Tapas

Eating in Spain

Tapas and Tascas

One of the best ways to sample Spanish cooking is at a tapas bar. Tapas are basically appetizers, small portions of just about anything: cheese, olives, squid, smoked shrimp, mussels, sausage, marinated vegetables.and the list goes on.

The all- important tapa tradition is an essential part of Spanish tradition, not only for the delicious food but for the ritual of conversation and company involved. No Spaniard is without his or her favourite "tasca" (tapas bar), a regular meeting place for friends and acquaintances, and no Spanish village, despite how small, is without at least one tasca.

Origins

The story of how these tapas came into being has become vague with time but several versions are still upheld today. The word "tapa" means cover or lid in Spanish, and many say it was used to refer to the small complimentary plate of appetizers that the tascas would serve with the guests' drinks. When being served the drink, patrons would place the plate sitting on the class, covering it.

The region considered to have more tapas bars than anywhere else in Spain is Andalusia. Here, stories regarding the history of tapas tell that the practice emerged after a generous bar owner covered each glass he served with either a slice of ham or cheese. In this case again, reference to covering is made. Rumor also has it that tapas were thought up simply to make the drinks last longer.

Tapas can be as simple or as complex as one likes. They can range from cheese, olives, dips canapes, traditional hams and mussels on cocktail sticks, to carefully stuffed anchovy olives or octopus. Toast rubbed with garlic, topped with tuna and roasted peppers and dripping with olive oil is a more elaborate affair. They make a very useful snack regarding how late dinner is usually eaten here. But ordering enough plates of tapas will cater for an excellent meal in itself.

Come and join a Spanish Language Course with us and experience authentic tapas and bar-crawling for yourself!