Drink Eat Love

My First Tortilla

Despite our poorly equipped kitchen—no oven, no food processor or blender, just a two-burner hot plate—David and I have been cooking up a storm here in Spain. We make a lot of Italian, Middle Eastern and Asian dishes, but one thing that's been conspicuously missing from our it's-a-small-word repertoire is Spanish food.

L’Ambroisie: The Food

Mis en place is a term used in kitchens to mean “everything in its place.” At L’Ambroisie mis en place means perfection in every aspect of the restaurant—and none could be truer than in the food. L’Ambroisie is not a place to find foams, edible paper or any other item that you need directions to eat. At L’Ambroisie, the food is pure, honest and beautiful. The care taken in selecting each ingredient is evident in every dish. Each element of a dish can be tasted and savored individually, yet the harmony in which all parts play is greater than the sum. L’Ambroisie is a true foodie’s paradise.

Madness, And A Bit of Hope

(with a nod to Safiya Henderson-Holmes, whose work I much enjoyed in another lifetime)

An article in the New York Times today gave me reason to cheer. With all the craziness of astronomical fuel prices and food shortages in the air, it's heartening to see that community/urban gardening is starting to show some legs. It may not be the complete answer to the food crisis, but it's a positive piece of the puzzle.

Happy Wednesday!

Sanlucar Recollections, Part I

If Flamenco is the soul of traditional Andalucia, and bullfighting its heart then, undoubtedly, manzanilla sherry is the blood that courses through its veins. And if you've never had manzanilla from the barrel, you've never REALLY had manzanilla. That's why, even after more than three months have passed, I feel compelled to write about our visit to manzanilla country, or rather city: Sanlucar de Barrameda.

Flor in your wine?