On tapa the world

There is a lot to love about most places in the world, but right now I’m in Spain, so that’s what I’m going to talk about today. Spain has a lot to recommend it – an interesting history, friendly people, landscapes varying from snow-capped mountains to arid inlands to beaches basking in the sun next to a glittering blue Mediterranean Sea. And that’s just for starters. But today I want to talk about one of Spain’s many contributions to gastronomy, and that’s the tapa.

In case you don’t know about tapas, let me offer a short explanation. Tapas are small plates of food, about the size of appetizers in the USA. But while tapas can be eaten before a main dish, it’s more common to have two or three of them as your meal. If you’re with friends ( and especially if there’s wine involved, which there usually is), diners will share some or all of their tapas in the congenial buzz that marks so many Spanish meals. Typical tapas include gambas al ajillo (sizzling shrimp cooked in olive oil and garlic), chorizo a la sidra (sausage cooked in cider), patatas bravas (fried potatoes served with a spicy, creamy. red sauce), and slices of Spanish tortilla (a potato and egg omelette, not a flatbread). But this is only a partial list, and every region seems to have its signature dishes. In Murcia, for example, a local favorite is a sort of potato salad served atop something akin to a small oval breadstick, with a slice of anchovy on top for good measure. And in the Basque Country, tapas even have another name; they are called pinchos. Most restaurants have tapas on the menu; some, tapaterías, serve only tapas. And there’s at least one chain here, Lizarran, which is kind of a middle market tapatería on a large scales – think Chili’s with tapas.

So that’s a quick look at tapas. They are usually are fresh and delicious. But that’s not their only allure. I like tapas in some part because they are small, and this enhances the eating experience. You know how the first bite of something delicious is the best? The joy and surprise of great taste dim after a few bites, but with a small plate the dish delivers maximum pleasure. And with multiple dishes, you experience that over and over in one meal.

Tapas also remind us that, in a world that worships the super size, that small joys matter as well. Two garlic shrimps make my mouth happy. And other small pleasures give us joys that are just as important as the big wowsas. A blue sky can bring joy to the saddest heart. The smell of flowers or fresh bread give joy for only a moment, but those moments matter. Watching a baby examine its fingers in wonderment? Noticing shiny red holly berries on a snow-decked tree? Smiling at someone who looks unhappy and then see them smile back at you, even briefly? These are points of joy that make an ordinary day into something special.

But as if that’s not enough, tapas give us one final gift, the gift of knowing when there’s enough. One of the best parts of tapas is that they inherently ask you to consider when you’ve had enough. You order a couple to start, finish them, and then decide whether to have more. There’s no parent in the back of your head telling you to clean your plate because the starving children in Africa would be thrilled to have what you do. (The only good result of this admonition is to make children aware of the problem of supply chains, but that’s another blog post.) And there’s no buffet in your sight line, tempting you to return for just a bit more of that delicious cheese or another yummy brownie. With tapas, when you’re full, you stop ordering. I believe that the world would be a much better place if we all focused on whether we have enough, instead of how much more we might be able to get. (Note: This belief does not extend to books.)

So tapas are a wonderful part of life in Spain, and I hope you get a chance to try them sometime. Just to tempt you further, I’ve added the following picture of a salmon and avocado tostada, which could be breakfast or, if cut into pieces, a tapa. Trust me, it tastes as good as it looks. No wonder I’m on tapa the world!