Cellar Tastings

Tapas are essentially small tasty snacks served with drinks in Spanish bars and cafes. Rather than dine in a single place, the ever-social Spaniards go out for Tapas, the Iberian equivalent to "bar hopping". ". There are many different styles and varieties of Tapas, many taking the favor of locally available ingredients and tastes. Widely consumed all over Spain, Tapas are now also enjoyed by diners all over the world.

History of Tapas

The history of Tapas can be traced back to the Moorish presence in Spanish between the 7th and 15th centuries AD. The Moors had a love for small dishes with exotic ingredients such as peppers, almonds, garlic and saffron. This influenced across over to Spanish culture and has become one of Spain most renowned culinary traditions.

There are several theories to as to the origin of Tapas. The word "Tapa" means, "cover" in Spanish and a commonly cited explanation is that Tapas were placed on the top of a drink to protect it from flies. Perhaps not the most hygienic of theories! Another is that the ailing king Alfonso X on the orders from his doctors eat small portions of food with wine as part of his medical treatment. Having been cured of his ailments the learned king continued the practice and was soon imitated by other members of the Spanish court and nobles.

It is very common for a bar to have 6-8 different kinds of Tapas, which are usually displayed in glass partition on the bar. Usually there is several choices to seafood or Mariscos available, including anchovies, sardines or cod, served in olive oil with bread. Olives are another popular Tapas dishes served with your copa de vino (wine) or caña (beer).

When dining in restaurants in it not uncommon to order several Tapas for the table. Everybody dining then has a chance to taste a variety of these delicious delights. A few common Tapas to watch for are patatas bravas (potatoes in a hot spicy sauce), champiñones (mushrooms), chorizo (smoked cured sausage), gambas (shrimp), pimientros de Padrón (roast green peppers, from Galica).

Several different styles of Tapas have developed. These include Pinchos (pintxos), which are bite-size Tapas held together with toothpicks, which are common in Basque Country (North Spain). Other variations include Banderillas, which are similar to Pinchos, with the toothpick wrapped in colorful paper resembling the short spears used by the bullfighters. Montaditos are creative Tapas served on toast, the McKenzie being a favorite of this writer; Tune fish pate served to resemble a miniature hamburger, a stylish interpretation of a well-known American "MC".