By Bridget Perdomo
“¡Venga, amigos, vamos a tapear!” is a phrase you will most likely encounter on your visit to Barcelona. It translates to “Hey, guys! Let's go have some tapas!” In Spain, tapas refers to small portions of food, much like the American concept of appetizers. However, here in Spain, tapas are often considered to be the entire meal, and to tapear is a sacred experience.
Spaniards have centered many aspects of their culture and lifestyles around food and the consumption of it. Everything has a meaning, everything has a direct purpose. Their lifestyle and culture pours out into their dishes and the way they indulge in food. Dinner in Barcelona is a long drawn-out nighttime activity–and it is taken very seriously. When traveling to Barcelona–or any Spanish city for that matter–do not expect to eat dinner before 9:00 pm (earliest), and be prepared to be laughing amongst friends and servers until around 1:00 am.
The Gastronomic Culture Of Spain
Nevertheless, drinking and dining in Barcelona is probably the most culturally connecting experience a traveler could partake in. “¡Ir de tapas!” (Go for tapas!), explore along the old spanish sidewalks and allow your senses to guide you to your restaurant. Bypass the “best tapas near me” and “famous tapa bars in Barcelona” google searches and follow the sounds of loud conversations and savory Spanish scents.
Almost every tapa bar in Barcelona is serving up the same dishes–and almost all of them are the best in their own little ways. So, skip a google search and go out and find your own Barcelona gem!
Rebecca, a student studying abroad in Barcelona for the month of May, was eager to dive into Spanish culture and live like a true local.
“Some of my favorite nights here in Barcelona are around rotating plates of tapas and bottles of wine,” said Rebecca. “My friends and I get to restaurants at around 10:00 pm and don’t end up leaving until they close up their shop.”
The History Of Tapas
Depending on which region of Spain you are in, you are likely to encounter different tapas specific to each tradition and flavors. Every region has their own way of preparing these iconic little dishes, however, there are several staple plates that can be found all across Spain.
Patatas Bravas, Pan con Tomate (Bread with tomato), Queso Croquetas, and Jamón serrano, are just a few of the most common tapas you will encounter all throughout Spain.
Patatas Bravas are thick-cut chunks of potatoes that are either baked or fried to a perfect golden brown, drenched in salsa brava and drizzled with aioli. Pan con Tomate is almost always ordered at the beginning of your meal to nibble on. It is slices of crusty bread rubbed with fresh garlic and tomatoes and showered with extra virgin olive oil and flakey sea salt. Queso Croquetas are breaded and deep fried cheese–imagine a thicker mozzarella stick. Finally, Jamón serrano is a dry-cured ham which is thinly sliced and served alone or with bread.
Teresa, a vacationer from Seville, detailed a bit of her favorite tapas and what she adored most about them.
“My absolute favorite tapas are Patatas Bravas and Queso Croquetas,” said Teresa. “They both taste different in almost every restaurant I go to, but the textures and flavors of both never disappoint.”
The origin of tapas is tied to many. different conspiracies and legends, all of which attempt to explain how this culinary tradition began. And of course, each region of Spain tries to claim the credit for the invention of the iconic custom, however, the true origin has never been able to be specifically identified.
Theory One:
Many Spaniards believe that the emergence of tapas is tied to King Alfonso X. As the legend goes, King Alfonso X believed that the way he recovered from an illness was through the consumption of large amounts of wine accompanied by small plates of food. After his recovery, he came to this realization and ordered that every household in the kingdom should serve small amounts of food with their daily glasses of wine to ensure public health and minimize drunkenness among citizens.
Theory Two:
Another Spanish legend involves King Fernando VII and his voyage around Andalusia. The story goes on to tell of the time the King stopped at a restaurant where he was served a slice of cheese over the top of his glass of wine. However, some say it was ham or bread that was served atop. The King knew that the slice of food was being used as a tapadera, (a cover to protect the wine from bugs or dirt entering the glass), he still ate it anyway. And it is said that he made his entire court do the same. From that moment forward, he would ask for “tapas” with his wine during all of his dining events.
Fernando, a local bartender at a tapas restaurant, was asked what stories he had heard growing up and where he assumed tapas originated from.
“Every city in Spain will try to tell you that either they invented the tapa or that they make them all the best,” said Fernando. “How did the tradition first start though? I’m not sure but I always heard the story about the king eating the tapa that was placed on his wine glass.”
Theory Three:
The mystery of the tapa can also be traced back to the Spanish working class. It is believed that because these individuals would spend long, tiring hours working or partaking in physical labor, they needed something to sustain their stamina. Farmers and working class individuals would drink wine and snack on small plates of food in between lunch and dinner in order to sustain their energy and endurance.
Like Italy has pasta and America has cheeseburgers, the gastronomic culture of Spain is centered around tapas. However, the tradition of tapas has spread across the globe. The custom is one which is centered around being present with your food and spending time with your friends and family. Like world renowned Spanish chef Jose Andres once said, “Tapas is a celebration of life.”
Comments