Features of the use of tapas

Anyone who wants to feel like a real Spaniard should remember a few rules good manners when ordering tapas. So, in the country it is customary to eat these snacks while standing, not sitting down. And in the evening it is advisable to visit at least 2-3 tapas bars - as they say, "dip". And of course, tapas aren't tapas unless those who eat them are actively communicating and gesticulating.

In the "lobby" of Spanish bars, there is usually a plaque with a list of snacks and prices. The prices there are different - depending on the size and filling. In some tapas bars, the entire range of snacks is displayed under glass at the counter, and the printed menu simply does not exist. In this case, point to the dish you are interested in, and it will be brought to you.

Another subtlety concerns the way tapas are consumed. They can be eaten without cutlery and take it with your hands - no sidelong glances in your direction will follow. So feel free to go on a tapas tour of Spanish bars, and let it turn out to be unforgettable!

Tapas have become a symbol of Spanish gastronomy. Most famous chefs are fighting to come up with the most refined and original snack. Tourists from all over the world visiting Spain do not deny themselves the opportunity to indulge in these varied dishes.

The Spaniards call tapas "the real queens of Spanish cuisine". But how did they appear and what path did they go through to become what they are now.

No one will tell you the date or the exact place where tapas first appeared.

Literally translated from Spanish, the word "tapa" means "lid".

The Spaniards love to tell different legends about how these snacks appeared. Among the many of these stories, the main motifs can be distinguished.
The most popular version tells how King Alfonso XIII was served a glass of wine in a tavern, and to prevent dust and small insects from getting into the drink, the waiter closed the glass thin slice ham. The king really liked this way of serving drinks + snacks and he introduced this custom among his subjects.

Another story is connected with King Alfonso X the Wise. Doctors ordered him to drink a glass of wine several times a day so that his head remained clear, the king drank wine, accompanied by small portions of food. Subsequently, according to his decree, wine and small snacks began to be served in taverns and bars, this was done to reduce the number of drunken visitors.

A similar story is associated with the era of the reign of the Catholic Kings, when a law was issued obliging innkeepers to include a small snack in the price of a drink so that visitors would not get drunk and rowdy.

Other theories say that the origin of tapas is associated with peasants who, in order to maintain strength while working, drank a glass of wine with big amount food (usually it was cheese or corned beef).

There is also a story about an enterprising tavern owner who came across a bad batch of wine and, to mask the taste, began to serve it with small slices of cheese and pieces of sausage.

Be that as it may, the Spanish language has a new meaning of the word "Tapas" - "a light snack served with beer or wine", and a new expression "ir a tapear", which can be translated as "to go eat tapas". It has become one of the most favorite pastimes of the Spaniards: go to a bar with a group of friends or relatives, or even whole families, order drinks and signature tapas, small portions easy to share with each other. The atmosphere of the taps bar is conducive to a cheerful friendly conversation and relaxation after labor day. Usually, the business is not limited to visiting only one institution, and visitors move from bar to bar, trying variety of snacks because each bar has its own specialty.

Spaniards love lively, noisy bars and prefer to eat tapas right behind the bar without any extra ceremony, the very essence of ir de tapas is to relax, unwind, enjoy the conversation and the atmosphere.

Types of tapas

There are a lot of them, the main requirement is that the portion should be small.

There are several main types of Spanish tapas:

Usually such bars work on the principle of "self-service": you go to the bar, pick up the pintxos you like, note that toothpicks can be of different sizes, the cost will depend on this. To pay for the order, you go to the cashier and the number of bisonists left on your plate is calculated.

The best tapas bar in Barcelona

They are located at some distance from the usual tourist routes, but if you wish, finding them will not be a big problem.

Their distinctive feature is a modest interior, the menu is only in Spanish / Catalan great amount visitors.

Quimet & Quimet

Address: Carrer del Poeta Cabanyes, 25, 08004 Barcelona

One of oldest bars Barcelona, ​​the institution is very tiny, it also combines a wine cellar. In addition to traditional fresh tapas, there is also an excellent selection of wines.

Cal Pep

Address: Plaça de les Olles, 8, 08003 Barcelona

One of the best establishments Barcelona, ​​the place is so popular among the local population that in order to get there, you have to stand in line. Famous for its seafood tapas. The signature dish tartare. The service is beyond praise. There is no menu here, all dishes are ordered exclusively on the recommendation of the staff.

Los Toreros

Address: Calle de Xucla, 5

This modest, at first glance, bar-restaurant offers an amazing selection of tapas at very affordable prices.

100 montaditos

A network of establishments where you can enjoy classic Spanish montaditos for a very reasonable price, moreover, on Wednesdays and Sundays there is a promotion when any sandwich or snack costs only 1 €.

Addresses of 100 montaditos in Barcelona

• Av. del Parallel, 69
• Rambla del Raval, 41
• Carrer de Pau Claris, 68
• Calle de Sants, 32
• Carrer d'Aribau, 242

It is not necessary to look for special bars, you will be offered almost all snacks in any bar. Prices and quality can vary greatly.

Before the arrival of guests, any hostess thinks what can be served for a snack, before the main meal with a glass of wine? Tapas is the perfect solution! Probably, many people hear this word, but perhaps not everyone knows what it is.

On the one hand, the word "Tapas" means the way of serving small pieces stuffed baguette, vegetables, meat or seafood, and on the other hand, the same combination of stuffing and bread is called tapas.

The tradition of serving small cold snacks before meals, which include meat, vegetables, fish, and so on, came to us from Spain. Now these snacks are popular not only in Spain, but also in the countries of the Balkan Peninsula and in countries located on the Mediterranean coast.

Usually tapas are served on small plates, but the variety of toppings can truly surprise any gourmet. Each national cuisine, of course, has its own traditions of table setting and combinations of various ingredients, but you can still identify the basic principles for making tapas fillings. For example, mushrooms are stuffed with meat, cheese and herbs. Seafood is usually served with pies or grilled or pickled vegetables. And, of course, such an appetizer is served with bread, which is baked in each country according to its own technology.

IN modern world often there is a mixture of different cuisines various countries and it affects tapas as well. Recently become popular in Europe asian cuisine, so you can find elements of Japanese sushi in tapas.

Tapas in Spain

In Spain, tapas is considered not just a simple meal, tapas is part of the culture of Spain. The word itself comes from the Spanish word for "lid" or "cover". One of the opinions is that originally tapas was meat, vegetable and bread cuts, which were covered with a glass of wine so that insects would not get there. According to another version, the king of Castile and Leon Alfonso X the Wise introduced a law according to which it was impossible to serve in refectories and taverns alcoholic drinks without snacks, so that visitors do not drink on an empty stomach and behave appropriately.

In Spain, there is a whole tradition of how to eat tapas: it is customary to eat it standing up, with wine or sangria, in big company and for casual conversation during the siesta. There is even a so-called "tapas marathon" - tapeo: after 09 pm, the Spaniards gather in groups and wander from bar to bar, in each of which they eat several pieces of tapas, washing them down with wine and make new, pleasant acquaintances.

In Spain, making tapas is an art. There are even special competitions that evaluate the ability to cook them, the variety of fillings and the way they are served. The main venue is the city of Valladolina.

Below is a list of tapas toppings that you can find in any small cafe in Spain, and of course, repeat yourself:

• serano ham
• olives and cheese (manchego)
• meatballs (albondigas)
• marinated or deep fried anchovies
• chorizo ​​sausage
• salted cod (bacalau)
• fried squid rings (squid)
• crispy salted potatoes (papas arrugadas)
• Sun-dried tomatoes
• garlic sauce (alioli) with bread and potatoes
• omelette

Each country has its own preferences for making tapas.

In Portugal, tapas are even called differently - "petiscos". They may include deep-fried fish, meatballs, octopus salad, olives and the national dish of Portugal - salted dried cod - "bacalau". It is difficult to resist such a variety and not to try.

In Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey, these snacks are called "ouzo", "raki" or "meze". They are prepared from vegetables, fish and seafood. Well, in each region, of course, you can find something typical or unusual. For example, the famous tzatziki - grape leaves, stuffed with a mixture from rice, yogurt, cucumber and garlic. Or a seafood salad topped with baked vegetables and sheep's cheese.

Tapas in Italy

In Italy, tapas are referred to as "antipasti". Here are some toppings popular in this country:

• Parma ham
• Mozzarella
• grilled bread with a slice of tomato and a couple of drops of olive oil (bruschetta)
• very thin slices of beef with parmesan, olive oil and balsamic sauce (carpaccio)
• grilled or deep-fried vegetables (eggplant, sweet peppers, zucchini)
• veal with tuna sauce (vitello tonnato)
• pickled sardines
• baked clams

In Italy, small appetizers (commonly called antipasti) are usually served in transparent glassware. This way of serving dishes is very convenient, because guests can immediately see what and where lies.

Despite. that the tradition of preparing tapas in each country is different, but in any case it is very tasty, unusual and quick snack. You can turn on all your imagination, use all the ingredients that are in the refrigerator - and the result will be amazing in any case. You will be able to surprise and feed all the guests. By the way, tapas can be prepared as a dish for a buffet table, picnic or taken to work.

For some reason, it is generally accepted that tapas and pinchos are an appetizer. Such a traditional Spanish snack that you can buy in any bar or cafe like nuts or chips. This is partly true - you can really buy them literally everywhere. Even where there is no actual kitchen, as such. That is, going to any spanish bar in Tmutarakan, the hosts always have something to offer to have a bite to eat. And it doesn’t matter that you don’t get enough of pickled olives or that you already have sandwiches across your throat. It's pure Spanish cuisine Spain and since you are here - Bon appetit. But the fact that this is just an appetizer let me disagree. 2-4 tapas or pinchos and that's it, the stomach stops squeaking from hunger saying that it's already full.

For those almost two weeks that we traveled around Spain by car, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Aragon scorched by the sun, the proud Basque country or Madrid rebuilt with the money of the colonies, tapas and pintxos were the same. With their own zest, characteristic only of a certain place, but still very, very similar.

My photo selection of Spanish appetizers is shown below, although it is impossible to capture all Spanish tapas in a photo. There is too much variety.

It's fast and light food. Yes, snack. But in our understanding fried potatoes, for example, completely independent dishes and they have a snack. But it cooks quickly, which means you can have a snack with it. Tapas can be either a plate with olives or chopped jamon, bravo deep-fried potatoes or chorizo ​​sausages fried in oil, julienne in shells or just a slice of bread with olive oil grated with tomatoes. Everything that is enough for imagination and that can be found in the fridge and there will be tapas!

There is a legend according to which King Alfonso XIII, while in Cadiz, sat down in some tavern to drink a little with ustka. A strong wind rose and the owner of the tavern put a piece of jamon on the king's glass, covering the wine from the sand that had risen from the wind. The king liked this appetizer and asked for more. It's a beautiful legend, but now no one serves drinks with topas.

Tapas cost from 2 to 10 euros depending on what you order. Olive nuts will cost only 1 euro, and deep-fried squid will cost 10. It is absolutely not necessary to look for a tapas bar in Spain, since tapas are everywhere.

The simplest Spanish appetizer is nuts and olives.
Sliced ​​raw smoked sausage. Anytime and anywhere.

Jamon itself is tapas. But it’s expensive to eat it just like that, so something with jamon is often offered. For example, patatas brava, aka fried potatoes. On top of the planed jamon and uevos, they are eggs. It is written huevos but the first X is not readable in Spanish. And then it sounds quite plausible with her)

all sorts of dried sausages used in tapas everywhere. Either planed as is, or they are fried in oil.

Shrimps in Spain, like seafood in general, are loved. Even if they cost more than a fried potato, let's say not 4, but 10 euros, but at the same time, the diversity is much greater. The same shrimps are cooked in sauces and on the grill. Grilled food always tastes better. Ask for a la plancha, not frito. Of course, they are fried in a pan, but they taste better on the grill.

My favorite tapas and personal drug are pimientos padrone or peppers. It is believed that every tenth pepper is very hot. I only ever got one. The Spaniards said that I was very happy. I do not argue)

Where the sea is close and the fishing port works, you can always eat mussels or mihienes. It is very tasty, but always small. And it costs about 8 euros.

Chipirons are also popular among seafood. These are small deep-fried squids.

But you can take traditional squid rings and chopped squid into rings. There are differences, but not fundamental)

Spanish omelette, also known as tortilla, is not only just an appetizer, but also an element of pintxos, if you put it on bread.

What is pintxos?

This is the same appetizer, only strung on a stick. Even a sandwich with a traditional "toothpick" would be considered pintxos. Like tapas on bread in the photo above.

Pintxos cost about 4 euros, regardless of the filling. Well, plus or minus euro. After eating 4-6 pieces and drinking a couple of beers, you can assume that you didn’t have a bite, but ate a full meal. It's kind of fast food.

Pinchos is very popular in the Basque country and in the north. The biggest variety can be found in the old town in Bilbao. There, entire streets do nothing but cut and chop snacks on sticks. That is, the pintxos recipe is simple - prick everything that your soul desires on a stick.

I liked this one, but strangely, it tasted and looked like eggplant, and the seller claimed that it was kalabasin, that is, zucchini.

Tapas and pintxos are certainly boring after a two-week trip. And sometimes you just want soup, or something hot. But in fact, in the heat it is very good food. And for the upcoming summer, you can adopt a couple of recipes, I think)

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Tapas is an appetizer for an alcoholic drink. But not everything is so simple. Tapas reflects the whole philosophy, lifestyle, habits of the native Spaniard. Let's figure out what tapas can be called, how it is cooked, eaten and washed down.

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"Cap" of manners, or the philosophy of tapas

Tapas is Spanish for "lid". Where does the appetizer get its name from? There are several versions of this. According to one of the most popular, King Philip III forbade serving alcoholic drinks in taverns without snacks so that people would be less drunk and behave decently. The appetizer was put simply on a mug with a drink. According to another, more prosaic version, vessels with drinks were covered with bread or ham so that flies swarming in the heat would not get into them.

Later, the concept of tapear appeared in Spanish, meaning literally walking with friends from one bar to another in order to repeatedly drink, eat well and chat a lot. This scheme is still in effect today. In one evening, a Madrid office worker can visit 3-5 bars.

Light snacks are conducive to informal conversation and unhurried rest. They served on a common plate, without cutlery, size - one bite. No shyness, no manners, no protocol.

Russian salad or fried squid - what's on the plate?

Any dish can act as tapas, whether it be chips or a saucer of snails. Every bar or restaurant has its own signature recipe tapas. And the Spanish hostess will easily collect a snack from what she has in the refrigerator. What is most commonly served as tapas?

• or chorizo;
• a plate of olives;
• grilled vegetables;
• fried potatoes with sauce;
• squid, mussels or anchovies;
• Ensaladilla rusa - Russian salad (like our winter one);
• small sandwiches or canapes;
• small portions national dishes, For example, .

flickr.com/greyworld

Especially popular is pintxos - a mini sandwich with various ingredients, for convenience, pinned on a skewer.

Julia, Moscow:

“During our trip to Spain, we found the largest variety of pintxos in the north. In the towns there, on every corner, they only do what they cut and prick on toothpicks whatever their heart desires. The pintxos costs about 4 euros. 3-5 pieces I personally replaced full lunch. Of course, you won’t be so full every day, but for a snack in hot afternoon with a glass of beer - that's it.

The art of making tapas is regularly competed by the chefs of tiny eateries and fashionable restaurants in tapas competitions and festivals that take place in every Spanish province. The manner of serving tapas, by the way, differs not only in different parts of Spain, but even in establishments adjacent to each other.

One tapa (snack portion) is always small, 3-5 small pieces. Depending on the size of the company, you can order tapas different sizes. Tapas designed for big company friends is called raciones.

flickr.com/salomechaussure

Cooking tapas - here are a couple of recipes for you

Fried shrimp with garlic

At 15 large shrimp- 100 ml of olive oil, 4-6 cloves of garlic, 1 chili, 2-3 sprigs of parsley, salt, 1 tsp. brandy.

Marinate the cleaned shrimp in olive oil with garlic cloves, salt and chili pepper. Then heat up a frying pan with plenty of oil, quickly fry the shrimp and add some brandy. After a minute, remove from heat, serve in the oil in which the shrimp were fried, sprinkled with chopped parsley.

Bread with tomatoes

Grill the slices of bread or toast them in the oven. While hot, rub them with a clove of garlic and tomato pulp, cutting the tomato in half. Salt and season with olive oil.

Irina, Ulyanovsk:

“After traveling around Catalonia, I was looking for cookbook with recipes for those same sandwiches with a variety of compositions. I came across a book by the famous Spanish chef Adrian Quetglas "Tapas". The topic of snacks is revealed in it even wider than I expected. These are not just recipes, but an interesting culinary journey.”

What to drink tapas with?

In the bar tapas is ordered with low alcohol with a light taste. When drinking, it is important for a Spaniard to feel not only the taste of the drink, but also the taste of the food.

flickr.com/kphua

Traditional drinks for tapas:

• cider;
• sherry;
• table white wine;
• cava - Spanish sparkling wine;
• vermouth;
• beer.

Of course you can order with tapas and soft drink or eat a portion, just to satisfy your hunger. For this, no one will look askance at you.

Until recently, tapas was served with drinks for free, but today in most establishments, snacks have to be ordered separately. The institution reserves the right to treat the client in gratitude for a large order or frequent visits.

flickr.com/thomaaas

Tapas bar - the atmosphere of Spain

You can try the most delicious tapas and plunge into the atmosphere of Spanish ease in tapas bars. There are many such establishments in Barcelona and Madrid today. These are usually small, noisy and smoky places where tapas is eaten right behind the bar. Here there is no menu, and the entire assortment is presented simply in the window. It is not customary to sit dignifiedly here, so there are a minimum of tables in the tapas bar.

Since each tapas bar has its own rules and etiquette, in order not to get into trouble, you should ask the waiter to help you with the choice. You can simply point with your finger that you want to order how much and mention how much you are willing to spend on it. The chef or waiter will surely offer you the best and most delicious.

One of the oldest bars in Barcelona - Quimet & Quimet at Poeta Cabanyes 25. Small family run tapas restaurant traditional recipes Spanish cuisine.

flickr.com/victorsnk

Denis, St. Petersburg:

“We came here on purpose, after reading rave reviews from tourists. Everything was not in vain! Small bar with amazing atmosphere, original food and fast service. A portion of three tapas costs about 2.5 euros. I advise you to try beans with cod and shrimp with red pepper.

Worth a look in Madrid De 1911 at Plazuela de San Gines 5. The name of the tapas bar contains the year of its foundation, and this says a lot.

Feel the atmosphere of Spain in Moscow you can in institutions: El Basco, Cork Wine and Tapas Bar, Tapa Rillas, Tapas Marbella.