Get Pinched at Pintxo

Do you want authentic fun faire in a comfortable yet chic environment? Do you want to feel at home while trying something completely alien to you? Are you a Spanish food foodophile? Then I have a place you should try out.

This Spanish restaurant (I said Spanish, not Mexican for you out there that don't know any better) is hidden among other fine places to romp around at, but it's food is nothing short of fantastic. Tapas (Pintxos to be exact-from Basque country), platos, paella specials of the day, sherries, Riojas, cavas and a great sangria fill out the selection here. What makes this place a great experience is not only the interesting and diverse selection of intermingling flavors on a single tapa, but the wait staff and chefs are very friendly and fun to watch in the open kitchen.

Bar Pintxo is the place. Go out there and get some tapas. By the way they have a happy hour.

Sipping Chocolate Like a Mad European

Hot Chocoloate? NO! Cocoa? NO! Then what the heck is it? It's sipping chocolate, of course. Smart marketing? Yes! For those who have not had the pleasure of having a cup of liquid chocolate in Spain or Italy, you can find a similar experience here in our country (minus all the medieval buildings and cobblestone streets). That is what our imagination is for, and trips to Europe when we can. 

So, back to the chocolate. Trader Joes, of course!, has a new delectable thick drinking chocolate in their possession, and it's really, really good. I can't believe that it is better than my various Dagoba hot chocolates. Damn. It's really that good. 

If you follow the instructions on how to make it (never use water to make it, use milk or almond milk, hazelnut milk if you dare to be so naughty) it comes out thick and incredibly rich beyond belief. So good! I think it is partially due to the fact that they use chocolate liquor in it. Wow!

Go buy a case of this stuff. I have not found anything better in the US yet, unless you melt two bars of high quality dark chocolate and drink that. Drink up!

What a Hot Date!

Are you into dates? I don't mean taking him or her out to dinner and fooling around later,  I mean the dried fruit. Yeah, I know. Not as exciting. But I have been getting into eating different varieties of dates from an organic date farm that I found at a local farmers market. They have the standard medjool dates that you can get anywhere, even though theirs are extremely fresh. I never knew there were so many type of dates being produced. I found one variety in particular that is so special and spectacular that I have to mention it.

The date I am talking about is called the Halawy date. How wonderful. It's a small date with a long pit, but the meat on it packs a flavorful wallop. The date starts off sweet, but not too sugary like others. It's not too gooey or hard, just the right chewy consistency. After taking a few chews in it, the flavor hitting you palate emerges as a caramel-like flavor! I have never tasted a date with this type of a flavor. Amazing! 

You can get these from Bautista Family Organic Date Ranch. Mecca, CA. 760-396-2337

These are so good that if you find some buy a few containers worth. You will eat one alone the first hour you have them. MMMMMMMMMMMM…

Best Pastry in the World!

Okay, so I cannot claim that this is truly the best pastry in the world, but it is my favorite. Every time I eat it, I am astounded at how excellent it is. How can it be this good? I think it must be made by little magic elves or by pagan gods. How else can one explain the earth shattering greatness of this little gem.

So once again, Anisette Brasserie has this item. They must have one of the best pastry chef's in Los Angeles, if not the entire known universe. UFO's, little green men and all.

This pastry is so good that it is only offered on the weekends. To top that off, it is so good that it is only made for brunch. From personal experience, you must get there around 10-11am to find one of these evil babies. 

What you are looking for is their Chocolate Almond Croissant. Anisettes also makes a plain almond one that is excellent as well, but not earth shattering to you very core of existence. Eating the chocolate one is like meeting Buddha in enlightenment and having sex (not with Buddha) at the same time.

The pastry pulls apart like a real croissant, yet it is more square in shape. There is a sweet muffin top like layer on the top that is sprinkled with chocolate powder. This is the key to recognizing it. Inside there is a layer of marzipan (almond paste to common folk) and beneath that a decadent layer of rich smooth dark chocolate. When you get all the items in one bite…WOW. 

Go get it. 

Firecracker Chocolate Explosion!

Bar after bar, bean after bean, I have tried many great and no so great chocolates. But, I have never found a "fun" chocolate. I mean, one that thrills as well as tastes damn good.

Until recently, I was unaware of such chocolate explorations. I discovered the Firecracker by Chuao. Not only is the chocolate outstanding, but the ingredients added to it augment the experience. Now, you know I love chocolate with cayenne, chipolte and other hot peppers, this one has the smokey goodness of chipolte pepper to spice up the deep chocolate palate. Additionally, it has sea salt to enhance the taste, which I love. But get this, it has pop rocks in the bar to make it explode in your mouth! All this works tremendously well in the bar to create a great party favorite and an eventual additive product as I have found out. How wonderful.

Go get yourself a bar or a case today. Whole Foods carries the product and so does the Chuao online store.

Whoever said your mouth can't have a little fun!