Barsha Wines and Spirits UPDATE - Manhattan Beach

This whole place is a vibe. It is my vibe, my husband's vibe...and I honestly can't see a single person not vibing with the original location of Barsha in Manhattan Beach. 

Half wine shop, half hangout, the communal tables are awesome for casual conversation over snacks and sips.

The weekly tasting flight is best for getting an idea of what you want. The Lyrarakis Vidiano Queen White 2025 from Crete is a white I actually do not hate, and the MAAL Biutiful Malbec has an overripe fruit flavor that I totally dig.  

I always fall for the Hand of Fatima, a mix of dips. My favorites are the mint pesto and harissa, but who doesn't also love a good hummus with an olive?

For cheeses we got Delice de Bourguignon, Gouda, Manego, and Shaft Blue. Not a single bad choice, and the flavor of those pickled grapes is wild. 

It's been 10 years, and I still love this place. This place shows real spirit with their carefully curated spirits, along with a never-ending supply of charcuterie and cheese. There's something here for everyone so just be sure to show up. 

La Espanola Meats UPDATE - Torrance

This used to be my favorite weekday lunch. I would drive over on my days off when the rest of the world was at work and order a warm sandwich with slices of jamon. I'd shop around, fill a basket, check out when my sandwich was made, and go home to eat or munch on the way to the next place. Errands never tasted so good, as long I remembered to brush off the crumbs.

No more cured meats due to pregnancy, then no more anything due to covid. But despair not, they have delivery. A flat fee for each price range; the more you spend, the higher the fee. 

Dona Juana will do, but I went down the importado rabbit hole and now I am hooked. The Spanish jamon will cost you double, but the Redondo Iglesias is worth the cost. The texture is less moist, and the salinity reaches deep into the meat to draw out the natural flavors of the pork. 

Iberico Chorizo by Palacios. Every box I order has at least four. Beautifully dried, concentrated fat without the grease. Dona Juana's Chorizo Soria and Chorizo Pamplona are more moist if you prefer. 

The cheese. So much cheese. Manchego at every age, the older the nuttier, similar to most humans and pets. I always get a P'tit Basque as well. The sheep's milk has a silky-smooth finish, and this cheese ends with a pleasant, lingering pungence. 

Garnish with Marcona Almonds and Quince Paste. Their most basic paste is only $4.99, with the texture of a fruit jelly dessert and flavor like a fig married to a very sweet lemon. 

Cans of Serpis olives can be stuffed with all sorts of stuff, but I still like the blue cheese best.

When I feel safe, I'll be picking up some preorder-only paella on a Saturday, but until then it's delivery or Doordash for me. Doordash is sandwiches only so I prefer the delivery even with the fee. Plus they always throw in a few free gifts if you order on an empty stomach, with fun freebies like rose (wine) potato chips and just-add-milk packets of flan, as if their food weren't gift enough. 

Stellenbosch, South Africa - Day 11

An early morning start sends us along the winding highways to Stellenbosch. 

First stop: Spier, with a colorful array of bold blends, a full-bodied cab, a spunky Shiraz, and a creative block collection whose name says it all. 

Their Pinotage has a warm, well-rounded finish, and we can't leave without a bottle of that.

The Pinotage and every other wine on the list pair well with an extensive Charcuterie Platter. All the cheese are light: blue camembert has only veiny hints of strong stuff, and the Kleinrivier danbo is a very mild cream. 

The biltong pate is more like an onion dip, but I dig the rooty, earthy beetroot hummus. The bresoula and proscuitto are right on, and bites of grapes and olives break up the heavier meat and creamy cheese. 

Even a weeping sky can't make Spier dreary. The lakeside view is gorgeous, even without the fountain in full swing.