| A question on almost everyone’s lips when | | | | glass of white wine. The Basque country in Spain |
| they arrive to Barcelona is “Where can we | | | | lends itself to a different kind of Tapas snack, |
| get some Tapas?!” Everyone associates | | | | called a pincho, or pinxo in Barcelona. This is a |
| Spanish cuisine with Paella, Sangria and Tapas, and | | | | lighter snack, usually consisting of a slice of |
| also automatically assumes that everywhere in | | | | baguette with fish, olives, ham, etc. and a cocktail |
| Spain is a great place to get Tapas. This is not | | | | stick to hold things in place. Generally, these |
| strictly true. Tapas is a specifically Southern | | | | cocktail sticks are counted at the end of your |
| Spanish tradition, where in bars in Andalusia will | | | | Tapas and the bill calculated this way. The great |
| serve you a bar snack with a beer or a glass of | | | | thing about the Basque Tapas is that you |
| house wine after work - some say to keep you | | | | generally are able to eat more! If you combine |
| in the bar drinking rather than head home, | | | | some of the lighter Tapas with the classic fried |
| although the real reason of the invention of the | | | | Tapas, it makes a happy balance. There are |
| Tapas is different. Apparently, drinks were | | | | many Basque pinxo Tapas restaurants, and |
| covered with something to keep away flies, and | | | | indeed on the famous Ramblas Street, just next |
| whilst this could often just be a slice of bread, | | | | to the Boqueria market is a great place to stop |
| then the idea developed with olives, fish and all | | | | and try out the menu. The tourist trap here, |
| sorts of additions coming along the way. | | | | though, is the cured Iberic ham – very |
| | | | | expensive, so give that a miss. |
| So Tapas in Barcelona is not really a typical | | | | |
| traditional Catalan past-time, and many | | | | As a rule, avoid those restaurants with photos of |
| restaurants have simply jumped on the tourist | | | | the Tapas outside! Tapas is usually already ready |
| bandwagon and serve tapas as any old thing; and | | | | and often displayed at the front of the bar, so |
| at a hefty price for the smiling tourists. This is not | | | | you should be able to see what you’re |
| true of the whole city of course and there are | | | | ordering. It’s also quick to make, so the |
| obviously some exceptions. | | | | kitchen should be busy in any good Tapas |
| | | | | restaurant. Take Tapa Tapa up on Passeig de |
| A lot of traditional Tapas can be very fried, be it | | | | Gracia – the place is always booming and the |
| shallow or deep fried such as croquetas, and the | | | | pavement terrace outside is always a great spot |
| wonderful patatas bravas being two classic | | | | where you know the food has a quick turnover |
| examples no tapas menu can do without. This can | | | | and is therefore very fresh, too. They also have |
| lead to the food repeating on some people easily, | | | | a great selection of International beers to wash |
| especially if accompanied by a fizzy beer or a | | | | down the Tapas, too! |