Eggs in a Row (Portuguese Baked Eggs)

Among my friends and I, weekend brunch is one of our most sacred traditions. So it was quite a downer when, after a few visits, it became apparent that the fanciest place for brunch in town didn't approve of our entourage. Maybe it's because we currently max out at two gray hairs per head, maybe it's because we wore t-shirts on our first visit, but the aura of antipathy fast became a palpable presence. Mimosas shouldn't come with a side of sneering. With the only remaining venue for elaborate breakfasts being my own home, it was time to devise something that could combine delicious flavor, elegant presentation, and the ability to be assembled before I open my eyes in the morning. That's how I settled on the idea of baked eggs, and, as a proud Luso-American, when I found a recipe for Portuguese Baked Eggs, I knew we were in business.

The breakfast business

Tortilla Tapas (Spanish Tortilla)

One tradition dearly celebrated between our friends is the ritual of "victory tapas," where we kick back and commemorate recent successes with panoply of bite-sized Spanish delicacies. Too often, people seem to think I mean celebrating "victory topless," possibly because Williamsport doesn't have a tapas restaurant of its own. The word tapas comes from the Spanish tapar, meaning "to cover," as the original tapa is a little canapé of bread and chorizo, acting as a fly-deterring lid atop a glass of sherry. Tapas have evolved from those humble origins into a delicious array of snacks meant to be served with drinks and enjoyed casually over the course of the evening. As such, it's no surprise that we're sometimes tempted to declare "victory tapas" over victories as simple as getting up in the morning.

Victorious