Tapas or a tapa is a small snack, it can be hot or cold and is served at any time of the day in many establishments, some bars and cafes in Spain give small bowls of olives or nuts for free when you order a drink.
Mas
del Mar Mediterranean tapas becoming increasingly popular in the
hostelry profession. We supply a wide range of Mediterranean tapas,
including olives, chorizo, jamon Serrano, Pata Negra, prepared
ensaladas, alioli, empanadillas, tortillas, croquetas.
View our prices as a grocery member or email us for a price for your
selected products. Thank you for visiting the online grocery range of
Mediterranean Tapas.
Contact our export / import department: export@irl353.com
Cork & Bottle Company - Olives
Tel: Irish Imports + 353 (0) 877865513
Tel: UK imports + 44 (0) 207 099 2730
Tel: Spanish Export Director + 34 629904161
Tel: French Export Director + 33 (0) 777 200 120
Having evolved in Spain, there are several folklore stories that are associated with how tapas evolved – the most popular and plausible are:
That bar tenders served them to clients who would place them on top of their glass of wine to keep out the fruit flies
A piece of strong flavoured cheese would be offered to hide the taste of an unsavoury wine
A king - Alfonso X, el Sabio or “the Wise One,” made sure that Spanish taverns served wine accompanied by something to eat, so that the wine would not go straight to the clients' heads.
As tapar, in Spanish means 'to cover' possibly No. 1 is the most interesting!
There is a wide and varied choice of tapas and some of the most popular are; Tortilla (Spanish omelet made with eggs, potato and onion), quite often you can order a pincho de tortilla – pan con tomate (either baguette or country bread with tomato) and a warm slice of tortilla.
A simple piece of baguette topped with chorizo, ham generally jamon serrano and cheese.
Calamares a la Romana or fried squid served with alioli – a garlic mayonnaise dip.
Patatas bravas a delicious hot snack, chunky potatoes deep fried until crispy in olive oil and served with a salsa brava – a spicy mayonnaise dip – made with mayonnaise, ketchup and a dash of tabasco.
Then there are olives and pickles, banderillas for example are toothpicks loaded with gherkins, cocktail onions, olives – anchovy or tuna can be added for variety.
Many varieties of fish find their way on to tapas menus – Gambas al ajillo, or Garlic Prawns – the prawns are simply cooked in a mixture of olive oil, garlic, cognac and paprika – served with sliced baguette and some alioli.
Try Bolas de Bacalao Frito or fried balls of cod – cooked cod formed into small balls with mashed potato, cooked onions and parsley, coated with egg and breadcrumbs then fried in olive oil.
The enjoyment of Tapas in Spain is a very civilised affair, generally bridging the gap before a main meal, or just as a get together with friends or an after work drink.
Enjoy tapas!
