1) My English friends are champing at the bit for a review of yesterday’s tapas brunch at Barcelona in Brookline. Overall I must say it was perfectly delightful, not least because we got to sit outside on a cool and sunny day.
2) The thing about tapas is that they arrive at random, whenever they’re ready. More often than not they’re like edible jewels. That certainly described my veggie Benedict, a perfectly cooked egg atop thickly sliced cucumber and English muffin, with just enough hollandaise not to be too much. It definitely looked good enough to eat, and I definitely did.
3) Once we established that the truffled bikini was a sandwich, I chose instead the next item on the menu, the jamon and manchego croquetas, practically my go-to tapas in Spain a year ago. The four of them were like jewels in their bed of garlic aioli — an exquisite enjoyment.
4) The main event was the vegetarian paella, which the three of us split. To me it tasted like summer: fresh, light, full of sunshine, substantial.
5) Surprise bonus: near the end of the meal, a former colleague we hadn’t seen in over 15 years walked by, recognized me, and stopped for a pleasant chat.
6) I shall certainly have to go back!