Tapas, Tapas, and... Tapas?

I must admit that up until yesterday I was unsure of what tapas were. I knew I should have had a better idea than what I originally had. Whenever I would ask somebody anything about food in Spain or about the culture, tapas was NEVER left out of the conversation. Not just because they are popular here but because they are a way of life.

So from my understanding tapas are like little bar/restaurant places where you order a "tapa" which is like a small plate of a type of food (like a appetizer except there is only one serving) and a drink comes with it. Beer, wine, soda, and water are some of the more popular drinks but there are many options to these as well. For example, there are many mixed drinks that are available like a sangria which is a drink mixed with dark wine, a type of soda, and served with a slice of fruit. I received a lemon in mine.

Yesterday our class went "tapa hopping" as a chance to fully understand what tapas are and to learn more about the local cuisine. We met up at 8:30p and did not finish until 12:30a! I defintiely feel I have the best class yet ;) We ate and drank all through the night and kept it going through the party scene. We were fortunate enough to try out 4 different tapas which was definitely a treat. By the end of the night we were rolling down the street.

The tapa I really enjoyed was Meson Los Faroles because it has a great atmosphere and plenty of seating room and bar space that not a lot of tapas offer. Also, there were over 20 different tapas to choose from! That was a little overwhelming because we couldn't choose! Not too far behind my first choice would be Don Cochinillo, simply because their patatas and drinks were amazing and their staff was polite as well. I haven't been to many tapas but my least favorite was the one a group of us and I went to our first day in Salamanca. Of course we didn't have anyone to show us the ropes to finding a good tapa. The floors were dirty and the food was out despite the extreme heat that brought out flies. I don´t recall the name but when I pass it again, I will be sure to take note.

There were many many drinks to choose from and it is very difficult to pick one favorite. But the best drinks I've tried have been the rebujito and the La Shandy de Mixta Mahou (labor limon). The rebujita is mixed with white wine and pop something similar to Sprite, which is the most common. The shandy is a flavored bottled beer that is similar to a Seagrams or a Mike's but is well... better.

There are a few items that I would like to try when I go out to another tapa. I would love to try the chorizo iberico asado (a type of sandwich) which was at a tapa called, Churraco and croquetas (a fried dish) that I believe most tapas have. I would also love to try a drink called calimocho, which was suggested to me by my professor and includes red wine mixed with coke!

To us Americans, tapas are undoubtedly a treat but for the locals, it is just another part of the culture. Tapas are a place to enjoy great food, with fresh ingredients, and a nice refresco. I figure since I will be living in Spain as a local student and would like to immerse myself into the culture fully, it would be best if I enjoy tapas just as the locals would... say, almost everyday.

:)