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Good things come in small packages and that includes food, as the Spanish well know. The eating of tapas – small plates of delicious savoury appetizers – lies at the heart of Spanish tradition, where groups of friends gather before dinner to share bowls of simple but tasty morsels washed down with glasses of chilled sherry or wine.
Tapas tidbits:
• Like the Italian antipasta, tapas are a perfect entertaining option because most of the cooking can be done in advance (fried dishes are the exception).
• Many dishes can be served as tapas – it’s the size of the portions that makes them appetizers. However, because tapas are intended to whet the appetite they are generally very flavoursome mouthfuls.
• Dishes may be simple, such as marinated olives, roasted red peppers, toasted almonds, slices of chorizo and cubes of cheese, or more elaborate, such as frittata, stuffed vegetables, meatballs, fritters and croquettes.
• Tapas can take the place of dinner: serve a selection of varied and reasonably substantial dishes to create a relaxed, grazing-style meal.
• Tapas are traditionally served in small earthenware dishes into which people dip using fingers or cocktail sticks. Put out saucers or small plates for eating off, along with plenty of napkins.
• Dry sherry is the best accompaniment but if sherry isn’t your thing then, depending on what's in the tapas, Champagne or a light wine (white or red) are the next best thing.
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