few months back, while interviewing for the job I now have.  The company asked me to come in for a final in-person meeting.  My company is going through a growth spurt and is in the process of hiring many positions.  While sitting in the lobby, I noticed another woman who was also waiting for an interview.  She sized me up and added a layer of competition that I did not feel was necessary.  They quickly called her in, and I remained in the lobby.  A few moments later, another woman came in and sat next to me.  She was warm and friendly.  We struck up a conversation and wished each other luck.  I walked away thinking,

“What a nice person.  I hope she get the job.”

About a week after I began working there, Sandia started as well.  Imagine both of our surprise when we  found out that we were sitting next to each other! 

Well we mutually agreed that we were fated to be great friends and decided to celebrate our serendipity with lunch.

We went out on a Friday and the wather was horrible.  We walked in the driving rain with our umbrellas blustering and threatening to give out under the whipping wind.  I had no jacket and she wore a skirt.  We were both freezing!

We happened upon an oasis in the form of a  tappas restaurant that some of our colleagues spoke highly about.  Peniche plays upon the cuisines of Iberian Spain and Portugal.  Everything on the menu consists of little bites.

First, we started with a cheese plate consisting of Manchego, Mahon and Cabrales which they served with this amazing salty/sweet cracker, some quince paste and grapes.  To complement our cheese, we ordered roasted Spanish almonds.

Next, we moved into hot foods, the scrumptious Bolos de Bacalhau (which were essentially cod coquettas);

The warm Sobrasada (sausage with paprika);

The absolutely amazing Biotque (skirt steak cooked in a small hot-pot and topped with an organic egg);

 and last but certainly not least, the pulled pork sliders.

With our friendship sealed and stomachs sated, we happily braved the rain and returned to work.