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#58379 - 11/20/00 01:31 PM Open invitation in WI
Jaime Offline
Member

Registered: 08/19/00
Posts: 147
Hello all board members, I was just reading about some of you getting together in LA for a night of raciones y Flamenco. I realize probably not a single one of you are from Wisconsin but if anyone is ever passing through for business or visiting in Milwaukee, my husband's family has the only Spanish resaturant in the city. They serve all kinds of spanish cuisine, sangria, rioja wines etc... and have Flamenco dancing on the weekend. Mi suegra madrilena prepares everything and its fabulous. This is an open invitation to all board members at any time. Jaime

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#58380 - 11/20/00 01:46 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Nicole Offline
Executive Member

Registered: 07/24/00
Posts: 583
Loc: Los Angeles
Thank you! My sister lives in Milwaukee, and I am sure I will be visiting her soon. Well, maybe after March, I am not a total masochist..

I will definitely take her there!

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#58381 - 11/20/00 01:47 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
MadridMan Offline


Executive Member

Registered: 05/06/00
Posts: 9080
Loc: Madrid, Spain (was Columbus, O...
WHAT?!! Hehehe.. Thanks for the invitations. Sounds great! But I just gave a lengthy reply to your search for a kind of sales job in Spain and here you say your mother in law is from Madrid which means, I suppose, your husband is from Madrid too. Hmmph! Sheesh! ARGH!! You can just waltz over there NOW, get yourself a work permit (semi-easily since you're married to a madrileño), and get yourself to work. HMPH! I'm envious! Why won't MY madrileña ladyfriend marry me??!! <boo hoo hoo!!!> Best of luck to you!

Saludos, MadridMan
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#58382 - 11/21/00 06:06 AM Re: Open invitation in WI
nevado Offline
Member

Registered: 06/11/00
Posts: 597
MadridMan...have you asked her?????

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#58383 - 11/21/00 08:01 AM Re: Open invitation in WI
MadridMan Offline


Executive Member

Registered: 05/06/00
Posts: 9080
Loc: Madrid, Spain (was Columbus, O...
Nevado, only about a thousand times. But, we digress.....
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Curious about what could POSSIBLY be inside the brain of MadridMan? Visit MadridMan's Madrid Blog

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#58384 - 11/21/00 11:42 AM Re: Open invitation in WI
Jen Offline
Member

Registered: 08/01/00
Posts: 217
Loc: Chicago
Maybe we all better sit down that ladyfriend of yours and just give her a good talking to!! Someone as smart, handsome, charming and funny as you!?
Maybe 2001 will be your year, MadridMan...

Either way, have a great Thanksgiving!
Jen

[This message has been edited by Jen (edited 11-21-2000).]

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#58385 - 11/21/00 06:43 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Jaime Offline
Member

Registered: 08/19/00
Posts: 147
My mother in law left Madrid when she was 19 yrs old because of political hardships in Spain. The rest of her family had already emmigrated to Venezuela and were waiting for her to finish her eduacation in Madrid. She attended college in Caracas where she met her husband and had her family. After the economic crash and 100% inflation in Venezuela a few years ago, the whole family moved to Milwaukee. My suegra still visits her family in Spain and they come here to visit a couple times a year. We are elegible for Spanish citizenship after a year wait but wouldn't do much good because my husband wants to live here. He has waited his whole life to come here and I've waited my whole life to leave. Ironic isn't it? So Madridman any help with looking for International Co.'s would be a big help. And once again the dinner invitation is open to everyone, especially after the freezing weather.

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#58386 - 11/21/00 06:53 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
laduque Offline
Executive Member

Registered: 10/02/00
Posts: 596
Loc: San Diego, CA, USA
Jaime, I know what you mean about your husband wanting to be here and you wanting to go there. My husband is the only one in his family to live outside of Spain. I agree that we have more advantages, economically, here...but what about true quality of life?
Anyway, i've stopped pushing him for now and settle for our yearly visits. Maybe once we have kids and they reach school age, he'll reconsider. One can dream, can't she?

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#58387 - 11/21/00 10:44 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Jaime Offline
Member

Registered: 08/19/00
Posts: 147
I guess we're in the same boat Laduque. I guess it all depends on what determines your standard for a good quality of life. I'm fascinated by different cultures and would like to see and experience everything. My husband on the other hand is already living his American dream. I have never had to put up with the political, social and economic problems my husband's family has so for me its easy to dream of someplace more exotic. For him, its the best to be able to be in a place where things are relatively stable and there is lots of opportunity.
I guess I'm a spoiled American because all I can think of is drinking a bottle of vino tinto and taking a long siesta afterwards.

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#58388 - 11/22/00 12:33 AM Re: Open invitation in WI
laduque Offline
Executive Member

Registered: 10/02/00
Posts: 596
Loc: San Diego, CA, USA
"The grass is always greener, or so they say..."
There is no such thing as a utopian society, as we all know, and there are pros and cons to every place and situation, I guess it depends on what we are willing to give up or just get used to.
When we get together with our Spanish friends here, sure, we reminisce about everything Spanish, but in reality, they are here for a reason. They sacrificed leaving their family and all things familiar to start a "better" life. For my husband, it was economic opportunity, possibly a means to get back to Spain and be better off for it.
I dream of the magical land that is Spain, but in reality, am I capable of leaving my family and my dear friends and all that is familiar to me? In all my travels, I think I can do this in Spain, for I feel the most at home there. A sort of peace I have yet to experience, even in my native home of Santa Fe.
Wow? did I just get heavy on you guys?

I guess when becoming a "member" of this board, one tends to go on just a bit more!

I guess, Jaime, Iberically speaking, we are very fortunate to be married to Spaniards, and their wonderful, exuberant, challenging (sometimes),stubborn way of life is a blessing everyday!

(We should start a thread on being married to Spaniard!)

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#58389 - 11/22/00 01:41 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Jaime Offline
Member

Registered: 08/19/00
Posts: 147
This is not realated to the intial post but I think it is worth sharing...The reason I was impressed with Spanish life and believe that for me it would be of higher quality, is the involvement of family in all activities. While walking around the Plaza Mayor in Salamanca I couldn't believe how many men I saw pushing their babies, without their wives!! I was extremely impressed. The men seemed unrushed, almost pensive, just happy absorbing the moment.
Also, while sitting outside until all hours of the morning, we would see whole groups of adults hanging out together, laughing, talking, drinking wine & cafe, and enjoying the night life with their children! In the US it is unimaginable to go out for a night on the town with your children. In Spain it appeared that the whole family unit did everything together and they were really enjoying themselves. The social structure was just so different. I have to struggle to maintain my youth(24 yrs) while American society keeps chanting buy a minivan and move to the burbs. I just love the Spanish attitude that just because you have a kid, doesn't mean your social life has ended.

It also appeared that the Spaniards were working to live rather than living to work like most of us Americans. Their value system of what is really important in life just seemed more intact.

Does anyone agree??

[This message has been edited by Jaime (edited 11-22-2000).]

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#58390 - 11/22/00 01:50 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Leche Offline
Member

Registered: 10/03/00
Posts: 257
Loc: Boise, Idaho
Jaime....Spain can also be a frame of mind. Life in the burbs is what you make of it!

Leche

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#58391 - 11/22/00 02:20 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Nicole Offline
Executive Member

Registered: 07/24/00
Posts: 583
Loc: Los Angeles
I was also really touched at seeing so many Dad's with their Kids. One thing is though, Spaniards are out in the street much more than Americans, men and women - especialluy in Salamanca (the afternoon Paseo is really something to see, isn't it?). You get to see all that family bonding in public where in the States it happens around the kitchen table at home.

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#58392 - 11/22/00 02:50 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
mclarke Offline
Member

Registered: 09/19/00
Posts: 179
Loc: Arlington, VA
Jaimie

When you come from a country where economic opportunities are not easily available, the U.S. seems to be the best country. This is basically the country where the so called "American dream" can happen. So many people have arrived in this country without virtually nothing but were able to improve their lives economically as well as educationally. I do understand how your husband feels of not wanting to resettle in Spain. With my daughter's Spain experience, my husband somehow reads Spain's newspaper and hinted that he would want to retire in a small village along the Andalucia region. She is very impressed with the family life of the friends she has visited but noticed they are financiall well-off to afford to have a house in Madrid and a farm house or a mountain house. She was lsso impressed how the Spaniars often mixed modern life but still keep most of the old traditions. She likes the idea that these Spaniards know how to enjoy life without being destructive. She often wonders how the economically deprived Spaniards live. I, too would like to live in Spain and not worry where my next meal is coming from like Ernest Hemmingway who just travel and live life in Spain. Her Spanish friends take go to the club to do yoga, swimming, tennis and some dancing lessons just for fun. My daughter reminded me that when she was in high-school, her girlfriends took swimming, dancing, violin lessons not for love of it but for college purposes. She is in Spain doing things for the love of it and not because she wants to look good for futue job applications. She now uses the word "passion". She said that her first job out college will not be based on money but it would be based on passion.
Happy Thanksgiving.

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#58393 - 11/22/00 03:52 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Leche Offline
Member

Registered: 10/03/00
Posts: 257
Loc: Boise, Idaho
My thoughts are that your daughter is leading a very privileged and exclusive life in Spain.

I lived in Madrid for 2 years and found that most of the people I knew and was friends with lived in cramped quarters and did not have alot of disposable income. I believe there is still a upper, middle, and lower class in Spain but the middle and upper middle class is MUCH smaller than here in the US where the middle class is the majority. The standard of living regarding material items and the conveniences of "modern" life is much lower there - even compared with many other countries of Europe. of course this can be a good and a bad thing, and I'm not even taking into account the philisophical questions here.

I did know families that lived in better neighborhoods with nicely furnished pisos (hardwood floors, oriental rugs, grand piano, 1 new car, dishwasher, washer and dryer, big tv, etc) but just their piso mortgage was for nearly $300,000.

Leche

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#58394 - 11/22/00 11:57 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
sheba Offline
Member

Registered: 08/20/00
Posts: 118
Loc: Minneapolis, MN USA
Leche--I'd like to know more about your point of view on this subject. How old were you when you when you noticed this? How did you get the awesome opportunity to stay in Spain for two WHOLE years? What do you think contributes to these class distinctions in Spain? Yeah, it's a lot to respond to, but I am really curious.

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#58395 - 11/22/00 11:59 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
sheba Offline
Member

Registered: 08/20/00
Posts: 118
Loc: Minneapolis, MN USA
Oh and Jaime, what's the name of the restaurant? I would like to go someday soon. Milwaukee's not that far away from Minnesota.

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#58396 - 11/27/00 09:13 AM Re: Open invitation in WI
mclarke Offline
Member

Registered: 09/19/00
Posts: 179
Loc: Arlington, VA
Leche,

Yes, I agree with you that my daughter is leading a very privileged and exclusive life in Spain. For example, she tutors 2 Spanish children whose ages 7 and 11 English and gets paid $25.00 an hour. When she told us about how much she gets paid, I asked what does the family do for a living to afford to spend $25 for tutoring. She said she does not know what the family does for a living but noticed that the family does not live in a building but in a beautiful house outside of Madrid. So far her social circles of friends lead a priveledged and exclusive life. She is trying hard to meet students who come from hard-working families and experience how they live.
Well, I leave for Spain soon - Dec. 28 and I will experience first hand all the things I have read on this forum.

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#58397 - 11/27/00 01:40 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Jaime Offline
Member

Registered: 08/19/00
Posts: 147
Sheba the restaurant is:

Don Quijote restaurant
2624 N. Downer Ave.
MIlwaukee WI
53211
414-967-1322

Also, since so many of you seem to live in California, has anyone ever been to Cafe Sevilla in San Diego? I went with my husband a year ago and the food was good and the atmosphere was great. It seemes like the most popular rest. in the whole city.

If anyone is interested.....If ever in Chicago there are two good Spanish restaurants, Cafe Babareba and Cake Iberico.
Hope everyone had a great Thnaksgiving, Jaime

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#58398 - 11/27/00 01:44 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Nicole Offline
Executive Member

Registered: 07/24/00
Posts: 583
Loc: Los Angeles
Jaime.

Check out the thread, "Spanish Restaurants in Los Angeles." A few San Diegans expressed their opinions on Cafe Sevilla- seems it has become pretty comercialized...

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#58399 - 11/27/00 06:34 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Jaime Offline
Member

Registered: 08/19/00
Posts: 147
Cafe Sevilla is aboiut 10x bigger than our restaurant here. Usually true authenticy comes with having a small establishment(like the bars and cafes in Spain) with an actual native cooking. A place that size is going to be selling a gimic because there are serving mass quantites of people. The cooks are not likely to be Spanish either. I'm sure 99.9% would have to be Mexican. However, Jamon serrano and Queso Manchego is a welcome treat for me anywhere I can get it here.

In the places I mentioned in Chicago, we have actually met the chef and he is a Spaniard.

The place my family has is super small, only about 15 tables, my suegra prepares everything herself from scratch and the decor comes from her personal belongings from Spain and her own artwork. Most regulars that are Spaniards say here paella is better than in Spain.

Many times we get complaints from ignorant people that know nothing about Spanish food, stuff like....Why is there only olive oil for the bread and no butter, Why are these coldcuts so fatty(salchichon), Why isn't this spicy, can I have some tabasco or chiles(think its the same as mexican)

When these things happen....she tells them theres a a Mcdonald's down the street!!

To say the least her Spanish flair has made her sonewhat of a celebrity in the area.

[This message has been edited by Jaime (edited 11-27-2000).]

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#58400 - 12/01/00 12:01 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Jaime Offline
Member

Registered: 08/19/00
Posts: 147
Sheba and any other posters that are interested....Down below is the link that will take you to a newspaper review of the restaurant I was talking about.
http://www.jsonline.com/dd/dinmil/donquijote.asp

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#58401 - 12/01/00 02:06 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Kurt Offline
Member

Registered: 08/02/00
Posts: 184
Loc: Chicago, IL. USA
Jaime--

Thumbs up to Cafe BaBareeba and (especially) Cafe Iberico in Chicago. Emilio's Tapas in Hillside is said to be the best Spanish restauratnt in the Chicago area, but I don't live near Hillside, so have never been BUT!!!, Emilio's just opened a second location on the North Side (mi barrio) on Fullerton Ave., so I'll be checking that out soon!

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#58402 - 12/01/00 03:28 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Jen Offline
Member

Registered: 08/01/00
Posts: 217
Loc: Chicago
There's also an Emilio's on Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln Park, right across from Tower Records.

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#58403 - 12/01/00 05:09 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Kurt Offline
Member

Registered: 08/02/00
Posts: 184
Loc: Chicago, IL. USA
I think we are speaking of the same location, Jen. 444 W. Fullerton Pkwy. There is also one now at 215 E. Ohio! Emilio is gettin' around!

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#58404 - 12/01/00 08:15 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
MadridMan Offline


Executive Member

Registered: 05/06/00
Posts: 9080
Loc: Madrid, Spain (was Columbus, O...
DAMN! How lucky are you??!! (yes, I think it's okay to say "damn", don't you agree??) We only have ONE Spanish restaurant here in Columbus, called Spain Restaurant . Unfortunately, as wonderful and authentic as it is, it's SO expensive that I've only visited once, last winter. A MadridMan fan came to Columbus for a work-related training course and he invited me for dinner. Wasn't that nice of him? We had tapas (gambas al ajillo and fried chorizo) and I had the veal. All topped off with sangria. Mmmm.. So good.

Jaime. I have nothing to do this weekend (except spend 13-hours a day on the computer). How 'bout if I come to Wisconin for some good, old fashioned Spanish cooking? Mmmm... <salivating..>

Saludos, MadridMan
_________________________
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#58405 - 12/01/00 09:10 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Jaime Offline
Member

Registered: 08/19/00
Posts: 147
MadridMan, I'd be happy to share with you some of my favorite Spanish recipes that are the most popular at the restaurant. The menu from the review is somewhat different since that was four years ago but the newspaper critic was right when he said everything was very authentic. I'll write out a couple recipes later and send them as an attachment to whomever wants them and you don't need any special imported foods to make them either. Have good weekend everyone.

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#58406 - 12/01/00 09:28 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
alejandro Offline
Member

Registered: 06/21/00
Posts: 71
Loc: Texas
Any other posters in Texas?

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#58407 - 12/11/00 09:08 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
MunchiMike Offline
Member

Registered: 12/11/00
Posts: 69
Loc: San Francisco, California, U.S...
What a charming invitation, a countrywide Spanish restaurant list seems to formulating........Rev. Mike

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#58408 - 01/08/01 07:00 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Sol Offline
Member

Registered: 01/08/01
Posts: 45
Jaime:

I'm interested in the receipes. Did you poet them somewhere else?

Regards

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#58409 - 01/09/01 08:55 AM Re: Open invitation in WI
Puna Offline
Executive Member

Registered: 07/07/00
Posts: 1437
Loc: Charlotte, NC. U.S.A.
Hi Jamie - somehow I missed your post - do you still have the email with the recipes that you could forward to me or did you post it elsewhere? Mucho gracias!
_________________________
emotionally & mentally in Spain - physically in Charlotte
http://www.wendycrawfordwrites.com/

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#58410 - 01/09/01 08:49 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
ilovemadrid Offline
Member

Registered: 06/20/00
Posts: 89
Loc: Hawaii
Well they have finally opened a Spanish restaurant/tapas bar right here in Honolulu. I have not been able to go yet but believe me I will be there as soon as I have some time!!! Finally!
Now if anyone ever ventures way out here to the middle of the Pacific I have somewhere to take you to eat!

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#58411 - 01/10/01 12:12 AM Re: Open invitation in WI
Jaime Offline
Member

Registered: 08/19/00
Posts: 147
Sorry gang, I think I'm going to have to renig on the recipe list. I thought I had part of an old document with recipes saved and after browsing for an hour I cannot locate it. However.... although I don't want to rewrite/research all the recipes again, I will be happy to answer any questions if I can. Lo siento y Gracias.

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#58412 - 01/10/01 03:44 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Jaime Offline
Member

Registered: 08/19/00
Posts: 147
A lot of you that have made spanish food at home before probably already know this one but for those that don't they are easy and delicious tapas to make. Two of my favorite tapas are "gambas and championes al ajillo." The Ajillo sauce is easy and you just have to sautee the shrimp or mushrooms in the sauce and voila! I use:

Lots of Fresh chopped Garlic
Dry white wine(Spanish if I have it)
Olive oil
Salt & fresh ground pepper
Lemon
Fresh parsley

I sautee the mushrooms/shrimp in a little butter or olive oil with fresh garlic just until slightly cooked. Douse with generous wine, squeeze a few lemon wedges depending on quantity, add salt and pepper to taste, few pinches of parsley. Championes should be nice and golden-dark brown. Its good to have lots of extra sauce in the pan so it can be used to dip bread in. Shrimp get less cooking time and extra lemon is good.

Its impossible to mess up and sooo yummy!!


[This message has been edited by Jaime (edited 01-10-2001).]

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#58413 - 01/31/01 08:50 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
esmerlda Offline
Junior Member

Registered: 01/31/01
Posts: 5
I live in Wisconsin, and am looking for a Spanish restaurant to celebrate my husband's 30th birthday. I am surprising him with a trip to Spain for his birthday, and I would like to present the gift in the right environment. I have been to Cafe Iberico, but am not sure I want to travel into the city(we live in Kenosha). I am glad to have an option. Do I need reservations? I am looking at the March 3 or March 4.

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#58414 - 02/01/01 04:48 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Jaime Offline
Member

Registered: 08/19/00
Posts: 147
Wow a Kenoshan on the board! Now I don't feel so lonely. I'm not sure what days of the week November 3rd or 4th are but you can always make reservations. It may not be necessary during the early week but weekends are always a good idea especially if its around 7:00p.m. Phone number is 414-967-1322. Send me an e-mail if you want to me to take care of it for you and I can give you directions if you need. Gracias, Jaime

[This message has been edited by Jaime (edited 02-01-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Jaime (edited 02-01-2001).]

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#58415 - 02/14/01 06:42 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
esmerlda Offline
Junior Member

Registered: 01/31/01
Posts: 5
Any help would be great!! It is actually in March, not November. I am thinking about March 3 in the evening. Is it best to call? What is the best way to get there from glorious Kenosha!! Thanks too for all the help!

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#58416 - 02/15/01 04:31 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Jaime Offline
Member

Registered: 08/19/00
Posts: 147
Sorry about the date mistake Esmerelda. I knew it was March but I must have had November on the brain for some reason. Yes it is best to call and anyone there can give you exact directions from Kenosha.

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#58417 - 02/16/01 08:30 AM Re: Open invitation in WI
esmerlda Offline
Junior Member

Registered: 01/31/01
Posts: 5
Thanks!! I will definitely call!

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#58418 - 03/03/01 08:07 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Catalina Offline
Member

Registered: 02/28/01
Posts: 32
Loc: Madison ,WI, USA
It's March 3rd - I hope Esmeralda and her husband are having a great meal at Don Quixote right now!
Jaime, I live in New London, WI - I'm originally from Madison and I remember reading Getto's review in the Journal-Sentinel but I forgot about it! Have you heard of or been to "La Paella" - an authentic Spanish restaurant in Madison? The owner is from Barcelona I think. It's where I had my last real Spanish food outside of Spain. Isn't it amazing how we get desperate to recapture those wonderful flavors? You're so lucky to be able to eat Spanish-style every day! Anyway, thanks for the reminder - I'm going to suggest a trip to Milwaukee in the next few weeks.

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#58419 - 03/04/01 05:30 PM Re: Open invitation in WI
Jaime Offline
Member

Registered: 08/19/00
Posts: 147
Hi Catalina,
I have heard of La Paella in Madison but never been there myself. Next time I'm there I'll have to give it a try. I hope Esmerelda had a good time too. I can never be at the restaurant anymore since I am in school all day and have zero time between that and my little girl. Hopefully I'll be around again by the time you stop in. I would love to meet someone from the board!
Gracias,
Jaime

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