What is a tapa?
A tapa is a small plate of food served with a drink.
A simple tapa of home-made potatoes and pepper
An extensive tapa of Grilled goat cheese and a fried ham and cheese eggroll
Where did tapas originate?
Tapa means lid in Spanish, and it is said that long ago in a terrible storm, the King put a piece of jamon on top of his glass of wine so the dust wouldn't get in. Thus creating a lid, or, a tapa.
A mini sandwich of Morcilla. (You don't want to know what Morcilla is...trust me. Eat, then ask.)
Bread with onions, meat and cheese all baked together and designed to look like a replica of a typical little kid's dessert.
How much do tapas cost?
The most expensive tapa I've had was 3 euros. And the least expensive- free! In León, Spain, most tapas are free with the purchase of a drink.
Toast with Morcilla on top (Again, don't ask. But it's delicious.)
This egg is about the size of a quarter.
How many tapas do you eat at once?
One if you are eating them as an appetizer before a meal, or 3-5 if you are heading out tapa-hopping (as I like to call it) for a night's activity with friends.
The "Obama en la Casa Blanca" tapa famous in Valladolid
Pulpo (octopus) with potatoes
Pincho Moruno with mustard sauce
What is the best tapa?
We all have our opinions. My personal favorite is the croqueta. A fried ball of ham, fish, or cheeses, etc. Simple and traditionally Spanish, but with tons of different options of what could be inside.
Life is like a croqueta, you never know which one you're gonna get.