Tapas are Spanish appetizers.
Spanish tapas have grown in popularity across Europe, North America and even into Asian countries. Since the different dishes are small, generally only a few bites, tapas offer a variety of flavors and different tapas can be combined into a meal that, while rarely filling, can feel satisfying and sophisticated.
Basics
The term "tapas" specifically refers to small appetizers or snacks as served in Spanish cuisine. Originally, tapas were seen as a sort of bar food, eaten to tide people over between ending the work day and returning home for dinner. Eating a few small dishes over a long period of time meant that people still had an appetite for a full meal. The international interest in tapas led to them becoming more of a meal than originally conceived.
Varieties
Individual dishes can be hot or cold and range from simple items, such as olives and cheese, to more complicated ones, such as smoked fish with fruit pintxos. Regional versions of tapas use different dishes but typically, Spanish ones include chorizo (sausage), serrano (ham), paella (a dish consisting of vegetables, rice and shellfish) and, fitting with Spain's culinary culture, many types of fish and cheese. Often, fruits and vegetables are mixed with the other items, including meats and starches, giving a balance to the dishes. Since tapas began as small, easy-to make items, the dishes tend toward recipes using simple ingredients and combining bold flavors.
Atmosphere
Eating tapas is often seen as a social activity. are rarely enough to satisfy one person, which encourage variety, and the portions are small so people are less focused on stuffing their mouths than in conversation. In some places, those eating tapas are encouraged to do so while standing up so they may move around the room and speak with different people while snacking on their small bits of food. This also slows the eating of the tapas, adding a luxurious feel to the process. The addition of wine to the meal creates a festive, relaxing atmosphere.
Variations
While tapas has been growing in culinary awareness, the idea of small, simple snacks served over a long period of time to encourage socializing is not new. Although different in specific items French hors d'œuvres, Chinese dim sum and Hawaiian pupus all use the same method of one or two bite items shared between a group of people. As with tapas, these can also be widely collected into a full meal.
Tags: different dishes, full meal, Individual dishes, long period, , over long, over long period