Happy Birthdays

[offbalance]

This is a big birthday week!!

Equally big birthday wishes are going out to:

My friend Theresa, whom I'm seeing later.
Carisa powerwalkerz
callmecayce
penchantnyc
ozzdo
and last, but certainly not least, nately!!

It's amazing how many february birthdays there are. Truly. Happy wishes to all!!

Comments

[blue_ant]

Thanks.

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

you're very welcome!

[penchantnyc.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :) must. have. tapas.

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

mmm...tapas.

I never got what tapas were, technically. I thought i was beef on a skewer for awhile, and now I'm beginning to wonder if there's more to it. Tell us?

Re:

[penchantnyc.livejournal.com]

Tapas are small plates of Spanish food. Kind of like appetizers, but you make a meal out of a few of them. Like Middle Eastern mezze or Chinese Dimsum. You can share it all w/your fellow diners.

So..there are a great variety of tapas. They can be as simple as a mini cheese (or salami/ham) plate. They can be salads, or a variety of seafood preparations. Shimp w/garlic stands out in my mind. I've seen meatball tapas, sausage tapas, mini paella tapas, vegetable tapas(mushrooms, or asparagus stands out in my mind). endless variety.

In Spain...people hit (one or a few) tapas bars 8ish and then have dinner 10ish. they sometimes get a dish per place, depending on what teh tapa specialty is.

Oh, and alcohol is often consumed with tapas, sherry. wine. sangria.

There are many good tapas places in manhattan, especially downtown. N~ comes to mind, but it is a bar. La Paella. I know I'm forgettign some of the big names. I didn't like the pricey one near abc home and carpet. For the middleeastern version (mezze) try Beyoglu on the UES.

Re:

[offbalance.livejournal.com]

wheee! That sounds marvelous! I will most certainly be trying these out very soon, as it's a great option for happy hour when some people want food, and others don't!

Thanks!