Lucky Numbers

You know that old saying that news, good or bad, comes in threes? Well, it was true for me today as I got three pieces of good news: my visa was approved, I got a great financial aid package from school for the upcoming school year and I secured my apartment by taking a deep nervous breath and wiring my new Spanish roommate a bunch of Euros.

I also found out that the apartment is on the very same Metro line as IKEA in Madrid, which, for me, changes the saying to good news comes in fours!

Tapas

Ahhh, tapas -- those Spanish bar snacks are the stuff of legend. I've always been intrigued with the tapas concept. This is partly due to ingrained professional curiosity (I am, after all, a former professional cook) and my pride as a champion snacker.

As I'll be posted in Spain for the better part of the upcoming school year, it is my duty to learn all that I can about tapas before pushing off to Madrid. I've only had these diminutive bar noshes at a few places scattered arudn the Boston area. Here is a list of the Boston restos that that will serve as my tapas training ground:



Tapeo -- http://www.tapeo.com/home/



Tasca -- http://www.tascarestaurant.com/



Dali -- http://www.dalirestaurant.com/



Toro -- http://toro-restaurant.com/


Estragon -- http://www.dailycandy.com/boston/article/37054/Hamming+It+Up?utm_source=dailycandybos&utm_medium=rss



My favorites dishes so far: queso con membrillo, pimientos de padron, queso, marinated octopus, queso con miel, Albóndigas...did I mention queso?



Dishes I want to like, but probably haven't found a good version of yet (or until I get to Madrid, perhaps?): Tortilla Española, Gambas al ajillo, patatas bravas.

Eat it up, yum!

Congratulations, Spain

I am really psyched to be living in Spain during the year they won the Euro Cup!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92021521

I began to get into World Cup soccer the last time it was around in 2006, but because of ho-hum interest and coverage here in the U.S., I haven't really kept up with it. Maybe things will change once I land in Madrid.

Congratulations, España!