Tapas: They're More Than Just Apps
Learn a little about these fabulous finger foods!
By Amigofoods
by Brian Alcamo
If you’re even slightly interested in Spanish culture, Spanish cooking, or even just appetizers in general, you’re most likely familiar with the concept of tapas. Maybe you’ve been to a tapas bar in a city near you, or a party where they’re served. Even if you’ve simply been to a restaurant and decided to make a meal with your friends out of shared ~apps~ as opposed to entrees, you’ve made a tapas-inspired choice. But what’s so special about those teeny, tiny portions? And what makes them an iconic part of Spanish cuisine? Let’s find out!
The Origins of Tapas
Unsurprisingly, the origin of the tapa is hard to track down. Each region in Spain declares itself the home of the culinary tradition, and there’s an origin story for practically every century after the year 1100 CE.
Many of these stories point the food’s history towards Spain’s medieval kings, but regardless of the origin story’s protagonist, one practically inarguable portion of every anecdote can be found in the word’s etymology. The word tapa comes from the verb taper or “to cover” in English, and una tapa is also the Spanish word for “a lid.” Many of the stories down below include an innovative bartender using small slices of bread, cheese, and/or ham as a way of protecting customers’ drinks from dust and flies. In this way, the tapa was a literal lid for the drink. Cutesy, right?
There are plenty of potential starting places for the beginnings of tapas in Spain. Here are a few of them in chronological order.
Mid-1200s: Alfonso the Wise Cracker (a literal cracker)
King Alfonso X (El Sabio, “The Wise”) ate tiny portions of food to quell the effects of all the wine he was prescribed to drink on account of an illness (medieval medicine sounds like an absolute dream). Upon recovery, the king declared that everyone in his domain should serve small amounts of food with their alcohol to prevent public drunkenness. This decree was also a way of helping feed the poor who spent their money on wine rather than food.
2. Late 1400s: Inquisition Infiltration
Sadly and antisemetically, this origins story claims that tapas with ham or other non-kosher foods were used as a way of identifying Jewish people during the Spanish Inquisition.
3. 1500s: Stink Seal
Later in the 16th Century, tavern owners in Castille-La Mancha took the concept of tapa-as-lid to the next level, using it to not only protect the drink from aeronautical invasions but also to conceal the poor quality of their wine. They served mature (read: stinky) cheese on top of wine glasses to mask the sour odors of their bad wine.
4. Early 1600s: Same Story, Different King
Very similar to the story of King Alfonso X, King Felipe III wanted to require food be served in bars to prevent drunken debauchery.
5. Late 1700s: Roadtrip Treats
During the late 18th Century, travel throughout Spain had begun to become more common. What hadn’t become more common yet, though, was reading. Tapas were offered to guests of hotels, inns, and hostels as a way of informing customers of the meals available, since most people were illiterate at the time. The tiny version of the big meal was displayed on the pot’s tapa.
6. Late 1800s:
On a trip to the beachside town of Cadiz, King Alfonso XII ordered a glass of wine. The wine was served with a slice of ham to prevent beach sand from blowing into the glass. On the next round of drinks, the King ordered his wine specifically with a tapa.
These six legends of the beginnings of tapas only scratch the surface of tapa lore-galore, but luckily all of them conclude with the wonderful continuation of this fabulous eating style.
Tapas Today
Tapas remained so popular because they provided a fun way for people to eat a small snack before their late dinners, since Spaniards typically eat their third meal very late, around 9 or 10 pm. Going out to multiple tapas bars is considered an activity in its own right, and is referred to as ir de tapas. Nowadays, residents of Spain are much more open to eating an entire meal composed of tapas, forgoing more traditional and formal dining practices. Some other verbs that can apply to the activity of going out for tapas include picar which means “to pick,” along and the more modern verb tapear which means “to have tapas.”
Vocabulary for Your Night Out On the (Tapas) Town
Ir de tapas - To go out for tapas
El barman - Bartender
Tenir hambre - To be hungry
La cuenta - The bill
Salir - To go out
In some cities such as Granada, Almeria, or Jaen, tapas flow freely alongside alcoholic beverages (salty food = more drink orders). However, complimentary tapas aren’t customary all over Spain, and many tapas-eaters order and pay for tapas from a menu like any other dish. If bar-goers want to order a larger portion of a specific tapa, they can ask for a ración.
Tapas have become part of the Spanish national identity, and have become a point of cultural pride for all Spaniards. Cities across the country compete to be the number one spot for having tapas. According to Spain Holidays, Malaga, Granada, Madrid, Seville, Cordoba, and San Sebastian are the six leading cities for authentic and delicious tapas in Spain.
Certain olives, nuts, meats, and cheeses conquer the entire Iberian peninsula and are able to be found at every bar from Galicia to Malaga. The most common tapas are easy-to-prepare foods that typically don’t require cooking. Think chorizo, olives, cheese, and cured meats. Some common cooked tapas include patatas/papas bravas (delicious fried potatoes served with a spicy sauce), tortilla de patatas (a Spanish omelet), meatballs with tomato sauce, and fried calamari. Beyond these typical tastings, flavors and ingredients of tapas morph and modify according to the traditions and tastes of each Spanish region. For instance in Spain’s Basque Country, their local tapas are known as pintxos, which are served on a slice of bread and held together by a toothpick. There are also tapas known as montaditos and banderillas.
Tapas have since become a global phenomenon, meaning that most anything can be a tapa (if you believe in yourself). Even more experimental restaurateurs will “tapafy” their menus, not being afraid to use non-Spanish ingredients or modern cooking techniques. Not convinced? Check out Natsumi Tapas, a Japanese-Italian fusion tapas restaurant in New York City. That’s 4 countries represented all in one tiny tapa!
Tapas are fun. They’re small, they’re cute, they’re casual. Through tapas, Spain has exported an incredibly powerful part of its culture that goes beyond recipes and touches the daily lives of people around the world. Not only do tapas hark back to Spain for what people choose to eat, it also points back to the country for how people choose to eat.
Thanks for Reading!
Do you enjoy tapas? Comment your favorite dish below, and be sure to share this post with a friend!
Thumbnail photo by Sonia.
7 Latin American LGBTQIA+ Films to Watch For Pride Month
7 films to practice your Spanish while getting your pride on!
Happy Pride Month! Remember movies? No, remember going to the movies? Neither do we. Luckily, the country’s successful vaccination campaign means that movie theaters are opening up again and it’s once again safe to head back to one of those big, over-air conditioned rooms. However, while we love going to movie theaters, they do typically lack in foreign language films. Watching movies is a great way to practice your target language, especially practicing listening to multiple speakers at the same time. So what’s a Spanish learner to do? Check out one of these 7 fantastic Spanish-language LGBTQIA+ films for a pride-filled language learning adventure!
Fuera de Carta (Spain 2008)
Fuera de Carta (Chef’s Special— literally ‘outside of the menu’) is a comedy about a chef who is running a busy restaurant. Disruptions to his already hectic life come to him in the form of being reunited with his estranged children, a new same-sex romantic interest, and the Michelin Guide food critic is coming to review his restaurant. Can he(name?) have it all? Watch on (streaming platform) to find out!
You can rent Fuera de Carta on Apple TV.
2. Joven y Alocada (Chile 2012)
Have you ever seen the show Awkward? Or perhaps Gossip Girl? Right in line with the late 2000s, early 2010s “Precocious Blogger” aesthetic, Joven y Alocada (Young and Wild) follows (name), a typical Chilean teenager who expounds the details of her personal life on a blog with an audience of zero. As her life becomes tangled in bisexual romance and religious conservatism, her blog gains notoriety as the hottest webpage in town. In addition to being heartwarming and funny, this juicy coming-of-age story is based on a real blog!
You can rent Joven y Alocada on YouTube and Google Play.
3. Plata Quemada (Spain 2001)
Plata Quemada (Burnt Money) isn’t your classic queer romance flick. It’s no Brokeback Mountain, and it certainly isn’t Call Me By Your Name. This film is a gay Bonnie and Clyde. The story’s got action, crime, and romantic passion and it’s not afraid to play with your favorite movie trops along the way.
You can watch Plata Quemada on Amazon Prime Video.
4. Viva (Ireland):
Although its director is Irish (Paddy Breathnach), Viva is a Spanish-language film. The drama centers on Jesus (Héctor Medina), a young gay Cuban man who dreams of becoming a drag queen. These dreams are put on hold when Jesus’s estranged father (name) returns. Throughout the movie, our protagonist must make a painful choice between living his truth and being with his family.
You can rent Viva on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube.
5. Contracorriente
Contracorriente (Undertow) is a film that follows Miguel as he sneaks around his small Peruvian fishing village to be with his secret lover Santiago. Without giving too much away, the film quickly takes a turn and weaves a coming out narrative into a story about ghosts and the rumor mill that is inevitable in small-town life
You can rent Contracorriente on Apple TV.
6. Todo Sobre Mi Madre (Spain 1999)
¡Penelope Cruz Alert! Todo Sobre Mi Madre (All About My Mother) is a complex trans-positive story that was ahead of its time. The film follows Manuela as she travels from Madrid to Barcelona after the death of her son Esteban in search of Lola, her son’s biological father. Manuela reunites with her self-actualized and transitioned ex-lover as she learns about an entire new world of queer Spaniards.
You can watch Todo Sobre Mi Madre on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.
7. Elisa y Marcela
This film is based on the true story of the first gay marriage in Spain. Taking place in 1901, the film follows Elisa and Marcela as they try to get their love solidified under the power of Holy Matrimony. While Elisa y Marcela hasn’t received the best reviews from critics, it is still an in depth look at some of the events surrounding the notorious marriage and provides a great way to practice your Spanish.
You can watch Elisa y Marcela on Netflix.
8. Bonus: Gun Hill Road
While this film isn’t in Spanish, it is a fantastic glimpse into Bronx Latinx life. The film follows Enrique as he adjusts back to life after prison and living with his trans daughter, Vanessa. Its storyline has been critiqued as being a touch cliche at times, but the film is praised for providing a slice of life on what it’s like to live in the Bronx, using Vanessa to shed light on the experiences of trans women of color.
You can rent Gun Hill Road on Amazon Prime Video.
Some Spanish Vocab to Help You Talk About Movies
La película - Film
El cine - Movie theater (Also “film” informally in the US)
El argumento - Plot
El personaje - Character
El escenario - Setting
Thanks for Reading!
Have any other LGBTQIA+ Spanish-Language films that you love? Comment their names below!
Thumbnail photo by Photo by Corina Rainer
The Preservation of Video Games
Preserving media is an absolute necessity to understand the mentality and important issues in every generation…
Preserving media is an absolute necessity to understand the mentality and important issues in every generation. Whether it’s books or movies, each piece of media gives us a glimpse into the mind of the creators and their takes on society. This has now extended to one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the last few decades - video games.
The National Library of Spain or BNE is dedicated to gathering Spain’s history and preserving it for years to come. Originally created three centuries ago, the National Library was to preserve printed pieces of Spanish history and culture and it has been vigilant in adapting to the new artistic ways of Spanish culture. Ana Santos, along with Javier Garcia Fernandez, proposed the:
“regulation of conservation of video games, web sites, electoral propaganda posters, and bookmarks, among other formats based on the reform of the Law on Legal Deposit of 2011” and that “Video games will be of Cultural Interest (BIC) in the future, because they have a very important cultural value as an artistic creation.”
This new proposal would allow the institution to adapt and conserve Spanish artistic pieces that may not have been on printed material.
The Law of Legal Deposit in Spain was founded by Felipe V at the end of 1711 but the Library did not begin depositing pieces until 1712 and today houses almost half a million deposits.
Spanish director points out the need for reform of the law of 1985 to reflect the current reality of culture in Spain and has stressed the need for preserving Spain’s digital heritage as well as the printed.
Let us know what you think this might bring for the future of gaming, historically for the future gamer generations.
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about The Preservation of Video Games! What effect do you think this might bring for the future of gaming? Join the conversation below!
Summer Screams En Español!
It’s been a while since we have suggested a particular film for our readers to catch, but there is a new summer horror movie En Español that you absolutely should not miss!
Summer Screams En Español
It’s been a while since we have suggested a particular film for our readers to catch, but there is a new summer horror movie En Español that you absolutely should not miss!
Terror Films has released it’s official trailer and poster for their very first Spanish language horror movie, Forward, which is to be released Tuesday, May 1!
While the history of the Spanish cinema, specifically in the horror genre, is not in mainstream of most North American lives, we highly recommend the documentary, “Horror Europa", which explores the genre all the way from Nosferatu to the modern Spanish cinema. Even if it has been under-appreciated, Spain has long been a master of horror, excelling specifically in the realm of psychological dreads with some of the most drastic plot twists in the genre.
While Spain has had a horror boom that mirrored the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s, it wasn’t until nearly 10 years ago that the international community began to take notice. Spain has since emerged as a leader of horror, delivering some of the most terrifying films in recent memory.
In fact, Vulture.com has curated a list of 15 of the best in case you want to catch up.
Written and directed by Henry Bedwell, the film features Harold Torres & Axel Ricco as 2 assassins hired to avenge their boss. Novel concept right?
According to the official press release, “The job leads them to what appears to be an abandoned hotel. However, they soon find themselves in an unexpected maze of madness, where realities intertwine and nightmares come to life. Faced with an evil demon named Larissa – played by Latin America television star Lisette Morelos – the duo realizes that the gates of hell prove to be closer to our plane of existence than either of them could have expected.”
FORWARD has been the the recipient of multiple film festival awards including:
Best Feature Fiction at the 12 Month Film Festival,
Winner of Best Fantasy Film at the Feratum Film Festival
the Laurel of Achievement at Cinema Grand Prix.
In addition, Forward also recieved an official selection at: Sustefest, Los Angeles CineFest & BioBio Cine.
Terror Films will release FORWARD exclusively in N. America with English subtitles on Vudu, Amazon Instant, iTunes, Google Play and Xbox Live. Following the North American release, iTunes and Google Play will host Forward in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Costa Rica, & Honduras with a worldwide release on additional platforms in the fall.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about Summer Screams En Español! Want to nix those pesky subtitles and enjoy all of your favorite Spanish movies in their most authentic form? Check out our highly-rated immersive group classes and private lessons at JP Linguistics today!
The Year of the Spanish Language
Marca España has stated that the Spanish language is “a global agent that produces wealth, identity, culture, and brand which still has great opportunities for expansion and development in the digital era. It is expected that in 30 years there will be over 700 million Spanish speakers.”
The Year of the Spanish Language
Earlier this year, Spain’s Minister of Culture, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, declared "The year 2019 will be declared the Year of the Spanish Language” as part of the Marca España initiative.
Marca España has stated that the Spanish language is “a global agent that produces wealth, identity, culture, and brand which still has great opportunities for expansion and development in the digital era. It is expected that in 30 years there will be over 700 million Spanish speakers.”
There will even be tax incentives (up to 90%) for activities which promote the initiative to help try to drive participation among the private sector. Among these initiatives will be a study grant to generate more university student exchanges, appointing celebrities as “Spanish language ambassadors,” and the designing of a digital platform in Spanish & Portuguese to offer free content in the fields of literature, film, music, art, and science.
This plan has not been accepted across the country, however, as Spain’s all-encompassing attitude with the proposal has caused some hesitation in Latin American countries. De Vigo was specifically warned that the plan would not be welcomed outside Spain by the director of the Real Academia Española, Darío Villanueva, and of the Cervantes Institute, Juan Manuel Bonet, but has decided to go ahead with it anyway.
Even in Spain, political groups, apart from the governing Popular Party, have also criticized the plan specifically Basque and Catalan citizens as they see it as an attack on their own languages. Francisco Javier Pérez, the Venezuelan secretary general of ASALE stated that the desire by Spain to reign control over the common language was “at the very least worrisome.”
Carmen Millán, director of the Caro y Cuervo Institute in Colombia has a bit of a more optimistic look by stating that “...this is not about rivalries, it is about a sense of belonging to a common language.”
While it remains to be seen whether the effort will succeed in a similar fashion as the cultural promotion efforts of the French, it is without a doubt starting a conversation within the Spanish-speaking community about the need to preserve and promote their beloved language.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about how Spain is working to make 2019 The Year of the Spanish Language! Do you think the Marca España initiative will be positive for the promotion of the Spanish language? Comment below!
The World’s Oldest Man
Amazingly, Olivera started to read again at 98 after an operation to cure his cataracts and took daily walks alone in his village until he was 107...
The World’s Oldest Man
The Spanish village of Bienvenida in Badajoz, Spain has declared a day of mourning following the death of Francisco Nunez Olivera who was not just a retired farmer, but the world’s oldest man.
“It’s a very cold day and most of all a very sad day,” village mayor Antonio Carmona stated of Francisco Nunez Olivera who died late last month at the astounding age of 113. He is survived by four children, nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Photo: Gerontology.Wikia.com
Born on December 13, 1904, Olivera’s long life has been credited mainly to the vegetable based diet that was sourced from his own land accompanied by a daily glass of red wine. In fact, Spain currently has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, also attributed to the country’s Mediterranean diet. Throughout his life, he fought in the Rif War in the first half of the 1920s between Spain and the Berber tribes of the Rif mountains in Morocco and survived General Francisco Franco’s dictatorship (1936 - 1975) and was one of 32 people over the age of 90 among the nearly 2,200 inhabitants of the village, according to the newspaper, El Mundo.
Photo: Lacronicabadajoz.com
Amazingly, Olivera started to read again at 98 after an operation to cure his cataracts and took daily walks alone in his village until he was 107.
Proving Nunez Olivera’s exact age has been complicated by the fact that most of Bienvenida’s archives were destroyed during Spain’s civil war that took place from 1936 until 1939.
As a testament to the concept that age is only a number, In an April 2015 interview with Spanish daily El Mundo, Francisco said in a 2015 interview with El Mundo that he would like to live a couple more years despite the fact all his friends were dead and insisted: 'I know I'm old but I don't feel old.'
We hope you've enjoyed learning about The World’s Oldest Man! Ever dreamt of experiencing everything that Nunez Olivera has in the beautiful country of Spain? Our culturally immersive classes and native instructors are here to help!
Spain's Travel Boom
The UN World Tourism Organization has recently found that Spain is currently on track to replace the United States as the world’s 2nd most popular tourism destination!
Spain's Travel Boom
The UN World Tourism Organization has recently found that Spain is currently on track to replace the United States as the world’s 2nd most popular tourism destination.
While France remains the most popular, it is expected that Spain will follow closely behind with 82 million visitors over the past year despite a terror attack in August and the battle for independence by the citizens of Catalonia.
The number of global tourists leapt 7% in 2016, the biggest increase in seven years and Europe benefitted the most with much thanks to the Mediterranean’s sea and sun. While the political crisis sparked a drop in visitor numbers to the northeastern region, it does not hinder overall tourist visitation in Spain in 2017.
Overall, the number of international tourists rose by 7 percent during the past year to an astounding 1.3 billion and is expected to continue growing over this year. One of these said tourists includes our friend, a fashion and travel blogger, Malikah Kelly (www.malikahkelly.com). She’s been jet setting around the globe and created a super helpful article we wanted to share for readers preparing for their next trip to Spain titled, ‘5 Tips To Save For Your Mallorca, Spain Experience!’
Along with Malikah and billions of other travelers, UNWTO chief, Zurab Pololikashvili, stated: "International travel continues to grow strongly, consolidating the tourism sector as a key driver in economic development” and that "As the third export sector in the world, tourism is essential for job creation and the prosperity of communities around the world."
Planning on joining in on Spain's travel boom over this coming year? Our team of native instructors and culturally infused classes will not only ensure that you advance your fluency, but that you will be able to understand and enjoy all that Spain has to offer!
A Rose For Love And A Book Forever
Valentine's Day in Spain, or "El día del amor y la amistad" - the day of love and friendship - is celebrated much like in many other countries around the world. Restaurants are often booked up weeks in advance, cards and flowers are exchanged, and many a marriage proposal is made.
A Rose For Love And A Book Forever
Valentine's Day in Spain, or "El día del amor y la amistad" - the day of love and friendship - is celebrated much like in many other countries around the world. Restaurants are often booked up weeks in advance, cards and flowers are exchanged, and many a marriage proposal is made.
In Barcelona, citizens have two days when lovers can exchange gifts. La Dia de Sant Jordi (St George's Day) is Catalonia's national day and is celebrated on April 23rd. Spanish men honor St. George's romantic gesture of saving a princess from the clutches of an evil dragon by heroically buying their loved ones a book. It is also said that this tradition more than likely is derived from the fact that William Shakespeare died on this day in 1616. The holiday is also known as El Dia de la Rosa (The Day of the Rose) or El Dia del Libre (The Day of the Book), inspired by the Catalan saying “A rose for love and a book forever.”
Valencia has a day dedicated to celebrating romance as well called The Day of San Dionisio on October 9th where the traditional gift is fruit-shaped marzipan wrapped in a handkerchief, usually bought by men for their wives and mothers. The day is also marked by many festivities including costumed parades held in the main plaza of every town and village.
While much of the country is entranced by the copious amount of love in the air, there are those immune to the season’s charm and believe that the holiday was invented to boost consumerism. Some Spaniards refer to Valentine’s Day as the Día de El Corte Inglés (Day of Corte Inglés), their main department store. So romantic.
How might you celebrate El Dia del Libre if you were in Spain? Perhaps with A Rose for Love and a Book Forever? While we can't transport you to Spain, we'd love to celebrate with you in NYC with a FREE event! Click below to gain access.