I am a foodie out and out. And even while being tethered to my job in the heart of the big city, I do await the pleasure of weekends to indulge in my favorite pastime – eating out to my heart’s delight on great Hispanic foods. With the holiday season right ahead I can’t wait to get started on what comes like clockwork – family bonding time at some of the finest Spanish restaurants in NYC.

These family get-togethers turn out quite popular with all the lovely traditional food dished out in many great eating houses. It’s a great way to enjoy with close friends and family who share the love of Hispanic tables set out to perfection with tapas ruling the roost. The finger foods are the staple of all the Hispanic fare.

Usually I do prepare easy-to-eat tapas myself for the several occasions that warrant many a family do. With excellent Spanish wine flowing freely around I keep having small parties in many of the wonderful places that offer the seasons best. But then holiday partying in the December calls for visiting the many wonderful restaurants serving my favorite food.

Even in bitterly cold year-end finale, food enthusiasts like me will hunt for authentic Spanish eateries in good old New York. And that’s not too difficult considering the fact it’s one of the favored cuisines for city residents and non-residents, alike. Here is a list of my regular haunts that I’d like to pass on to kindred spirits. After all it’s the season for giving! So here goes – enjoy to your heart’s content.

• Meson Sevilla 344 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036; (212) 262-5890
• La Zarza 166 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10009; (212) 477-1111
• Sangria 46 338 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036; (212) 581-8482
• Toledo 6 East 36th Street, New York, NY 10016; (212) 696-5036
• La Fonda Del Sol 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10020; (212) 867-6767
• Yerba Buena 23 Avenue A, New York, NY 10036; (212) 529-2919
• Flor de Sol 361 Greenwich, New York, NY 10013; (212) 334-8087
• Alcala 342 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017; (212) 370-1866
• Xicala 151B Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012; (212) 219-0599
• Mercat 45 Bond Street, New York, NY 10012; (212) 529-8600

Well if you are keen on wanting to enjoy authentic flavors of Spanish and other Hispanic cuisines head out to these much recommended restaurants where the food is prepared with authentic fresh ingredients. Menus contain a whole lot of options featuring original ingredients, flavors and culinary styles. They are great places for traditional as well as contemporary Spanish dishes.

It is only the Spaniards who will ever fully comprehend tapas. To the un-initiated tapas in Spanish cuisine are basic culinary foods in unending variety. They are typical of Hispanic foods and include the range of hors d’oeuvre of every description. From finger food, salads, marinades and pates to tarts, toasts, beans, sauced dishes and even some soups, tapas remain an all inclusive variety of appetizers. You even have tapas bars in Spain.

And that is only the starters. There are so many varieties of Hispanic food items to attempt to cook from the selection of dishes that comprise of the first course, main course and desserts, that the list of recipes can be really vast. It is best to try and lay your hands on a Spanish recipe book if you want to get it all. There are very many best-selling recipe books on Hispanic foods.

These books can guide you along to discover the various items like seafood, sausage, potatoes, peppers, saffron, garlic, paprika and green sauce that all go to make delicioso Spanish recipes. Best of all many a recipe require so little preparation that you’d be surprised at the end result. Often these cookery books will have wonderful suggestions for menus and accompaniments that will create the right kind of cultural presentation.

Cooks at all skill levels can find countless delightful recipes to make and to enjoy eating. Recipes often include photographs and glossary of ingredients that will help make the task easier. Also suggested menus will make you lay down authentic tables for fine Hispanic fare. So go ahead check out the Spanish cook books for spicy chorizos, tantalizing cold tapas, garlic mayonnaise or lamb brochettes.

Here is a list of books that you can buy and add on to your cookery collection for your Spanish nook in your kitchen cupboard.

• The Basque Table – A Cookbook – by Mary Alustiza
• My Kitchen in Spain – 225 Authentic Regional Recipes – by Janet Mendel
• The Book of Spanish Cooking – by Hilaire Walden
• To the Heart of Spain – Food and Wine Adventures Beyond the Pyrenees – by Ann Walker, Larry Walker
• Foods and Wines of Spain – by Penelope Casas, Penny Cassas
• Paella! Spectacular Rice Dishes from Spain – by Penelope Casas
• Delicioso! The Regional Cooking of Spain – by Penelope Casas, Luis Casas
• Tapas – The Little Dishes of Spain – by Penelope Casas

Hispanic foods are revered for their characteristic taste and flavor that grows on you. With wide varieties of all kinds of typical foods you’d be surprised how far the modest beans and corn are stretched to create most amazing dishes that have become so very trendy. Hispanic food being loved by all is spreading to every nook and corner of the globe.

There certainly is more to dry beans than what you may have imagined. Of course the beans do include lots and lots of vegetables, meats and spices. It is actually the distinctive spices that create the unique taste of many Spanish preparations. Be they delectable enchiladas, tamales or chilis not to mention the ever popular tacos and mojo chicken wings.
What is even more intriguing is to make note that the method of preparation of Hispanic food can differ from region to region. While in one part Safrito may be made of corn, in another area it may be made from beans or even tomatoes. Puerto Rican Safrito with cilantro flavoring can be pungent to taste. Likewise tortillas could be made of corn or wheat flour.

Hispanic foods do not really require elaborate preparation as largely they can be made with the few basic items. Preparing Spanish dishes will be actually very simple and easy. Though one thing is going to be really important is to know to buy real Spanish ingredients. Apart from stocking up for authentic recipes you need to know where to get the ingredients from.

Since the essence of Spanish recipes lie mainly in the spices it is crucial to flavor the cuisine with the correct spices. Spices like saffron, cinnamon, nutmeg, bay leaves and Spanish sea salt create authentic Hispanic flavors. Pimento or smoked paprika is the most prevalent spice used in most dishes. Keeping them all well stocked will have you enjoying a whole lot of Hispanic dishes whenever you want them.

Next in importance would be the herbs without which Spanish cuisine will forego its unique aromas. Many wonderful herbs like parsley, marjoram, tarragon and mint are great additives in many dishes. Garlic of course remains the most respected ingredient flavoring Spanish dishes. And nothing like chilies to add typical tinge to the food.

When it comes to using oil remember only a little would suffice. Yet it remains one of the most defining of ingredients. We all know no Spanish preparation is ever complete without good quality olive oil that goes with staples like rice, beans, white beans, corn and chickpeas.

Many Hispanic food items are laced with sherry, dry sherry, sherry vinegar and fish stock and decorated with olives, anchovies and almonds. Spanish cuisine goes heavy on meat dishes like chorizo and so on. Usually meat items use flavor stews, eggs, beans and cured pork.

It is only when you get the authentic Spanish cooking ingredients that you will enjoy cooking with pleasure to serve unique Spanish recipes. Stocking up on Spanish foods can have you readily creating authentic Spanish fare without a hassle.