Originally created in Spain, tapas are a great way to enjoy great food and good friends in restaurants where you can focus on your company rather than on cooking. Tapas refers to a wide variety of appetizers and finger foods. These snacks are served together in combination, providing diners with a wide variety of food and an opportunity to focus on the people around them rather than becoming distracted by a large meal.
History
Tapas were originally created as a way for innkeepers to showcase their offerings to travelers. Since many could not read or write, innkeepers brought patrons a small sampling of available food rather than a written menu. These samples were often served on small pieces of flat bread placed over sherry glasses to keep flies out. Eventually they evolved into appetizers and many different tapas served together are often combined to make a full meal.
How to Eat Tapas
Variety is the spice of life and the point of tapas. Tapas are designed to allow you to try many different dishes and share them with your friends. The art of enjoying tapas involves tickling your palate with a wide variety of flavors from sweet to savory to spicy. Combining different flavors and textures and trying new things are what it's all about.
Sharing
Since there is such a wide variety of flavors on a single tapas plate, these snacks often serve as great conversation starters. Food has always been known to bring people together, and tapas too are meant to be shared with friends and encourage social gatherings. Keeping the wine flowing and the conversation going are the name of the game. Whether you're all gathered at the bar chatting away or you and a date are sharing a plate, the tapas experience has historically been a social one and sharing is a part of the experience.
Tapas and Wine
The only thing tapas should be paired with other than friends is the right wine. The wide variety of tapas flavors makes it important to clear your palate in between tastes and a dry wine is a great way to do so. Serve whites on ice and reds at room temperature. If you're not a wine connoisseur yourself, ask your wait staff to suggest a pairing for you.
Sources:
How To Eat Tapas, Made Man
How to Plan a Spanish Tapas and Wine Party, Cellar Tours
Tapas were originally created as a way for innkeepers to showcase their offerings to travelers. Since many could not read or write, innkeepers brought patrons a small sampling of available food rather than a written menu. These samples were often served on small pieces of flat bread placed over sherry glasses to keep flies out. Eventually they evolved into appetizers and many different tapas served together are often combined to make a full meal.
How to Eat Tapas
Variety is the spice of life and the point of tapas. Tapas are designed to allow you to try many different dishes and share them with your friends. The art of enjoying tapas involves tickling your palate with a wide variety of flavors from sweet to savory to spicy. Combining different flavors and textures and trying new things are what it's all about.
Sharing
Since there is such a wide variety of flavors on a single tapas plate, these snacks often serve as great conversation starters. Food has always been known to bring people together, and tapas too are meant to be shared with friends and encourage social gatherings. Keeping the wine flowing and the conversation going are the name of the game. Whether you're all gathered at the bar chatting away or you and a date are sharing a plate, the tapas experience has historically been a social one and sharing is a part of the experience.
Tapas and Wine
The only thing tapas should be paired with other than friends is the right wine. The wide variety of tapas flavors makes it important to clear your palate in between tastes and a dry wine is a great way to do so. Serve whites on ice and reds at room temperature. If you're not a wine connoisseur yourself, ask your wait staff to suggest a pairing for you.
Sources:
How To Eat Tapas, Made Man
How to Plan a Spanish Tapas and Wine Party, Cellar Tours