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Tapas
Feb 4, 2009 3:16:32 GMT
Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2009 3:16:32 GMT
Instead of paella for dinner we ordered up a variety of marvelous tapas: cherrystone clams in a light garlicky broth, crabmeat stuffed into small sweet peppers , speckled trout ceviche with dill and saffron, teeny chorizos with creole mustard. Tapas are wonderful and a most civilized way to dine with loved ones who aren't shy about food.
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Tapas
Feb 4, 2009 4:38:50 GMT
Post by bixaorellana on Feb 4, 2009 4:38:50 GMT
Oh ~~ I'm so glad you posted this here. Now I have an excuse to share one of my favorite and most vivid memories, one which involves Spanish food.
From between my ages of eight to eleven, my family lived in Madrid. I remember one very cold December day when I went with my Dad and my brother to the Plaza del Sol to buy Christmas decorations and the tree. It was a gray day, with tiny bits of blowing snow. We got the tree, some blown glass German ornaments, and a creche made from raw cork bark. Afterwards, we were thoroughly chilled, and Daddy led us down a cobblestone street to a bar. From the dreary street, we went down a couple of steps onto the sawdust on the floor of a bright warm room. We bellied up to the zinc bar. Once set up with beverages, we were served still sizzling fried calamares, which seemed to keep coming endlessly.
Fifty years later, I can think of few things that were as completely perfect as that moment.
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Tapas
Feb 4, 2009 6:59:19 GMT
Post by happytraveller on Feb 4, 2009 6:59:19 GMT
Bixa, that's a nice story !
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Tapas
Feb 4, 2009 12:28:25 GMT
Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2009 12:28:25 GMT
so civilized.
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Tapas
Feb 4, 2009 22:12:58 GMT
Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2009 22:12:58 GMT
I had to work for 2 weeks in Casablanca once, and one of the middle range employees at the office befriended me. We would go out for some beers every evening after work, the highlight being the plates of marine snails on the bar. They would be pulled out with simple pins, and as long as we kept eating them, more snails appeared. I have never had them since then, but they remain a fond memory.
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Tapas
Feb 5, 2009 9:54:52 GMT
Post by tillystar on Feb 5, 2009 9:54:52 GMT
Bixa, I have got a similiar happy memory of sizzling calamari.
When we were in Spain in the summer we had spent a whole week driving up and down the motorway to visit faily and had not had 1 minute for ourselves. One day we finally had no one to visit and a day for ourselves. We went to Lekeitio a nearby seaside town and spent the day walking around the cobbledly streets and along the seafront. We missed lunch in our happy wanderings and suddenly realised we were starving just as all the resaurants were closing their doors. We found a bar on the port that sold only calamares and we sat with a cold beer and watched all the fishing boats coming in and unloading tuna as sizzling plates of calamare came out one after the other until we were finally full. Like your memory Bix, it really was a near perfect moment.
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Tapas
Feb 6, 2009 4:42:48 GMT
Post by bixaorellana on Feb 6, 2009 4:42:48 GMT
I love how all these stories are about unabashed enjoyment and sharing of food. It's the kind of pleasure available to those who, as Casimira put it, aren't shy about food.
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Tapas
Feb 9, 2009 21:28:23 GMT
Post by gyro on Feb 9, 2009 21:28:23 GMT
... and let's not forget, it is apparently civilised too ...
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Tapas
Feb 12, 2009 18:29:33 GMT
Post by spindrift on Feb 12, 2009 18:29:33 GMT
Oh! I love eating tapas...but have no opportunity being stuck in a sad provincial town. My mouth is watering at the idea.
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Tapas
Mar 18, 2009 8:19:55 GMT
Post by hwinpp on Mar 18, 2009 8:19:55 GMT
I love it too! Got the opportunity here. Next time you come to PP, K2! pacharan.fcccambodia.com/Nice? I love the fact that it's so easy to post pics here
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Tapas
Mar 18, 2009 9:34:03 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2009 9:34:03 GMT
Don't torment me with photos of the F.C.C.!
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Tapas
Mar 19, 2009 10:19:03 GMT
Post by tillystar on Mar 19, 2009 10:19:03 GMT
We are off to Spain next week, I can't wait to stuff myself with pintxos at a bar near where we stay that looks out over the beach. A brilliant view and the best pinxtos, although the selection is smaller out of the busy summer season.
I will try and get some pictures.
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Tapas
Apr 7, 2009 1:11:15 GMT
Post by mockchoc on Apr 7, 2009 1:11:15 GMT
I love tapas too.
When we flew to Brisbane to see Robbie Williams in concert I made sure we went to a place that sells it.
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Tapas
Jul 23, 2009 5:39:59 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 23, 2009 5:39:59 GMT
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Tapas
Jul 23, 2009 21:52:49 GMT
Post by traveler63 on Jul 23, 2009 21:52:49 GMT
Yum!!!!
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Tapas
Jul 23, 2009 22:58:50 GMT
Post by Don Cuevas on Jul 23, 2009 22:58:50 GMT
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Tapas
Jul 27, 2009 15:07:44 GMT
Post by tillystar on Jul 27, 2009 15:07:44 GMT
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Tapas
Jul 27, 2009 18:46:51 GMT
Post by bixaorellana on Jul 27, 2009 18:46:51 GMT
Oh. my. gosh. That is heaven! It looks as beautiful as stuff in a pastry shop, but better because it's not sweet. I don't know which one I'd fling into my mouth first *dither dither*, but those black ramekins are KILLER!
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Tapas
Jul 28, 2009 10:09:46 GMT
Post by tillystar on Jul 28, 2009 10:09:46 GMT
It is. Mr Star has suggested a couple of times that we need to get a loan out to pay for my "habit" when we go next week
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Tapas
Aug 1, 2009 22:03:34 GMT
Post by lagatta on Aug 1, 2009 22:03:34 GMT
This is making me very very hungry indeed, which is ludicrous as I'm eating tiny haricots verts extra-fins blanched, then gently sautéed with good olive oil, butter, FRESH NEW garlic and basil from my balcony, along with a walnut/bluecheese mini-baguette.
I was working at an event in Umbria where the technical staff were Basques. Our work was mostly in the afternoon/evening so they devoted their lunchtimes to driving around Umbria sampling local specialities and managing to compare foodie cred with the locals in a mixture of Castillian and Italian (doubt anyone in Umbria speaks Basque, though my Spanish teacher, who is Argentine, is part Basque and part Umbrian).
I love perfectly fried calamari, and have not yet succeeded in mastering them. Think perhaps they are a foodstuff best eaten out.
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Tapas
Aug 2, 2009 0:22:05 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2009 0:22:05 GMT
Oh tilly,those look divine. I share your enthusiasm and love of that food. It could and would develop into a habit for me if available on a regular basis. I'd much rather eat a variety of different things then one whole meal of the same thing. lagatta, your summertime fare sounds delightful as well. Did you wash it down with a nice wine ?I hope so as it would be the perfect compliment.
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Tapas
Aug 2, 2009 4:52:39 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2009 4:52:39 GMT
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Tapas
Aug 2, 2009 13:37:45 GMT
Post by Jazz on Aug 2, 2009 13:37:45 GMT
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Tapas
Aug 8, 2009 19:48:51 GMT
Post by auntieannie on Aug 8, 2009 19:48:51 GMT
Do not torture me! Please... these pics look so good I could eat the screen.
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Tapas
Jan 31, 2010 19:19:08 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2010 19:19:08 GMT
My very first evening in Miami Beach my friend and I walked all through a residential section of Art Deco houses and apartment buildings to arrive at a lovely strip of restaurants and outdoor cafes. We immediately settled on a tapas cafe and sat outdoors.We ordered up about a half a dozen tapas and ate until some more friends arrived and ordered about six or seven more,I lost count. Everything from grilled vegetables to seafood and lots of cheese dishes. I could eat like this all the time.We sat for a long time and talked as the food kept coming and the time went by so quickly. Everyone enjoyed it so much.I have another reason to return.
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Tapas
Jan 31, 2010 21:00:02 GMT
Post by bixaorellana on Jan 31, 2010 21:00:02 GMT
That is such a good way to relax and get to know others. I'm jealous reading this thread, as there is nothing at all similar anywhere around here.
To interject a crass note, which I guess is okay since Tilly alluded to paying for her "habit" above ...
Did you find Miami to be expensive? I've spent most of my time in Florida on the Gulf side and in the Keys, and never found it very expensive. Can the same be said about Miami?
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Tapas
Feb 1, 2010 0:42:57 GMT
Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 0:42:57 GMT
I was pleasantly surprised to find the prices fairly reasonable Bixa. We ate out quite a bit, but, at none of the" chic chic" places on Ocean Drive which was fine by me.My hostess and her friends seemed to know and agree on what were good eateries within their lifestyle budget and mine.They treated,I treated,I think one night we divvied up the checque as their thirst for wine was fairly enthusiastic that evening.
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Tapas
Jun 24, 2010 3:50:55 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2010 3:50:55 GMT
Dined at my favorite tapas place in Miami Beach twice while there. www.tapasytintos.com/main.htmla couple of the offerings we had. One in particular was a rare charbroiled,seared tuna with a mango vinaigrette salsa,hands down my favorite dish the whole visit,the calamari was superb as well,very,very fresh,and then this baked goat cheese to compliment the others. Excellent San Gria I was told by my dining companions. the to die for tuna... fried calamari,they have about 4 or 5 other calamari dishes,we always settle on the fried,next time, I am going to insist on experimenting with another one. Baked goat cheese
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Tapas
Jun 24, 2010 13:22:10 GMT
Post by lagatta on Jun 24, 2010 13:22:10 GMT
Mmmmm! That is absolutely my favourite type of food. (I'm referring to all the "little dishes" of the Mediterranean).
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Tapas
Jun 24, 2010 14:44:02 GMT
Post by bjd on Jun 24, 2010 14:44:02 GMT
We were in northern Spain last week. The first day we went out for tapas with a friend, but they weren't served in separate little dishes. Rather the various things were brought on plates and we each helped ourselves to the amount we wanted. There wasn't all that much choice, especially since none of us wanted to eat eel. Did have calamari and shrimp things though.
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