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March 21, 2007

Comments of an aglio olio pasta

I am linguine. I can speak - that is the difference between spaghetti and linguine, we speak. We speak various languages, depending if we are called linguine or linguini. I am linguine thus I speak english.

Enough of theory of evolution of the pasta and let's go back to the issue today.

As I was saying, I am linguine and I am diving in an aglio oglio dish. When I left home today, I did not know I was going to dive; I was not prepared nor I was told. I need a lawyer. Why? I told you, I am diving in aglio olio and I was not told - capicce? Get me a lawyer now. 

Oh, do not go. I also need new clothes. Mines are wet and smell aglio. Remember, I use ivory color only.

It is a bit hot in here, I have to say. I see some old colleagues that graduated from Barilla the same year I did. Some look better than others but they all definetely look worse than me. I was nominated linguine of the year by the Food Association, and that is a very important price.

I think I am gaining weight. I feel like if my body is expanding.

That price gave us eye sight position in the grocery stores. It is much better up there. I have heard that down in economy class there is risk of people avoiding you.

I am a top class linguine you know? And I am proud of it. I am unique since the very first day I was born and I pretend to stay that way.

It is very hot here. Need to take the head out to see if my lawyer is coming. I am having some trouble to get the head out, somehow I feel very soft.

Have I told you that we beat the organic tortellini in the Milano pasta fair? Big times those. The tortellini have always been very much appreciated with their roundness, their fillings, their nice yellow color.

There is a lot of smoke here, something must be burning.

I hear something - is like the sound of rain. Maybe is raining outside. I have been for so long here that can hardly remember the last time I saw the blue sky.

Wait, we are moving. Yes, yes we seem to be going somewhere. I think my lawyer got things sorted out. Oh the rain is stronger now, ouch is raining a lot and is cold. 

I feel like I am in a spa. Hot treatment, cold treatment. I need to call my lawyer, he prepared all this. Is a gift, a spa day out. I was a bit stressed last week, sitting there in the supermarket. And sitting is ok, but sitting with others in that reduced amount of space was not pleasant and I got stressed. I deserve this.

Look, seems that someone is coming to pick us up. I go first, I go first! 

Thank you! Please take me to the changing room - my new suit is waiting me there - your name please? hello? do you hear me? Oh right, I see you are taking me to some sort of drying plate, much appreciated.

What is that? Is it snowing now? Jeez! It is snowing and a lot. I need to check what new suit I was brought. It is going to be very cold.

Oh, look, seems that lights are off now ... 

 

 

December 01, 2006

A paella crisis

Paella crisis commitee, Friday the 1st of December 2006

Commander seafood talking to the rice army raised the alarm today. A paella event hapenning this next Sunday seems to be in the verge of a major crisis. There are multiple reasons that have converged together into a fatalitic coincidence of star alignment:

  • The recipe is lost.
  • The chef (that in the previous paella event gave the final touch) will not be present.
  • Is on a Sunday.
  • There is a majority of non-spaniards in the event, to be more precise, 2 brits and 2 americans.
  • There is no back-up plan neither there is a decision made for the entrees (in the french sense of the word in the case you were american).
  • Desserts, oh desserts!

If you are one of the patrons coming and ever hapenned to read this, think about it twice before coming.

Best regards, the seafood PA on behalf of seafood commander. 

 

 

 

November 23, 2006

Get yourself a cocktail

I found a website that has over 3000 recipes for cocktails. Yes, three thousand cocktails which equals to almost 10 years of drinking one cocktail per day.

It is certainly not a new website neither I am pretending to show off my knowledge of the cool-ternet (or so called the cool sites on the internet) but hey! if you ever want a website with recommendations about cocktails you should go and visit absolutdrinks.com .

Brands are becoming more and more sophisticated every day and what is clearly a way to promote themselves is kinda cool that they have pulled this together. Not sure if all the 3000 cocktails require absolut or not (never tried any) but let me know if you find out. 

 

August 31, 2006

A WEEKEND IN BARCELONA

Many of you have been asking about recommendations for a weekend in Barcelona, and as I keep loosing my emails I thought that it would be better to post all the information here. This way I will save time every time one of you goes to Barcelona for the weekend.

Where to EAT

Tapas - La Cervecería Catalana

Best tapas in town. I go back there every time I go back to Barcelona. Don't leave without tasting jamón de jabugo, pimientos del padrón, pincho de solomillo, and of course pan con tomate. Una clara (beer with lemon juice) to drink will work perfectly with the food.

No booking allowed, but worth queuing for a while.

Meat - El asador de Aranda

Delicious corderito and cochinillo. The building on the Tibidabo outskirts is amazing and the meat can't be better. I would recommend to go for dinner if you don't want to spend the rest of the day taking a siesta.

Booking essential.

Paella - El Merendero de la Mari

You will their paella.

Black rice - Peixerot

What is black rice? Rice that has been cooked with calamari ink and lobster. Delicious!

Fish - Els Pescadors

The restaurant is located in a dodgy area, but the trip is worth as you will have first class fish.

Hot chocolate - Cacao Sampaka

You must try it with some melindros. What are melindros? You will have to find out yourself.

What to VISIT

Gaudí

As a Gaudí fan I highly recommend to visit La Pedrera, la Casa Batlló, and el Parque Güell. Amazing arquitecture. If you visit during the summer you can't miss the concerts on la Pedrera's roof - jazz, flamenco,... different music and same cold champagne every night.

La Boqueria Market

If you are a food lover you can't miss La Boqueria, one of the best markets in the world. BTW La Boqueria is hermanado with Borough Market in South London.

MACBA Museum

If you like modern art you can not miss the MACBA Museum, in the old neighbourhood of the city

Where to WALK AROUND

You will see that walking around is easy in Barcelona.

Paseo de Gracia, Rambla Catalunya, la Rambla de les flors (full of pick pockets - hold your handbag as hard as you can!), el Born, Barri Gotic, Port Olimpic (can be a bit dodgy)...

Where to GO SHOPPING

Paseo de Gracia and Rambla Catalunya are the best places to shop as almost all brands have a shop there. Begin your walk in Rambla Catalunya with Diagonal and then walk down until Plaza Cataluña. After that take Puerta del Angel - At that point you will probably have burnt your plastic card.

If you want to buy any food as ham, chorizo, tuna, or cheese, I would recommend to go to el Corte Ingles where they seal the embutido very well so that it lasts for weeks in the fridge (well, that is the theory - It does not matter if I buy 200 grams or 2 kilos of jabugo, I always finish it withing a couple of weeks!)

How TO MOVE around

You can walk to almost everywhere if you stay in the center of the city. If you feel tired at some point you can take the tube or bus.

A good way to discover the rest of the city is to take a Bus Turistic (I took it myself and found it very good) and have an idea of how the rest of the city looks like. You can get in and out the bus as many times as you like and you get a voucher checkbook that has discounts to many places in the city.

Where to PARTY AT NIGHT

I am too old for that an I have lost the track. You will have to investigate yourself! 

Still, if you want to know where to party we recommend Luz de Gas or a bit more crazier Danzatoria.

 

Useful WEBSITES

www.lanetro.com - For restaurant locations

www.tmb.net - For transport information

www.servicaixa.com - For purchasing any kind of tickets

Enjoy your trip!