Tapas

There are few things in life I would rather do than take advantage of the relaxed Mediterranean outlook on life, and Europe's vastly superior culinary skills with a visit to a tapas bar.  Firstly, tapas should be free, at least that's the case for traditional tapa, as the Spanish knew it before the tourist invasion. It's getting more and more unusual now to be offered free tapas with your drinks, but such cafes and bars can be found, it's all a case of stepping off the tourist trail.

The word 'tapas' stems from the Spanish verb 'tapar' - literally to cover, although tapas is normally translated as lid. The origin of the practice is somewhat debated but the most popular belief is that it stems from the age old Andalusian practice of using a piece of bread to cover a  glass of wine or sherry, to protect it from flies. At some point it appears to have become fashionable to top this "lid" with a snack. A less likely story goes something like - during the 16th century, tavern owners in Castile-La Mancha offered strong tasting mature cheese free with wine to mask it's poor taste and quality. (Why does Weatherspoon's spring to mind, UK readers?)

Free, you say?

Strictly speaking, yes, Tapas should be offered free when ordering a drink in a Spanish bar - but this practice is dying a rather slow death unfortunately, as the bar owners continue to count the $s and the £s. If you do go off the tourist trail and find somewhere this tradition still exists however, don't expect to order what you fancy - if it's given free it's the choice of the house. If you choose - you will pay, albeit a modest amount. 

A quick tip - If you do buy a drink in a Spanish bar and end up with a small bowl of complimentary nuts or olives which you don't want tell the waiter *when* he brings them to the table - this is good Spanish etiquette, leaving them uneaten on your table is rude. 

Varieties

There is an endless amount different tapas available, and they vary between regions, but here are a few of my favourites, a tiny percentage of the amount available - feel free to add your own suggestions below.

Patatas Bravas - Small chunks of potato cooked in chili/tomato sauce of varying strengths depending on where you visit - a standard tapa, most famously served in Bar Tomas in Barcelona (long queues), but available everywhere. 

Albondigas - Meatballs, Spanish style.

Gambas al ajillo - Shrimps cooked in garlic - most popular in the fishing ports, for obvious reasons. 

Croquetas - Croquettes, soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside, urecognisable to their tasteless, frozen, and very distant British cousins. 

Tortilla Espanola - You can't go to Spain and not have a Spanish Omelette, can you? Ingredients vary depending on which part of Spain you are in. The one below was recently enjoyed in Toledo, about an hour outside of Madrid.

Calamares - Rings of battered squid

Pulpo - Octopus. Nicer than it sounds, some traditional bars have small complementary 'pulpos' on the bar.

This is, of course, just a tiny fraction of all the tapas in Spain, so please, feel free to let me know below which your favourite is.