Spanish Tapas

By Amanda Scott

It was rumored that Spanish tapas came about back in the thirteenth century, when King Alfonso X had to eats small snacks when drinking wine, due to illness.  He passed a law stating that taverns and bars must serve food with beer and wine.

Tapas remain a popular part of the Spanish culture, especially in southern Spain. The word tapa in Spanish means ‘lid’, and the small plates were often set on top of drinks to keep insects out. The savory small dishes are often served as snacks or several tapas are paired together to make up a meal. Tapas are sometimes only served in the bar and larger entrees must be ordered when dining at a table. 

Tapas traditionally stem from Mediterranean ingredients such as olive oil, garlic, and fish and seafood.  Paella and potato omelette are also popular. The most common meat used in tapas is pork, though others are served.  A wide selection of cheeses is typical of many tapas menus as well.

Prices of tapas usually fall somewhere in the 3 to 6 Euro range. Seafood tends to be more expensive. Kitchens are often open from 1pm to 4pm in the afternoon and then open again at 8pm.  Many tapas bars don’t get busy until 9pm. You can usually tell which are popular by listening to where the locals go.