La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
LAST NIGHT AT 9, WE met Tynan and Elena at Mesón Salvador. I’m sorry I didn’t get photos of the laughter, silliness, and story telling. I did manage to grab two poor shots of Sergio as he paused at our table. He offered his elbow to the camera for some safe … affection.
Lolo and Cuñado were there as well to make us all happy (clearly that’s the only reason they work). Cuñado means brother-in-law. His real name is David and he’s Sergio’s brother-in-law. But Chef David is in the kitchen, so everyone, not just Sergio, calls him Cuñado to avoid confusion.
At the end of the evening, Sergio brought us chupitos (after dinner drinks) that looked like nothing more than shots of milk. And when we told him so, he said that’s what they were, but insisted we drink them because milk was good for digestion. We figured he was up to something, so we took a sip. It reminded us all of something (not milk so much) but we couldn’t place it. Cinnamon and spice… Delicious. He made us take a few guesses and then told us: Rice pudding liqueur. So good that it tasted like more.
I would have had dessert and coffee but no one would join me and I wasn’t going to do it alone — despite the fact that San Geraldo still hasn’t baked that chocolate cake (today, he says). Elena and Tynan both had to get up for work and, besides, I had to phone the Kid Brother.
I arrived home at the scheduled time and his roommate Chris answered after nine rings. He had been dozing in front of the television. The Kid Brother was right there. I asked, “Were you dozing, too?” “No, I’m awake!” “Well, then why’d you make Chris get up to answer the phone?” “He can do it.” Oh, that explains it.
I forgot to ask the Kid Brother if he received any mail. My friend Susan and I both send him a card or letter regularly. Before we hung up, he said, “I got a second letter from her.”
I didn’t know what he was talking about. I thought there were some official letters going to him. “A letter?” I asked.
“Yeah. It’s the second one.”
“From who?”
“You know who!” (The Kid Brother doesn’t say proper names.)
“Oh, wait. From Susan?!?”
“That’s right!”
“Oh, that’s great. She’ll be so happy to know another one finally got there.”
“Tell her to send a picture.”
“A picture? Oh, because it was a letter and not a postcard?”
“That’s right. But it’s OK.”
“Well, you know she had it custom printed with your name.”
“I know. It’s not easy to read.”
“Her handwriting?”
“It’s OK. And it’s apartment 2E!”
“Oh, no. Did she write the wrong apartment?”
“No.”
“Well, what did she write?”
“2E.”
“So, then the address and apartment number were correct?”
“Yeah!”
As always, it was clear as mud.
.
LA NOCHE PASADA A LAS 9, conocimos a Tynan y Elena en Mesón Salvador. Lo siento, no obtuve fotos de la risa, la tontería, y la narración de historias. Me las arreglé para tomar dos fotos pobres de Sergio mientras se detenía en nuestra mesa. Le ofreció su codo a la cámara por algo seguro … afecto.
Lolo y Cuñado también estuvieron allí para hacernos felices a todos (claramente esa es la única razón por la que trabajan). El verdadero nombre de Cuñado es David y es cuñado de Sergio. Pero el chef David está en la cocina, por lo que todos, no solo Sergio, lo llaman Cuñado para evitar confusiones.
Sergio nos trajo chupitos que no parecían más que tragos de leche. Y cuando se lo dijimos, dijo que eso era lo que eran, pero insistió en que los bebiéramos porque la leche era buena para la digestión. Supusimos que estaba haciendo algo, así que tomamos un sorbo. Nos recordó a todos algo (no tanta leche) pero no pudimos ubicarlo. Canela y especias … Delicioso. Nos hizo hacer algunas conjeturas y luego nos dijo: licor de arroz con leche. Tan bueno que sabía a más.
Yo habría tomado postre y café, pero nadie se uniría a mí y no iba a hacerlo solo, a pesar de que San Geraldo todavía no ha horneado esa tarta de chocolate (hoy, él dice). Elena y Tynan tuvieron que levantarse para trabajar y, además, tuve que llamar a El Hermanito.
Llegué a casa a la hora programada y su compañero de cuarto Chris respondió después de nueve timbres. Había estado dormitando frente a la televisión. El Hermanito estaba cerca. Le pregunté: “¿También dormitabas?” “¡No, estoy despierto!” “Bueno, entonces ¿por qué hiciste que Chris se levantara para contestar el teléfono?” “Él puede hacerlo.” Oh, eso lo explica.
Olvidé preguntarle al Kid Brother si recibió algún correo. Mi amiga Susan y yo le enviamos una tarjeta o carta regularmente. Antes de colgar, “Recibí una segunda carta de ella”.
No sabía de qué estaba hablando. Pensé que le iban a enviar algunas cartas oficiales. “¿Una carta?” Yo pregunté.
“Si. Es el segundo”.
“¿De quien?”
“¡Sabes quién!” (El Kid Brother no dice nombres propios).
“Oh, espera. ¿De Susan?”
“¡Así es!”
“Oh eso es genial. Ella estará muy feliz de saber que finalmente otro llegó”.
“Dile que envíe una foto”.
“¿Una foto? ¿Oh, porque era una carta y no una postal?”
“Así es. Pero está bien.”
“Bueno, sabes que ella lo imprimió con tu nombre”.
“Lo sé. No es fácil de leer”.
“¿Su letra?”
“Está bien. ¡Y es el apartamento 2E!”
“Oh no. ¿Escribió ella el apartamento equivocado?”
“No.”
“¿Qué escribió ella?”
“2E”.
“Entonces, ¿la dirección y el número de apartamento eran correctos?”
“¡Si!”
Como siempre, estaba claro como el barro.
Aguacate y gambas de SG.
Mi rosa de salmon.
SG y yo compartimos un plato de bacalao frito.
All the makings of a wonderful night out!
Your Kid Brother couldn’t hide from you, even though he tries, no matter what.
You are a good brother, Mitch.
Jim:
Chris is Chuck’s secretary just as I’m SG’s. I can count on one hand the number of times Chuck has answered the phone in the 30 years he and Chris have been housemates.
Sounds and looks like fun. Good to hear Chuck is doing well.
David:
He really is doing well despite all that’s going on in the world.
I’d like to touch sergio’s elbow…and perhaps a bit more…bet he’s a good kisser too.
I just googled tynan’s dish; interesting. do they serve heinz ketchup with the fries?
and chuck is being chuck; something is right with this world.
anne marie:
They DO often have Heinz ketchup on hand for the fries. Mayonnaise is very popular here… with just about anything. And, yes, I love when Chuck is Chuck!
Your chats with the Kid Brother always bring a smile to my face.
2E!!
Bob:
Next week, something will probably be said (that I’ll have to decipher) that will explain why he said, “It’s apartment 2E!” I DO love him.
Kid Brother is good at administering brain teasers–inadvertently–but still good. And as others have said, you are a terrific brother.
Mary:
He keeps my on my toes… and makes me practice patience. He’s worth it.
Ha ha, your Kid Brother is a delight!
Debra:
Sometimes, he even means to be funny. NOT this time.
Your dear friend must have a iron stomach. Anchovies and the milk on top after!?!?!?!? Yuck. But you know i don’t like fish. And the thing on the next plate!?!?!? I’m not touching that. But I’d like too.
Ohhhh it’s been so long……….
And after Chucks call…im surprised you didn’t need a nip?
Mistress Maddie:
These anchovies are absolutely nothing like what you know in the United States; I can’t even be in the same room with those, while I love fresh-caught Spanish anchovies. The flamenquin on the next plate is cheese, wrapped in slices of serrano ham, wrapped in slices of pork loin, and battered and fried. It’s delicious. I’ll have to find photos from a place we used to go in Sevilla. Theirs was excellent but looked like horse penis… with the cheese squirting out the end. The recipe is originally from Córdoba but is now popular all over Andalucía.
Each plate a visual delight! I’m sure a delight to the palate as well.
the comment above was from me.
Wilma:
Argh. I’m glad to know this is you. Jim had the same problem recently but got it figured out. I hope there’s an easy resolution for you! Meals at Mesón Salvador never disappoint and it really is like going home. So warm and welcoming.
the anonymous comment above was from me.
Mud seems almost translucent compared to Chuck! He’s a sweetie, though. It looks like somebody threw up between SG’s avocado slices. I know, I’m such a philistine 🙂 I remember when I thought an anchovy was an onion or chive like thingy. Imagine my disgusted shock when I had them on a pizza, once. Ugh! To each their own. Live and let live. Make your own kind of music. Kumbaya. I’m trying to get out of this word maze, Scoot!
Deedles:
Oh the patience it takes to converse with Chuck… if you actually need information. Otherwise, I do it just for the entertainment value. I wish I could have gotten a photo of the entire large squid served to a nearby diner, but I didn’t want to be rude. YOU would have so loved that I’m sure.
not posting comments with id for some reason. This amd the anonymous comment above are from Wilma.
Rice pudding liqueur? That’s a new one on me. Glad it tasted good! The food looks marvelous. Your conversations with your brother are always so funny. (And frustrating, I’m sure!)
Steve:
The liqueur was new to all of us, as well. Mesón Salvador once had rice pudding cake in the dessert case. Once. It was shockingly delicious. They need to do it again. Yeah, conversations with my brother CAN drive me crazy, but I’ve mostly learned to laugh about them. We’re our own comedy duo.
That rice pudding liqueur actually looks very good. I know I would love it. You are a good brother!
mcpersonalspace54:
The liqueur was surprisingly delicious. I still want more. And, thanks, I’m glad to be here for my brother. He’s worth it. (And it’s so entertaining… when it doesn’t make me crazy).