Traditional tapas dishes cover a range of styles and ingredients, but some common elements include aioli, squid, octopus, and shrimp, chorizo, empanadas, chile peppers, and olive oil. In tapas bars outside of Spain it is not uncommon to see some kind of twist put on these traditional dishes, such as a focus on Central and South American themes, or even an incorporation of Asian flavors and ingredients.

The word tapas comes from the Spanish word tapar, which means, to cover. Just about anyone you ask will tell you a different story of how tapas came to be known as tapas. One legend says that taverns in Andalusia would cover the tops of their glasses of sherry with ham, chorizo, or bread to keep fruit flies out of the sherry. Another says King Alfonso XIII was given a glass of wine in Cádiz with a slice of cured ham on top to keep sand out of the wine, after he finished he ordered another, con la tapa, with the cover.

The tapas bar is a uniquely Spanish cultural institution. There are several common legends as to how the small dishes first appeared and why they were given the name tapas, but regardless of which tale you subscribe to, tapas fill the void between the big Spanish siesta luncheon and the late, often after 9pm, dinner. Recently, there has also been a surge in popularity outside of Spain, with tapas bars appearing in UK and US cities.

The allure of tapas is no doubt the casual and communal nature of the food. The portions are small and mobile, encouraging patrons to move around and socialize, or to each order their own dish and share it with the group to create a large meal similar to Korean barbecue or Chinese dim sum. In cities like Barcelona, Madrid, London, and New York, space can be at a premium, and many people can’t host and serve a meal to a large group of people. This is why tapas bars are becoming more and more popular in cosmopolitan cities; they offer a space where friends can meet and socialize with drinks around a communal, piecemeal dinner.

Whatever variation you decide to believe, the word seems to have come from the habit of placing small dishes of food on top of a drink. And no matter how the word came to be we can all agree that it’s nice to cover good wine and good conversation with a good bite to eat. Time to get out there and start sampling.  If you’re near New York City, try Tertulia, and Despaña NYC.

Photo courtesy of Gerry Dawes

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