"tapas" news and stories

• The allure of tapas.
• Cooking lessons from Rome: Ricotta pudding.
• Green tea: it's the new "bran."
• It's spring, and that means it's time for asparagus.
• This book says to drink olive oil as an appetite suppressent.
• Everyone's eating lunch again (did it ever really go away?).
• This week's recipes: Beef with Cumin, Lemony Chicken Caesar, Homestyle Bean Curd, Cod Salad, and Chunky Dark and White Chocolate Cookies.

What happens when a blogger/ce-web-rity goes to Barcelona for vacation?

He turns into a food photographer!

Jason Calacanis is in Barcelona enjoying the Spanish fun and sun, and went back to a tapas bar called Ciutat Comtal, which he went to when he was in Barcelona eight years ago. He says the tapas there are even better than he remembered. I am falling over myself just gazing at what looks like a pinxo with sliced tomatoes, anchovies and olives.

Is there a tapas bar like this in LA?

Winter is the season associated with warm, filling meals, while spring and summer usually feature lighter fare. Maybe fall should get more wintry fare, but I know that I have not yet committed to soups and stews for the season. Lately, I've really enjoyed doing small plate dishes, where I can mix lighter and heartier foods, and this current mindset led me to check out Big Small Plates. This book actually has nothing to do specifically with fall, although it does make seasonal menu suggestions at the end of the book, and is more about enjoying small foods with big flavors than anything else.

The recipes come from all over the world, from Italy to Japan to South America, but in an unusual move, are arranged by how they are eaten and not by origin. This turns out to be a handy feature in a book that is about appetizers/tapas, since you can easily find recipes when you want finger foods vs foods that require utensils. One other nice thing, which also seems to make it a book for serious cooks, is that the recipes tend towards less commonly seen foods, so instead of 12 variations on bruschetta, there are recipes for "plates" such as Crispy Fried Rabbit with Dijon-Chervil Sauce and Baked Goat Cheese and Tomato Fondue.

Source

Pizza?!?! He's taking you out to grab a slice of pizza?!?! Forget it. What kind of cheapskate/Peter Pan/unimaginative guy is he!??! Drop him!

Don't pretend like you haven't done it before -- judged a guy (or girl) before you've even met, based on where they want to go on the first date. Fancy expensive reservations-30-days-in-advance-only and you're impressed, right? KFC drive-thru and...well, you get the picture.

Though they don't have an opinion about pizza, AOL has put together a short feature about what his restaurant/cuisine choice could say about him. If you don't have the time to read through it, here's the lowdown:

• Tapas - "don't expect a commitment from this professional dabbler anytime soon"
• Seafood - "it's nice to spend time with somebody who believes money is no object, but if he never lets you forget it..."
• Pancake house - "a guy who knows what he wants, and exactly where to go to get it"
• Sushi - "an eclectic lifestyle, so he wants to try everything"
• Mexican - "hot and spicy guy is the kind that will dance the night away"
• Chinese - "he needs a little motivation"
• Steakhouse - "since he won't stray too far from the norm, he could be a huge bore"
• Italian - "you've got a serious romantic on your hands"
• Burgers and fries - "likes it straight, so he can save himself for the BMX race he's in"

• Restaurant Week begins in Boston today. Here are some tips.
• A recipe for fish chowder. Gah, I hate fish chowders and soups!
• Charles Pierce on how a diet can be good for the body, but not for the soul.
• The best tapas in Maine?
• J.P. Licks has some new ice cream flavors as it celebrates 25 years.
• A profile of Mizzannye's, a family-owned BBQ sauce company.
• August is the best time for melons.
• The joy of an 8-inch zucchini. (I know, I know, zucchinis and melons...get your mind out of the gutter!)
• More recipes: Watermelon Blueberry Coolers and Tony's Chicken and Rice.