This get together with friends was in our garden and featured one or two of the tapas I had served on previous occasions (I just can’t get enough of the Stuffed Shishito Peppers), but there are few new ones, and quite worthy of the effort if you too are entertaining. This time around we had:
Cumin and Paprika Spiced Marcona Almonds
Pigs-in-a-Blanket with Country Sausage, Apple Jam, and Manchego
Grilled Shrimp with Old Bay and Garlic Aioli
Herb Scented Balsamic Marinated Bing Cherries with Zested Orange
The only rarity in this selection is the Marcona almonds. Try as I might, I could not find a local source for this, so I ordered them from Amazon. I now have enough for the next year, but I have heard and read so much about them recently that I just had to try them. They are definitely different than the blanched almonds that we are used to. A nice nibble, especially with the smoked paprika, or as the Spanish would say, smoked pimentón.
To go with the tapas, we served two Rosé wines, Famille Perrin, Tavel and Malivoire, Lady Bug. Both excellent picks and readily available at the LCBO. Enjoy!
The first time I ate Spanish food was in a quaint cafe owned by a Spanish couple back in the states. I didn t know what to expect or if it would be anything like Mexican cuisine. Being that I was unfamiliar with the food I asked my then boyfriend, now husband to order for us. He ordered tapas and he couldn t have made a better choice. We had several vegetables, cheeses, sausages, meats and seafoods. All washed down with a pitcher of sangria. It was a meal I ll never forget.