Johnna’s Pick of the Week: Taberna’s New Tapas
©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood Grilled Asparagus Soup & Carmelized Olive Oil
Honestly, the first thought that comes to mind when I think of tapas is: not enough. Staying true to their original purpose, snacks/appetizers in Spanish cuisine, they are no more than 1-2 spoonfuls of food spread out on a small plate. For yours truly, this is appropriate when my appetite is not begging for more than two nibbles of the tuna tartare but when its dinner time, it’s dinnertime. My view on tapas has either been skewed or maybe Taberna del Alabardero got the hint that bigger is better. Recently, I had the opportunity to snag first dibs on the restaurants new tapas menu and I left feeling like it was one of those bottomless spaghetti nights or endless buffets.
©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood Chef Romero
After literally rolling myself out of the restaurant, I revisited the treats of the night and what made them so strikingly good. Well, it starts with the brains behind the madness…the chef. I’m a true believer that the best food comes from love and that’s what Chef Javier Romero exudes in his kitchen skills. This is truly a person that loves to cook and enjoys being around everything that is food. The creativity that he takes in the kitchen, from making asparagus the center of the dessert to making basic tomatoes taste like some of the best old fashioned canned strawberry preserves, is unparalleled. This has to be love. The thing I love about Chef Romero is that he is like one of those players in the NBA who is so underrated but is really the MVP of his league.
©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood
I think I am most impressed by the simplicity of it all. A little heavy cream here, a little red wine there and a sprig of thyme, dress it up…and we have a work of art. Putting olive oil with bread alongside some ice cream would never have crossed my mind and I truly thought I loved? love food. This food adventure has me thinking about how passionate I really am about food…how outside of the box am I ready to reach??…
Category: Food.Fun.Stuff., Johnna's Pick of the Week, restaurant reviews, Washington D.C.
About the Author (Author Profile)
Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.Subscribe
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