Maggie's Tapas

The Mayan calendar claiming 2012 as year of the tapas party.

Hey, if any of you out there are feeling a bit, well, end-of-the-world, gloom and doomy, then Maggie has the prescription for what ails you–an amazing tapas party catered by yours truly. Genius, huh?

I figure it this way, hear me out, I’ve got a couple of theories.

If the Mayans are right and planet Earth will come to an end December 21 of this year, then by all means, you should celebrate all that is good–and with reckless abandon too–like wonderful tasting food (from Maggie’s) eaten with your friends whilst drinking some good wine. All you have to do is call and we’ll get your Maybe the Mayans are Right Tapas Celebration going.

Or, if they aren’t right (I’m kinda’ leaning towards this side) and you still want to throw yourself a party, remember that most every one of Maggie’s tapas dishes are heart healthy and based on the Mediterranean diet. This way, you can still have your cake and eat it too.

We only use 100% pure olive oil, fresh California sourced produce, California meats and cheeses (with the exception of those great Spanish imports) and fresh seafood from Santa Monica Seafood.

Then, there’s always the fact that maybe, just maybe, the Mayans really meant to say that 2012 was Year of the Tapas Party. Maybe the Mayans were, quite accurately, predicting their own invasion (and subsequent demise) by the Spaniards who would then go on to invent the Wonderful World of Tapas. If you study the Madrid codex, you’ll definitely see pictures of gambas al ajillo. Really.

Whatever the reason you have for some great tapas, give Maggie’s a call (I can expound more on my theories if you’d like) and we’ll fulfill your 2012 wishes for an amazingly delicious tapas party. Promise!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah everyone. Maggie’s Tapas and Maggie’s Meat and Bread will be closed for the holidays so that we too can spend time with our family and friends.

We will reopen with limited hours on January 9 and be fully open on January 10. Calls and emails will be returned then. Have a safe and joyous holiday season.

-Maggie and Paul

Just in time to book your holiday party–Maggie has worked very hard on her menu to help you celebrate the holidays with delicious tapas; traditional dishes and some new twists on classic foods.

Want something different from the same old corporate party menus? Choose from Maggie’s Holiday Tapas menu and give your office a real treat for all their hard work. You can mix and match traditional holiday foods with some Mediterranean and Argentine inspired tapas to create a beautiful and sumptuous holiday banquet.

Choose from:

Butternut squash empanadas with spiced apple chutney

Salmon en croute bites with orange coriander butter

Mediterranean lamb chili with borlotti beans

Individual turkey or chicken pot pies

Individual Shepherd’s pie with lamb

Holiday selection of tortillas Espanola

Baked poblano chilis with white sauce and pomegranate seeds

Maggie’s full holiday menu can be downloaded here.

Maggie can also deliver a beautiful catered affair for your home holiday party or make it really special with our on-site catering services where we cook in your home for a truly custom menu.

And our drop-off service is the easiest way to enjoy hand-crafted (with love) food delivered straight to you on gorgeous and disposable catering platters–so you can be a guest at your own party.

Individual size holiday tortillas Espanola filled with tomato, basil and Asiago cheese.

The best answer to that is: good tapas made with love.

And tapas from Maggie’s is everything you could ever want.

But there is more to a great tapas party than the sum of all the tapas you serve. A great party starts with a relaxed host or hostess.

At Maggie’s we want you to enjoy your party and you can’t really enjoy it if you are running around fretting about the food, the napkins and the ice.

That’s why a great tapas party starts with letting Maggie do the cooking for you.

We can deliver a great tapas party straight to your door for any event. And with the holidays fast-approaching, wouldn’t you love to give your guests platters of:

• Sizzling, spicy garlic shrimp with aioli,
• Spanish tortillas with pancetta and sage,
• Cocktail size meatballs (albondigas) made with organic beef, pork and Manchego cheese served with a spicy tomato and saffron sauce,
• Sweet, scarlet red piquillo peppers filled with citrus and lavender California goat cheese and,
• Maple soaked bacon wrapped around almond filled California dates.

Maggie's maple soaked, bacon wrapped California dates.

Whether you need a party for 10 or a corporate event for 300, Maggie can deliver a sumptuous tapas feast to you.

All you have to do is call (310) 929-0243 to book your tapas party now. If you order your tapas party before November 25, 2011, we will add desserts for free as our holiday gift to you. Please mention Tapas Party Desserts when you order. Minimums do apply.

Cocktail size meatballs (albondigas) in spicy tomato and saffron sauce.

So get calling and enjoy your own party!

This was Nike, the first dog we adopted as a family. Nike came from the Dallas-Ft.Worth Golden Retriever Rescue. And he was a great dog, a good and loyal friend and the biggest pizza lover–ever.

We can recall many a time when an unattended pizza box would somehow find it’s way from the table and onto the floor and into Nike’s mouth.

After we moved here 5 years ago, Nike got introduced to the Pacific Ocean. And he loved it. Getting him to leave the beach required a lot of patience. Nike knew how to ride the waves back in after fetching his stick. That dog would be so encrusted with sand, it would pour out from his thick water-repellent coat for days after.

He was a real Salty Dog.

Nike came home from a great day at the beach on Wednesday and went to the big surf up in the sky after doing what he loved the most–even more than eating a good pizza.

We will miss you very much, Nike. There are many great animals like Nike waiting to be adopted from the Golden Retriever Club of Greater Los Angeles Rescue and the Southern California Golden Retriever Rescue. And Los Angeles Animal Services where you can save the lives of both cats and dogs.

Thank you to my good friend Cristi for the beautiful photos of my dog.

And what does that have to do with tapas and catering, Maggie?

Not much, but I thought it was interesting, you know tapas and bullfighting–same country of origin.

As of January 1, bullfighting is no longer in Catalonia. And for that I am very happy. Hemingway, schmemingway, how’d you like to be repeatedly attacked with sharp barbed sticks just so some guy in fancy knickerbockers can dance around you with a red cape?

Which brings me to this Chuck Jones cartoon. When was the last time there was a Big Carrot Festival in the Coachella Valley? Enjoy!

I really like a festival that begins with some guys climbing a greased pole with a jamon waiting at the top. More on the history of La Tomatina Festival here.

I just love when I come across a video like this one, shot by someone with an eye for good food. It is the Cervecería Plaza Mayor Bar and Restaurant in Madrid.

The platters of tapas in the front are works of art; the jamons, a gift from the gods. It’s such a beautiful restaurant. Can you just imagine yourself, having walked the city for a few hours, coming into this restaurant and believing that all is right with the world? I can.

Here is the videographer’s website http://www.giancarlodeleon.com/. Thanks!

Ah, September. Back to school, back to (more) work and back to all things football. And part of all things football is the time-honored tradition of the Tailgate Party.

And now Maggie’s has you covered for all your Tailgate needs. Yep, tapas for your next Tailgate Extravaganza! Well, it’s more than tapas, it’s football sized tapas.

We’ve got a Tailgate Tapas Menu all worked out for you so all you have to do is pick it up and drive it on over to your next UCLA or USC football game and enjoy. (Maggie does not take sides as she went to NYU where we were best known for our fencing team.)

• Marinated and braised baby back ribs with loads of garlic, smoked paprika, olive oil and a touch of heat
• Cheesy, buttery grilled polenta squares
• Applewood smoked bacon, marinated pork loin, Manchego and membrillo (for a touch of sweet) sandwiches with all the toppings
• Mediterranean chili made with lamb, Borlotti beans and mid-eastern spices
• Potato and leek soup with gorgonzola topped with creme fraiche, rosemary and pancetta

Call to order (310) 929-0243 or dash me off an email, maggie@maggiesmeatandbread.com or maggie@maggiestapas.com.