time!

My first Elite event since I moved to the bay!
I was so excited to meet Steph for the very first time and made some great friends with other Elites (I’m talking about you, Jake and Claudia)!
On to the event and venue: Those goat cheese stuffed peppers! Whoa, I ate 3 but I could’ve eaten the whole tray! They were pretty phenomenal paired with my pinot noir. Also, they did a great job of saving the best for last, paella. I don’t know if anyone saw the huge skillet they used to cook this thing but I was thoroughly impressed. The perfect ending to the night!
Thanks for getting people to go out to Berkeley, Steph! I love finding new places in my new home :)

This was mine & my friend Jason’s first Unilocal event and we were so excited and weren’t quite sure what to expect. Check-​in went smooth and fairly quickly. We met so many new faces and had some great conversation with Stephanie & Nique!
Wine was great, but the standouts were definitely the tapas! Unfortunately we didn’t get to try everything that came out, I assumed it was because it just didn’t make it our way. We did, however get to try the boar meatballs (or albondigas). It was served with a yummy sauce & I personally loved the boar — my first time having it.
Croqueta — ugh just melted in my mouth and the green sauce was just heaven! You can really taste the labor of love that went into these
Now let me just take a minute and talk about the paella!!! Omg. I wasn’t expecting to be as big as it was, but it was filling for sure! Shrimp was cooked perfectly, flavor was spot on! I event got some crunchy bits of rice and if you’ve ever had paella the right way you know what I’m talkin bout!
My friend Jason M. who’s also Unilocal elite & is Spanish was able to talk to one of the owners. It was so nice hearing about where he grew up in Spain! He was really friendly and after talking to him for awhile, brought us out a special platter of the croquetas since we didn’t get any at first.
I cannot wait to come back here on my own and try the rest of the menu! We had a blast at our first Unilocal event!

When I saw this event, I immediately grabbed my roommate who happens to be obsessed with Spain (we have Spanish tile coasters at our house that she made herself!). She absolutely loved the decorations at La Marcha and took pictures of everything. Thanks Unilocal for giving me an awesome event to share with her!
My favorite tapas were the octopus crostini and the ending surprise — PAELLA! It was my first Paella but I think I’m in love with it. My roommate thought it was the best paella she’s ever had (again, she has had the real deal in Spain so, you know. CREDIBLE.) We were excited to see them making it in the kitchen in the back. Mm!
I was DD, and we drove down from Vallejo so I didn’t get to enjoy the wines, but the event was super fun still. Wish they had some non-​alcoholic beverages for us though. Met some new Unilocal Elites, which was especially exciting considering I’m new to the area! Also snagged some Unilocal socks. Awesome!
All in all, an excellent event!

It was a tiny space so I didn’t get to wander around and mingle as much as I like, but I do have to admit the Unilocal parties are getting better and better. This one was very well organized; plenty of wine to be sipped and tapas to try. Luckily, I did get to meet a nice couple who ended up next to me and my friend at the bar. I also love the cool swag that is always changing. This time, I got a pair of socks that look like they will keep me warm for the long winter ahead.

La Marcha is beautiful! I loved seeing old friends and making new ones. It was a special pleasure to meet Sequoia Chappellet and to sample the wines that she was pouring. A few days after the event, a friend poured me a glass of the Chappellet Mountain Cuvee Proprietor’s Blend at a group dinner in Providence, RI. I had the pleasure of explaining to him that I’d just met one of the Chappellet family members at a Unilocal Elite event on the other coast!
Because of a prior commitment, I was unable to stay at the event long enough to get a sample of the La Marcha paella. However, I did snag one of the albondigas samples as the hors d’oeuvres made their way through the crowded room — great!
I’m really delighted that this segment of San Pablo Avenue is on the upswing. La Marcha is a great addition to the neighborhood. I plan to sample their paellas in the coming weeks. Thanks, Unilocal

I was only here for about 1.5 hours with my friend, so I’ll keep this review nice and sweet.
Pros
Tapas samplers were AMAZING. I heard that the best (paella) was at the end, and unfortunately my friend and I were long gone before that…
… nevertheless, we enjoyed the appetizers that we did get.
1. Egg/​Bread sampler. I forgot what this one was made out of, but it was the first sampler that we tried. It was pretty good to start off the event, but I kind of wish that the egg filling was a bit less overpowering.
2. Boar meatballs. Delicious! Though a bit filling, the sauce was amazing and the boar meat was something you just have to try. Great job!
3. Octopus and bread. This was probably the best thing going for them when we were there. The octopus was very chewy and it just tasted so amazing next to the crispy bread pieces.
4. Bell pepper and bread. Lots and lots of bread for tapas for days. This was great although I wish the pepper was a bit crunchier.
Deltas
Unfortunately, there just wasn’t enough samplers to go around. I know they said to eat dinner beforehand but it looks like everyone was eagerly waiting for a bite and with two people handing all small bits of appetizers, it took a bit too long for everyone to get a sample.
Also, I don’t go to a lot of the alcoholic events (because I don’t drink), but I wish that they had some non alcoholic options. I felt awkward asking for water and I wish there was something laying around.
Eat well and prosper!

Stoked!
Proper Spanish tapas happy hour be comin’ to a neighborhood near me!
It’s a quaint little space with just the right amount of cozy. Owners are super nice as they were servin’ that spicy paella. «Yo this rice got some kick too it, huh?» Yup, you betcha. Also tons of shrimp, meat, and chilles in every bite!
Will be back for sure and bringing the crew!

WOW I had a great time at La Marcha at my second ever YEE!
Thanks to the awesome staff for being super attentive and amiable to our crowd. The food that eventually trickled over to where my +1 and I were standing was DELICIOUS, especially that boar meatball and the mushroom croquette. AND DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED on that heaping serving of PIPING HOT PAELLA, which was definitely a highlight of the night for me! I’ve never been to Spain, but that’s exactly how I imagined the paella there would taste…*wistful sigh
This event did exactly what it was supposed to do — I made some new Unilocal friends and I plan on returning to La Marcha for their happy hour soon. THANKS, Unilocal!

SO MUCH FUN! Shoutout to Stephanie and Nique for organizing this awesome YEE! It was nice to see some familiar faces and mingling with new friends! I brought my big bro as my +1 and we both had a great time!
After a long day at work, it was time to get my party on. I was super happy that this place is so close to home since I LOVE spanish tapas and paellas! The white wine that I had was very good. It was not too dry and still a little sweet, so it went down smoothly. It paired well with the cute appetizers that they served. The one that I enjoyed the most was the wild boar meatball. I’ve never had wild boar before, but it was surprisingly really good! The meat was soo juicy and the sauce was delicious. I’ll get 4 more of these please!
While I was mingling with new friends who came from all over the states, I spotted the chef cooking up a giant plate of paella in the kitchen! That got me really excited. They didn’t bring out the paella until the very last minute. I was pleasantly surprised at how big our own plate of paella was! I didn’t eat before I came, so I was starving ate it all, but the serving size was huge! It was super flavorful, spicy, and the shrimps were very fresh and crunchy.
Cheers to another awesome YEE and many more to come! :) Definitely will bring friends and family to this new place in town for their paella.

Great event by Stephanie and Nique! So my first Elite event as an elite!
Tasted the white wine from Chapellette Winery that was provided by Sequoia, it was nice and light and paired well with the Tapas.
I was able to sample Albondigas (wild boar meatball, my favorite, full of flavor and covered in tomato sauce), Piquillo (cheese stuffed peppers), and an unnamed octopus on crostini (second favorite, look for the extra tentacles).
When the shrimp paella arrived, it seemed those in my group were unable to finish a full place. I was able to trade in my plate for some Croqueta (mushroom, manchego cheese and bechamel sauce) because I was allergic to the shrimp. But I tell you I did not go home hungry.
I met some new Unilocalers and exchanged a lot of dessert places (second favorite topic after chocolate) and found a new hot pot place.
Great Event!

Thanks to Stephanie Y. and Nique F. for organizing this YEE and La Marcha for hosting such a fabulous and fun event tonight! I brought my daughter, Natalie as my plus 1 and we both had a great time meeting new friends, trying out the tasty wine and beer, as well as seeing Stephanie, Nique, Jon G. and Tony B. We got here around 7:30 and the place was jumping. We missed out on the Unilocal swag but got to try some of the yummy tapas such as the goat cheese stuffed piquillo peppers, wild boar meatballs and the star of the show, Sergio and Emily’s hearty paella that warmed us up this cold night! It was great mingling and meeting new friends.

Whoooohooo! Shoutout to YoSteph & Nique for organizing this amazing event! This was my first East Bay YEE and boy did you two and La Marcha deliver! =] Loved the cozy, but not overly stuffy vibe throughout the night of mingling with other elites and their plus ones. Started off my night with some delicious chardonnay from Chappellet Winery (came all the way down from Napa to represent!) before the tapas started trickling out from the kitchen. Missed out on the croquette looking ones, but I did get to sample the roasted octopus and hummus on crostini (super tender!), wild boar meatballs (the sauce/​seasoning was fantastic!), and the goat cheese stuffed peppers. The amazing thing is I don’t even like goat cheese, but combined with the pepper… even I couldn’t help but enjoy it.
One of the best things I learned about La Marcha was that Sergio and Emily wanted to really bring the culture of Spain into their restaurant. As it is Spanish tradition to offer a little side dish to accompany drinks at the bar, La Marcha offers a *complimentary* tapas dish with any purchase of a drink during happy hours. How cool is that?!
People thinned out quite a bit towards the end, but the best was yet to come… PAELLA!!! Soft rice that had soaked up a punch of flavor was studded with vibrant green peas and cooked-​just-​right shrimp… I had no trouble clearing my entire plate! Absolutely the perfect way to cap off a great night. Thanks again to everyone involved!!! =]

Thank you Unilocal for another great event; great wine, great food, plus I got to meet fabulous new friends!
Thank you Stephanie and company for organizing this event. You guys are the best! Thank you La Marcha for hosting. Looking forward trying the rest of the menu.
Looking forward to the next Unilocal event!

The Paella from La Marcha was hot an delicious, and reminded me of the large platters of Paella in the Paris outdoor town square markets that we visited in June this year. This was a fun event where I finally got to meet Joyce who is a also a SL Unilocaler along with her husband who just became an Elite Unilocaler! And It was great to be greeted at the door by Nique and Stephanie Y.
I immediately felt at home in the warm and cozy atmosphere of La Marcha. The owner welcomed us and he talked about the restaurant. He mentioned that they have a 4 to 6 pm Happy Hour where they serve you a complimentary Tapas with your drink, which is the traditional way it is done in Spain. That sounds like a great deal.
This was a high energy event with about 100 Elite Unilocalers filling the entire space. We were served some very nice Chardonnay with our tapas. First out was some spicy meat balls followed by red stuffed peppers that were not spicy but we’re very good. La Marcha opened up only two months ago so it was nice to be introduced to a new Spanish tapas bar in Berkeley.
I went solo to this event, but next time I will bring my wife out on a date here in the near future.

My first formal Unilocal event and it was awesome!!! Got some «the dude» IPA’s and some yummy tapas! Friendly crowd and amazing venue! The wines are also delicious as well (whites, reds, and Chardonnays). The service was awesome and the vibe was intimate and trendy!

Awesome food, drinks and company.
This was my second Unilocal elite event, and it sure did not disappoint. The ambiance was great, the company was awesome and the food was amazing. My personal favorite was the paella at the end of the night… I could eat that for days.
We also got a preview of their menu and their options sound pretty good. If they’re anything like what we sampled today, I’m sure they’ll be just as tasty.
We’ll definitely be back!

What an amazing time at La Marcha! I am so glad that they teamed up with Unilocal to bring us to this amazing venue with the nicest staff and delicious paella.
The night started off with a chat with Sequioa, the representative of her family’s company, Chappellet Winery in Napa. I had no idea that their wine was featured at some of our most experienced such as Marica and French Laundry. I am looking forward to visiting her winery the next time we’re in Napa.
The server we had was super friendly, patient, and amazing! She took her time to tell everyone what we were sampling. She also said, with a huge smile on her face, that she immediately got used to people taking pictures of everything that was in her hands. Haha. The life of Unilocalers… always got our cell phone cameras ready!
The paella was the star of the show. The portion sizes were amazing and the paella, itself, was delicious. The rice was cooked perfectly. The seafood was plentiful. The flavors were spot on. Hats off to La Marcha for bringing it.
Thanks to Unilocal and Stephanie for such an amazing event and experience. I met so many cool, new peeps in the East Bay area. Can’t wait for the next! =]

Another Unilocal event, another success! We had such a great time like always, Stephanie and Nique are great hostesses like always! Thank you La Marcha for having us, my girlfriend and I had a blast! She ordered some white wine, and she really enjoyed it and the service at the bar. The owners came out and introduce themselves, and left us looking forward to the paella. We loved the Paella, it was seasoned perfectly, had plenty of garlic, mussels, and plump shrimp.
The vibes were great, people talking loudly and having a great time socializing over drinks. We had the pleasure to talk w Stephanie and gain insight on how Unilocal events are planned and the the importance of showing up to YEE ^_​^ Overall, we had a great time, like we always do with the Unilocal crew, and look forward to returning to La Marcha for some drinks and Tapas soon!

Hubby Brandon W. just became Elite and this time I got to be the +1. La Marcha is the new storefront location of Sergio and Emily’s well known Nora Cocina Paella that many of us have experienced at the Eat Real Festival if not elsewhere.
Upon entering, we were treated to some great wines that Sequoia from Chapellette Winery explained and poured for us thirsty Unilocalers. As we mingled, some samples from their happy hour menu trickled out. Unfortunately most never made it pass a certain point since we were further from the kitchen but we did manage to snag one albondigas pork meatball, one pepper stuffed with goat cheese and split a crostini with octopus and hummus which was very tasty.
Always great seeing newlywed Stephanie (yes, it has been awhile since I have been to a YEE), beautiful Nique, former Unilocaltern Jon G., and new Unilocaltern Sierra.
I met and got to know some YEE first timers like Cynthia, Wanda, and Warren and finally met fellow SL and half of the other married couple Elite, Michael.
The evening ended with the star, a delicious tasty paella with shrimp, chicken, sausage, and whole garlic cloves which I originally mistaken for a clam. I just had to tell myself that 2 garlics cancelled each other out. Now if only my other half had paella too. Because of his shellfish allergy, he did have to miss out but they were so nice and brought out two croquettas for him so he didn’t have to be left out.
Thanks Stephanie for another great YEE!