This is the second in our Sunday Suppers Series — a way to enjoy the flavors of a culture, when we’re unable to travel there in person.
Seville is a city that creeps up on you. Quiet and unassuming, then exploding with life. Museums, people culture, flamenco and food tumble down on you, almost too fast to absorb. ~ Laura’s travel notes – November 1997
The taste of Spain remains on my lips and in my heart. In the late ’90s I travelled to the Andalusia for work, visiting cities throughout the region — Seville, Cadiz, Jaen, Granada, Jerez de la Frontera, and beyond . . . It was a trip that brought me more insight into the food traditions of the area, including Brandy de Jerez, Sherry wine, sherry vinegar, olives and its oil, and the delicious tapas.
Ever since then, I’ve been intrigued with the foods of the region, and in particular, with a food tradition — tapas.
History of Tapas
During that visit to Andalusia, my host explained to me, “Tapas is a way of maintaining recipes that would otherwise take a long time to prepare. There is always a social aspect to it, and it is something we participate in all the time.”
As tapas was ‘invented’ in Andalusia, I was definitely in the right place to enjoy it. The afternoon I arrived in Seville, we gathered in a small restaurant to sip a Manzanilla Sherry while enjoying an array of tapas. There was a scrambled egg mixture, with mushrooms, red peppers and shrimp; skewered shrimp and bacon served with a creamy Sherry sauce; sliced meat in a butter sauce; patatas bravas, Jamon Serrano (previously hung from the ceiling in the bar) . . . I was mesmerized by the array of food, flavor and culture that surrounded me.
Tapas consist of small portions of food – they can be hot or cold – and they are served in bars and bodegas, accompanying a glass of wine, draft beer, or a dry Spanish Sherry. Tapas, is derived from the Spanish verb ‘tapar,’ which means ‘to cover’ and there are several stories about its beginnings. One such story notes that in the wine making region of Andalusia, it is customary to place a ‘cover’ over the glass of wine, so the fruit flies are kept from swarming. That cover, was often a small plate topped with food.
An alternate version of its origin, is that a 13th century King stopped into a Cadiz inn and ordered a cup of wine. It was windy, so the waiter offered to cover the glass of wine with a slice of ham to protect the wine from the blowing sand. The king, liked it so much, that he ordered a second cup of wine, and asked for the another slice of ham to cover the wine.
Whatever the official story is, tapas is a wonderful tradition. It’s about sharing, friendship and relaxation. It is a concept that has not only spread throughout the country, but the world. And it was with this in mind, we decided to travel to Spain for our Sunday Suppers Spain edition, and enjoyed a bit of tapas.
The meal was a great way for the family to try a variety of Spanish foods, but I definitely look forward to the day when I can invite friends over for a bit of wine, tapas and conversation.
Our Sunday Supper Tapas Menu
This is only our second Sunday Suppers highlighting a specific cuisine, and the kids were busy figuring out which land they’d like to travel to next in our kitchen.
Where are you going?
