Clueless male need not fret. You don’t have to slave hours in the kitchen preparing this feast. The trick is in knowing where to source find food. Preparing a spread only takes a few minutes, even for a guy who doesn’t know how to fry an egg. Daunted by the task of finding enough decent plates in your flat for a dinner party? Go Tapas, a quick, fuss-free, yet filling way to entertain. A few small mismatch plates will do. Originating from the Spanish habit of eating a late dinner in the company of family or friends, Tapas are snacks in little plates eaten with glasses of wine, sherry, or brandy from 7pm to 10pm.
No need for a culinary degree abroad pull off a Tapas party. The trick is a trip to gourmet store that specializes in Spanish cuisine. For starters, try Pork & Wild Boar Pate, Pork & Duck Pate, and Lobster Pate for starters. Just open a can of tasty Navajas Chilenas (razor clams) and Almejas Chilenas (Chilean baby clams) and serve. You’ll be spared the hassle of going to the market for the clams, cleaning the shells, and steaming them. A bottle of Picuezo White Asparagus is heavenly with mayonnaise or baked in the oven allowing the grated Parmesan cheese to melt. Bacalao ala Vizcaina, a traditional Spanish dish of salt cod with onions, red peppers, tomatoes and spices, fresh from the can or heated in the microwave is paired perfectly with a crusty baguette. Heat up Spanish classics like Fabada and Callos on the stove or microwave for a few minutes for added variety. Serve Angulas, a Spanish delicacy of baby eel, by opening a bottle and quickly sautéing in garlic and olive oil for a few seconds until warm. Stuffed small squid on olive oil or in its own ink compliment warm bread or becomes an instant gourmet meal when cooked in fried rice. Splurging on several tins of Duck or Goose Foie Gras will surely impress, but this will also make a dent on your credit card bill.
Create several large platters from extensive deli offerings of cold cuts and cheese. Include Chorizo Salamanca Spicy for its addicting tinge of spiciness and Salchichon with the perfect saltiness in every tender bite. Selecting cold cuts and cheeses depends on your budget and taste. Get a small slice to taste to aid you in making your choices. Throw in a bottle of olives and several chorizos for guests to graze on all night.
If your guests have man-sized appetites, add paella to your spread. You can try the instant Pre-cooked Paella Valenciana or Paella Marisco, requiring only 20 minutes to cook at home. Or serve Arroz a Banda, wet paella with clams, squid, shrimps and fish. Other traditional dishes are ideal such as Slow-cooked Oxtail, Gambas al Ajillo, Almejas Marinera (Clams in a Sherry, Garlic, and Paprika Sauce), and Tortilla cooked Farmhouse style with mushroom and duck confit gizzards, with Jabugo chorizo or Seafood. Your guests will be impressed thinking you’re a seasoned gourmet, while sparing you the trouble of laboring in the kitchen for hours. Bluff your friends. Play your favorite bossa nova CD and relax. Be sure though to hide your cans, bottles, and the copy of this magazine before your guests arrive.
No need for a culinary degree abroad pull off a Tapas party. The trick is a trip to gourmet store that specializes in Spanish cuisine. For starters, try Pork & Wild Boar Pate, Pork & Duck Pate, and Lobster Pate for starters. Just open a can of tasty Navajas Chilenas (razor clams) and Almejas Chilenas (Chilean baby clams) and serve. You’ll be spared the hassle of going to the market for the clams, cleaning the shells, and steaming them. A bottle of Picuezo White Asparagus is heavenly with mayonnaise or baked in the oven allowing the grated Parmesan cheese to melt. Bacalao ala Vizcaina, a traditional Spanish dish of salt cod with onions, red peppers, tomatoes and spices, fresh from the can or heated in the microwave is paired perfectly with a crusty baguette. Heat up Spanish classics like Fabada and Callos on the stove or microwave for a few minutes for added variety. Serve Angulas, a Spanish delicacy of baby eel, by opening a bottle and quickly sautéing in garlic and olive oil for a few seconds until warm. Stuffed small squid on olive oil or in its own ink compliment warm bread or becomes an instant gourmet meal when cooked in fried rice. Splurging on several tins of Duck or Goose Foie Gras will surely impress, but this will also make a dent on your credit card bill.
Create several large platters from extensive deli offerings of cold cuts and cheese. Include Chorizo Salamanca Spicy for its addicting tinge of spiciness and Salchichon with the perfect saltiness in every tender bite. Selecting cold cuts and cheeses depends on your budget and taste. Get a small slice to taste to aid you in making your choices. Throw in a bottle of olives and several chorizos for guests to graze on all night.
If your guests have man-sized appetites, add paella to your spread. You can try the instant Pre-cooked Paella Valenciana or Paella Marisco, requiring only 20 minutes to cook at home. Or serve Arroz a Banda, wet paella with clams, squid, shrimps and fish. Other traditional dishes are ideal such as Slow-cooked Oxtail, Gambas al Ajillo, Almejas Marinera (Clams in a Sherry, Garlic, and Paprika Sauce), and Tortilla cooked Farmhouse style with mushroom and duck confit gizzards, with Jabugo chorizo or Seafood. Your guests will be impressed thinking you’re a seasoned gourmet, while sparing you the trouble of laboring in the kitchen for hours. Bluff your friends. Play your favorite bossa nova CD and relax. Be sure though to hide your cans, bottles, and the copy of this magazine before your guests arrive.
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