Season's Greetings

I was actually quite touched when a few friends emailed me recently asking what happened to the blog and how i have been. I am ecstatic you are out there reading this and checking up on me periodically.

I have actually been super busy at work. Companies have been "doing more with less", mine is no exception. I guess it is a good thing to be busy these days. I am disgusted with the market condition and where the economy is going. It really hit home when some close friends and relatives got hit by this crisis. Some in financial field and some not. If you ask my pessimist cousin HJ, this will last 5-10 years. But I sincerely hope this is over in a year or two.

On the other hand, US $ is getting stronger, so maybe I will get to continue my Grand Slam tour next year in London or Paris. It is tough to plan these trips when UK Pound is almost 2-1 and Euros are 1.6 to 1.

I hope every one have a great holiday season ( I will get to see some of you) and may this economy pick up soon.

1492 in LES

Connie took me to this nice little tapas place on the lower east side for my Birthday. Yes, i am old. LES has come a long way as far as 'gentrification' is concerned, some parts of Clinton st is still a little ghetto. With so many nice restaurants around, (WD-50, Falai to name a few) it bothers me that it still feels unsafe.

Nice cozy place for some Rioja or Sangria and just keep ordering the small plates. Tapas portion is fair and the entree portions are fairly small. We got 5 tapas and a Black Paella (cooked in squid ink). Highly recommend the Chorizo and cheese lollipop, Dates wrapped in Bacon on a bed of almond and endives, Croquette with Jamon and Sliced Skirt steak with garlic olive oil over creamiest mash potatoe. Paella de Arroz Negro was just the right portion after all that and it was very tasty.

All in all, a rather repeatable place. Like most tapas places, best to keep the group to 3-4, so you get to sample more items and have just the right amount to share.

6/10 in my book.