Puntillitas, battered and fried baby squid

Tapas (IPA: [ˈtapas]) is the name for a wide variety of appetizers in Spanish cuisine. ApetitizerShpjpg|thumb|Swiss cuisine ( Schynige Platte)]] Hors d'œuvre ( French literally 'outside the work' English ɔrˈdɝv or appetizers are Spanish cuisine consists of a variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography culture and climate They may be cold, such as mixed olives and cheese, or warm, such as puntillitas, Andalusian battered, fried baby squid. The Olive ( Olea europaea) is a Species of small Tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Cheese is a Food made from Milk, usually the milk of cows, Buffalo, Goats or sheep, by coagulation. Andalusian cuisine is rather varied corresponding to a region that is itself extensive and varied Batter is a liquid mixture usually based on one or more Flours combined with liquids such as Water, Milk or Beer. Frying is the Cooking of food in Oil or Fat, a technique that originated in ancient Egypt around 2500BC Squid are marine Cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species In the United States and the United Kingdom, tapas have evolved into an entire cuisine; at Spanish restaurants, patrons may order many different small tapas, and combine them for a full meal. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located There are various types of Restaurants. Restaurants fall into several industry classification based upon menu style preparation methods and pricing

History

According to legend, the tapa tradition began when Castile's King Alfonso the Wise recovered from an illness by drinking wine and nibbling small dishes between meals. Alfonso X (November 23 1221 Toledo Spain &ndash April 4 1284 Seville Spain) was a Spanish monarch who ruled as the King of Castile, After regaining his health, the king ordered taverns to serve their guests food along with wine and the tapas became a kind of loophole in the law to allow drinkers to drink.

According to The Joy of Cooking, the original tapas were the slices of bread which sherry drinkers in Andalusian taverns used to cover their glasses between sips. The Joy of Cooking is one of the United States' most-published Cookbooks having been in print continuously since 1936 and with more than 18 million copies sold This was a practical measure meant to prevent fruit flies from hovering over the sweet sherry. But soon, enterprising bartenders were putting small snacks on the bread, and the lowly tapa (from tapa derived the verb tapar, "to cover") became as important as the sherry.

Tapas evolved over Spain's history through the incorporation of ingredients and influences from many different cultures and countries. The east coast was invaded by the Romans, who introduced the olive and irrigation methods. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Irrigation is an artificial application of water to the soil usually for assisting in growing crops The invasion of the North African Moors in the 8th century also brought olives to the south, as well as almonds, citrus fruits and fragrant spices. The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of Muslim (and earlier non-Muslim people of Berber and Arab descent A spice is a dried Seed, Fruit, Root, Bark or vegetative substance used in Nutritionally insignificant quantities as a Food additive The influence of their 700-year presence remains today, especially in Andalusia. Andalusia (Andalucía is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest in terms of land area The discovery of the New World brought the introduction of tomatoes, sweet and chili peppers, maize (corn), beans and potatoes. The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family Capsicum is a Genus of Plants from the nightshade family ( Solanaceae) native to the Americas, where it was cultivated for thousands Capsicum is a Genus of Plants from the nightshade family ( Solanaceae) native to the Americas, where it was cultivated for thousands Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Bean is a common name for large plant Seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae used for human food or animal The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae These were readily accepted and easily grown in Spain's micro-climates.

Etymology

Tapa means "lid" or "cover" in Spanish. There are several explanations for the etymology of "tapa":

• A commonly cited explanation is that an item, be it bread or a flat card, etc. Etymology is the study of the History of Words &mdash when they entered a language from what source and how their form and meaning have changed over time , would often be placed on top of a drink to protect it from fruit flies; at some point it became a habit to top this "cover" with a snack. True flies are Insects of the Order Diptera ( Greek: di = two and pteron = wing possessing a single pair of
• It is also commonly said that since one would be standing while eating a tapa in traditional Spanish bars, they would need to place their plates on top of their drinks in order to eat, making it a top.
• Some believe that the name originated sometime around the 16th century when tavern owners from Castilla-La Mancha found out that the strong taste and smell of mature cheese could help disguise that of bad wine, thus "covering" it, and started offering free cheese when serving cheap wine. Castile-La Mancha ( Spanish "Castilla-La Mancha" is an autonomous community of Spain.
• Another popular explanation says that the king Alfonso XII stopped by a famous venta (inn) in Cádiz (Andalusian city) where he ordered a cup of sherry. Cádiz ( Spanish:) is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the province of the same name, a province which is one of eight Sherry is a Fortified wine, made in and around the town of Jerez, Spain. The waiter covered the glass with a slice of cured ham before offering it to the king, to protect the wine from the beach sand, as Cádiz is a windy place. The king, after drinking his wine and eating the tapa, ordered another sherry "with the same cover".

Tapas in Spain

In Spain, dinner is usually served between 9 p.m. and 11 p. m. (sometimes as late as 12 midnight), leaving significant time between work and dinner. Therefore, Spaniards often go "bar hopping" (Spanish: Ir de tapas) and eat tapas in the time between finishing work and having dinner. Since lunch is usually served between 2 and 4 p. m. , another common time for tapas is weekend days around noon as a means of socializing before lunch proper at home.

It is very common for a bar or a small local restaurant to have 8 to 12 different kinds of tapas in warming trays with glass partitions covering the food. They are often very strongly flavored with garlic, chilies or paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, saffron and sometimes in plentiful amounts of olive oil. Often one or more of the choices is seafood (mariscos), often including anchovies, sardines or mackerel in olive oil, squid or others in a tomato based sauce, sometimes with the addition of red or green peppers or other seasoning. Seafood is any Sea Animal or Seaweed that is served as Food, or is suitable for eating particularly saltwater animals such The anchovies are a family ( Engraulidae) of small common salt-water fish For the hide and seek-like game see Hide and seek. Sardines, or pilchards, are a group of several types of small Oily Mackerel is a common name applied to a number of different species of Fish, mostly but not exclusively from the family Scombridae. Olive oil is a fruit oil obtained from the olive ( Olea europaea; family Oleaceae along with Lilacs Jasmine and ash trees The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family Alternate meanings Seasoning (cast iron; Seasoning (wood; Seasoning (slave Seasoning is the process of imparting or improving It is rare to see a tapas selection not include one or more types of olives, such as manzanilla or arbequina olives. Manzanilla is a variety of Fino Sherry made around the port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Arbequina olives are small brown Olives mostly grown in Catalonia, but also in Aragon, Andalusia and even Argentina. One or more types of bread are usually available to eat with any of the sauce-based tapas.

In Madrid, the northern Spanish city of León, Asturias, Extremadura, and in parts of Andalusia, when you go to a bar and order a drink, you will often get a tapa for free. Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status History León was founded in the 1st century BC by the Roman legion Legio VI ''Victrix''. The Principality of Asturias ( Spanish: Principado de Asturias, Asturian: Principáu d'Asturies or Asturies) is an Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Andalusia (Andalucía is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest in terms of land area A drink, or beverage, is a Liquid specifically prepared for Human consumption This happens mostly in the province of Jaén, Granada, Almería but it is not very common in the rest of Andalusia, where you generally have to pay for both the drink and the tapa. A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. Jaén is a province of southern Spain, in the eastern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. Granada is a province of southern Spain, in the eastern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. Andalusia (Andalucía is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest in terms of land area A drink, or beverage, is a Liquid specifically prepared for Human consumption Sometimes, especially in Northern Spain, they're also called pinchos (spelled pintxos in Basque) in the Basque Country , Cantabria and in some provinces like Salamanca. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. A pincho ( Spanish; literally thorn or spike) or pintxo ( Basque) is a small slice of Bread upon which an ingredient or The Basque Country ( Basque Euskadi, Spanish País Vasco) is an autonomous community in northern Spain. Cantabria is a Spanish province and Autonomous community with Santander as its capital city They're called that because many of them have a pincho, or toothpick, through them. A toothpick is a small stick of Wood, Plastic, Bamboo, Metal or other substance used to remove detritus from the Teeth, usually after The toothpick is used to keep whatever the snack is made of from falling off the bread it has been attached to and to keep track of the number of tapas the customer has eaten. Bread is a Staple food prepared by Baking a Dough of Flour and Water. Differently priced tapas have different shape or size toothpicks. Tapa price ranges from 1. 00 to 1. 50 euros. Please update other articles as well to avoid contradiction within Wikipedia e Another name for them is banderillas (diminutive of bandera "flag"), in part because some of them resemble the colorful spears used in bullfighting. This is an article about a particle accelerator For uses of spear, see Spear or Spear (disambiguation. Bullfighting or Tauromachy (from Greek ταυρομαχία - tauromachia, "bull-fight" is a traditional spectacle of Spain

In Andalusia, tapas can be "upgraded" to bigger portions, equivalent to half a dish (media ración) or a whole one (ración). This is generally more economical when a tapa is being ordered by more than one person. The portions are usually shared by diners, and a meal made up of raciones resembles a Middle Eastern mezze or Chinese dim sum. Meze or mezze ( Arabic, مَزة, Greek mezé (μεζέ Bulgarian: мезé / mezé, Turkish Dim sum is the name for a Chinese cuisine which involves a wide range of light dishes served alongside Chinese tea.

Common dishes

Calamares tapas. Squid is a popular food in many parts of the world In many of the languages around the Mediterranean sea, squid are called 'calamari' (singular 'calamaro'

Aceitunas

Olives

Albóndigas

Meatballs

Allioli

Means "Garlic and oil" in Catalan. The Olive ( Olea europaea) is a Species of small Tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern A meatball is a generally mass of ground Meat that is typically rolled meat comprised of rolled ground beef and other ingredients such as Bread or Aioli ( Provençal Occitan alhòli, Catalan allioli) is a sauce made of Garlic and Olive oil. Allium sativum L, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the Onion family Alliaceae. Catalan ˈkætəˌlæn ( català kətəˈla or) is a Romance language, the national and official language of Andorra, and a co-official The classic ingredients are only garlic, oil and salt, but the common form of it includes Mayonnaise and garlic. Mayonnaise (sometime abbreviated to mayo in American English and other languages is a thick Condiment made primarily from Vegetable oil and Egg A very strong garlic paste. Served on bread or with potatoes, fish, meat or grilled vegetables.

Bacalao

Salted cod loin served very thinly usually served with bread and tomatoes

Boquerones

White anchovies served in vinegar (boquerones en vinagre) or deep fried.

Calamares or rabas

Rings of battered squid. Squid is a popular food in many parts of the world In many of the languages around the Mediterranean sea, squid are called 'calamari' (singular 'calamaro'

Carne mechada

Slow-cooked, tender beef. ^[1]

Chopitos

Battered and fried tiny squid. Also known as "puntillitas.

Cojonuda. (Superb female)

A kind of "pincho". It consists of a slice of Spanish morcilla with a fried quail egg over a slice of bread. Black pudding or (less often blood pudding is a British English term for Sausage made by cooking blood with a filler until it is thick enough to congeal It is very common to see it in Burgos because Spanish morcilla is also called morcilla de Burgos. History Early man of Neanderthal occupied sites around Burgos as early as 800000 years ago

Cojonudo. (Superb male)

A kind of "pincho". It consists of a slice of Spanish chorizo with a fried quail egg over a slice of bread. Chorizo (tʃo̞ˈɾiso̞ in Latin American Spanish or tʃo̞ˈɾiθo̞ in Castilian Spanish) Chouriço (ʃoˈɾisu in Portuguese) or Xoriç

Chorizo al vino

Chorizo sausage slowly cooked in wine. Chorizo (tʃo̞ˈɾiso̞ in Latin American Spanish or tʃo̞ˈɾiθo̞ in Castilian Spanish) Chouriço (ʃoˈɾisu in Portuguese) or Xoriç

Croquetas

A common sight on bar counters and in homes across Spain, served as a tapa, light lunch, or a dinner along with a salad. The croquette or croquet is a parcel of food containing Minced meat, Shellfish, Mashed potatoes or Vegetables encased in

Ensaladilla rusa

Mixed boiled vegetables with tuna, olives and mayonnaise. Tuna, are several Species of ocean-dwelling Fish in the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus.

Gambas

Prawns sauteed in salsa negra (peppercorn sauce), al ajillo (with garlic), or pil-pil (with chopped chili peppers). Prawns are Crustaceans belonging to the sub-order Dendrobranchiata   Sautéing is a method of Cooking Food that uses a small amount of Fat in a shallow pan over relatively high heat

Pimientos de Padrón

Small green peppers from Padrón (a municipality in the province of A Coruña in the region of Galicia) that are fried in olive oil. A Coruña ( Spanish: La Coruña; Galician: A Coruña; also Corunna in English, and archaically The Groyne) is Galicia (occasionally Galiza) is an autonomous community in northwest Spain. Most are very mild, but a few in each batch are quite spicy.

Pincho moruno

A spicy kebab-like stick, made of pork or chicken. Kebab (also transliterated as kabab, kabob, kibob, kebhav, kephav) refers to a variety of meat dishes in Middle Eastern Its name means 'Moorish Stick'.

Patatas bravas

Fried potato dices (sometimes part-boiled and then fried, or simply boiled) served with salsa brava, a spicy tomato sauce. Alioli is often served with it too.

Puntillitas

Battered and fried tiny squid. Also known as chopitos.

Queso con anchoas

Castilla or Manchego cured cheese with anchovies on top. A former kingdom, Castile (Castilla kasˈt̪iʎa or) gradually merged with its neighbors to become the Crown of Castile and later the Kingdom of Spain Manchego cheese is a Sheep milk Cheese made in the La Mancha region of '''Spain'''.

Rajo

Pork seasoned with garlic and parsley. Pork' is the Culinary name for Meat from the domestic Pig ( Sus scrofa) often specifically the fresh meat but can be used as an all-inclusive Allium sativum L, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the Onion family Alliaceae. Parsley ( Petroselinum crispum) is a bright Green, biennial Herb, also used as Spice. A variety with added paprika is called Zorza. Paprika is a spice made from the grinding of dried sweet red or green Bell peppers ( Capsicum annuum)

Solomillo a la castellana

Fried pork scallops, served with an onion and/or Cabrales cheese sauce

Solomillo al whisky, or al güisqui

Fried pork scallops, marinated using whisky, brandy or white wine and olive oil. Cabrales is a Municipality ( ''conceyu'') in the autonomous community of Asturias, northwestern Spain. Whisky (uisge-beatha or whiskey (uisce beatha or fuisce) refers to a broad category of Alcoholic beverages that are distilled from fermented Brandy (from brandywine, derived from Dutch brandewijn — “burnt wine” is a spirit produced by distilling Wine Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice

Tortilla de patatas, also known as Tortilla española

A type of omelette containing fried chunks of potatoes and sometimes onion. The tortilla de patatas or Spanish omelette is a typical Spanish dish consisting of an egg Omelette with fried Potatoes ( The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae A variety containing vegetables and chorizo (similar to frittata) is known as Tortilla paisana. A frittata is a type of Italian Omelette that frequently features fillings such as Meats Cheeses and Vegetables Like a traditional French

Tortillitas de camarones

Battered-prawn fritters. A fritter is any kind of food coated in batter and Deep fried.

Stuffed Mussels (Tigres)

In Bilbao, these stuffed mussels are called tigres ("tigers") because of their fieriness. Bilbao, (also Bilbo) in the North of Spain, is the largest city in the Basque Country and the capital of the province of Biscay (Basque

Tapas in the United States and the United Kingdom

Upscale tapas restaurants and tapas bars are common in many cities of the United States and the United Kingdom, where a selection of tapa are typically served as a main course. As with any cuisine exported from its original country, there can be significant differences between the original Spanish dishes and the dishes served abroad.

Tapas in the Philippines

The Philippines was a Spanish colony for nearly 400 years, from 1521 until 1898. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Filipinos adapted many Spanish words into the local language, including tapa. Filipinos or the Filipino people are the citizens of the Philippines. However, in modern times, tapa in the Philippines bears little resemblance to the original Spanish meaning. It is specifically a traditional dish of salt-cured beef, somewhat similar to American-style beef jerky. Jerky is Meat that has been cut into strips trimmed of fat Marinated in a spicy salty or sweet liquid and then dried with low heat (usually under 70°C/160°F

Today, Filipino tapa (mostly made with beef; occasionally with venison or wild boar meat) is fried and eaten as a full meal, usually for breakfast, with garlic fried rice and fried eggs, along with a chili-vinegar dip. Venison is the Culinary name for Meat from the family Cervidae. On its own, beef tapa is crisp-fried and served as a proper Spanish-style tapas, i. e. with alcoholic drinks, in many bars, restaurants and homes. There is also a sweet variant of tapa, with the sugar added last so as to avoid it having a burnt taste. Another variation is the sarciado-type (wet), with the strips of beef cooked in a mixture of water, vinegar, and soy sauce, and flavoured with garlic and calamansi, and sugar. Calamondin or Kalamansi ( Tagalog: kalamansî, pronounced /kɐlɐmɐnˈsiʔ/ ( × Citrofortunella microcarpa) is a fruit tree in the family

The concept of Spanish tapas—eating little plates of food with alcoholic beverages—has a long tradition in the Philippines. Indeed, no Filipino would ever think of having drinks without at least 4 or 5 plates of different pulutan or pica-pica (Filipino tapas). Philippine cuisine has evolved over several centuries from its Malay roots to a cuisine of predominantly Spanish

Interestingly, some common pulutan in the Philippines have a distinctly Spanish orientation: gambas al ajillo, calamares (deep-fried breaded squid), mushrooms in olive oil and garlic, caldereta (Filipinized Spanish beef or goat stew), and other more elaborate presentations.

External links

• Tapas Tapas Catering
• 100Tapas Spanish Tapas and Pintxos
• About.com Guide to Tapas in Spain.
• El mundo de las Tapas. History and recipes in Spanish and English
• Tapas in Madrid.
• Tapas in Andalusia.
• Tapas Culture in Granada