We ordered items from national purveyors to see which would be best on your holiday table.

By Kathy Saunders

Tapas for Two Gift Box from La Tienda, tienda.com

Jeff Jensen, public information officer for the city of Treasure Island, reviewed this box from La Tienda, an online seller of traditional Spanish food and products based in Virginia. Tapas for Two was a good starter kit for enjoying some traditional Spanish fare, said Jensen. “You can arrange all these goodies in little bowls or plates or serve them on a cutting board and dress them up any way you like,” he said. The gift box arrived well-packed and “secure enough that even a bag of chips arrived unbroken,” Jensen said. The box included chorizo, which Jensen described as “excellent, chewy and spicy.” He also enjoyed the anchovy-stuffed olives, although, he said, “I drained off the brine and substituted some everyday California olive oil.” Almonds were included as well.

“As I removed some of the additional shredded packing material (a dead ringer for one of Cher’s wigs from her 1998 Farewell tour) I found a terra-cotta cazuela dish, cat’s eye-shaped bread sticks and the real star of the gift box: a package of six, individually wrapped, anise-flavored Tortas de Aceite crisps.” He described the biscuit crackers as sweet, flaky and aromatic. “They were just great, and a real treat if you have never had anise before or were just ‘anise-curious.’” Three chocolate-dipped figs “had just the right amount of sweetness overkill,” he added.

Jensen said he would buy this to enjoy with friends or as a gift for the holidays or any special occasion. “Add some fruit and cheese and you’ve got yourself a quick and eminently sophisticated serving of tapas,” he said.

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