For various reasons that I’m sure don’t need to be spelled out to the perceptive reader, I’ve recently noted the likeness of tapas and speed dating. In both cases, you are presented with a larger-than-usual selection of different examples and, having tried them all, you go about the complex process of deciding which you’d like a bit more of. Having made your selection, the tapas/speed dating relationship gets even more inseparable, in that you suddenly find yourself on a lot of first dates.
Now, I’ve written about first dates before, but in the spirit of I’ve-said-it-before-and-I’ll-say-it-again, tapas and first dates go together like gin and tonic (in fact, one of those is best thrown in as well). So for Date One of speed dating fallout, I chose Duende, praying that the man I was meeting wasn’t a fussy eater (to be honest, if he had been, it wouldn’t get past date one anyway). Ironically, Duende had been recommended to me by Date Two, whom I’d not yet met, but whom I intend to take for date two (Date Two has already been on date one) to Pata Negra 2. Confused? Try being me.
Anyway, Duende: After almost falling over in my heels (foodies are rarely cool at the best of times), I got marginally excited at the appearance of mojama on the specials menu. I couldn’t really remember what mojama was, but I recollected it from my Moro cookbook (along with pomegranate molasses, membrillo, sumac and various other exotic-sounding ingredients that are basically impossible to find outside Spain or London) so I decided I’d better order it. It turns out mojama is basically a cross between tuna and jamon (air-dried ham) – a salty, finely sliced, dried fish – quite edible but, having never had it before, I had no idea what it was supposed to taste like. Our other tapas were more predictable: chorizo, patatas bravas, calamares and chickpeas with spinach. The latter was excellent, the former disappointing, and the rest average. Afterwards, I remembered the reason why Date Two had recommended Duende, and it wasn’t for the food. Apparently, they have flamenco dancers in the back room several nights per week; unfortunately, Tuesday wasn’t one of them. Not to worry, Pata Negra to look forward to…