We go out for "tapas"!

Tapas are small snacks that the most of the bars serves in Spain with drinks. Althoguh originally those were served only with alcoholic drinks, currently it goes also with non alcoholic drinks.

You can find “tapas” more or less sophisticated, those may be a few of olives, chips or a slice of bread with cold cuts, and seven small pieces of haute cuisine.

Currently there are a lot of haute cuisine restaurants with menus specialize in tapas.

  

The origin of “tapas” is uncertain and there are several theories, but it seems that the most used theory comes from the 18th century, when the King Alfonso X “the wise man”, promulgated a law by which all taverns in Castille had to serve small snacks with alcoholic drinks, without addional cost. It was during his reign, when Alfonso X of Castille got ill, and by medical prescription, he had to drink small sips of wine that he accompanied with small snacks in order to avoid the alcohol effects. After regaining his health he ordered that law, and by doing this he also avoided that the farmers drink wine without eating anything, during their labour break in the morning, returning to work under the alcohol influence.

The word "tapas" is derived from the Spanish verb "tapar", that means "to cover".

One of the most famous theories about the origen of the word “tapa” comes from the begining of the 20th century, when the King Alfonso XIII stopped with his entourage to drink a cup of wine in the tavern “Ventorrillo del Chato” (still open), located in San Fernando, Cádiz. Suddenly the wind brought a small cloud of beach sand, and the waiter covered his cup with a slice of  cold meat in order to protect the wine from the sand. It was so funny for the King that next he ordered other wine with the same “cover” (tapa). His entourage joined and they also ordered a wine with “tapas”.

We went out for tapas to both types of bar those which offers more sophisticated tapas (not always free) and less, there are for all tastes.

Peanuts

Russian Salad

Small balls with meat and potatoes

Homemade croquette

Potato, sausage and pepper

Russian Salad

Mushrooms cooked in garlic

Chips with anchovy

"Empanada" and black pudding

Chips and chicken

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