As Beverly said while we were waiting idly for the light to change, and for it to be time for dinner:
“Isn’t it nice to feel like we’re actually early for everything for a change?”
Also, Spain is the kind of place where two women can walk into a bar and say, “We’ll have what they’re having.”
And the punchline is: a giant plate of delicate purple-shelled cockles, swimming in wine and garlic; a wedge of bread smeared with spicy sausage paste (sobrasada); two beers; two refreshing glasses of verdejo; a wedge of sheep cheese; a tapa of succulent ratatouille-ish stuff; and some squid in escabeche.
It’s also the kind of place where we get a free, unasked-for plate of deep-fried nuggets of monkfish liver. And the total tab is less than 20 euros.
No wonder I was in a swoon after lunch yesterday. Not just the jet lag, really.
Can you stuff some of those cockles in a ziploc and bring them back to the States?
Spain good, yis? Maybe you can find some of these and verify Bittman’s data?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/01/dining/01mini.html
Oooh, thanks for the lead–those look good!
I’m still smarting from a poorly chosen lunch yesterday. Tragic waste, especially because it made me too full (of bad food) to eat dinner last night. Back on the horse today…
Where where where? What day/s are you in Graná?
Just noticed your Q–the gorgeous wee clams were at Casa Joaquin in Almeria. A tip from someone on eGullet. So freakin’ good! Still one of the highlights, although I’ve seen lots of clams at subsequent places. These were soooo teensy, though.