{"id":871390,"date":"2022-10-28T13:10:12","date_gmt":"2022-10-28T12:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/?p=871390"},"modified":"2025-03-04T11:03:21","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T10:03:21","slug":"eat-tapas-like-a-local","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trafalgar.com\/real-word\/eat-tapas-like-a-local\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel Director, Javier, on how to eat tapas like a local"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Warm conversation and nose-tingling aromas fill the room. A glass feels another splash of sangria. And delicious Spanish small plates are shared between friends and family. Sound familiar? We\u2019re describing the wonders of tapas \u2013 the heart of Spanish food culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To dive into what makes Spanish tapas so special, we caught up with Madrid local and Trafalgar Travel Director (Javier Galvez), who reveals how to eat tapas like a Spanish local.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over to Javier…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet Trafalgar Travel Director: Javier Galvez<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Javier<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have been running Spain tours with Trafalgar<\/a> for 26 years. I show guests around vibrant cities like Barcelona<\/a>, Bilbao, Madrid, Seville, San Sebasti\u00e1n, Pamplona, Zaragoza, Valencia, Granada, Cordoba, Toledo and many more! Immediately, you\u2019ll spot mouth-watering tapas (sharing small plates) pop up on street corners and in restaurants. And tasting tapas is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in Spanish culture right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GET INSPIRED BY: Best of Spain tour<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the origin of tapas?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLegends swirl around the origin of tapas. It\u2019s believed King Alfonso X made sure all drinks were served with food in the 13th<\/sup> century to prevent people becoming too drunk. And this definitely makes sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the most famous story is that drinkers put food (like bread and ham) over their beers in hot Spanish taverns during summer to stop flies and bugs going in. The Spanish verb \u201ctapar\u201d means \u201cto cover\u201d \u2013 and so \u2018tapas\u2019 or \u2018tapa\u2019 (singular: meaning lid or cover) was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This story is dated to the 19th<\/sup> century under King Alfonso XIII; and since then tapas has grown more popular by the minute.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What exactly is Spanish tapas?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Trafalgar guests in San Sebastian (Best of Spain tour<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTapas is a style of eating, a culture \u2013 and of course it refers to our delicious dishes. Put simply: these are small sharing plates. We believe sharing food is the best and easiest way to make conversation because you aren\u2019t so focused on a big meal for one in front of you. It\u2019s a sort of mini-cuisine: You can either eat it as snacks (using your hand, a cocktail stick, fork or spoon to eat, while holding a drink in the other \u2013 which is complimentary in some restaurants (like in Granada). Or as a meal in itself made up of lots of lovely dishes. This is most common nowadays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spanish tapas comes in different types. ‘Pincho’ (stabbed with a stick to eat; ‘montaditos’ (filled bread rolls), ‘tostas’ (open sandwiches), stews and other small dishes. And remember: ask for ‘pintxos’ (meaning tapas) when you\u2019re in the Basque country in northern Spain<\/a> \u2013 like Bilbao and San Sebastian.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the most delicious tapas to try?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Spanish
Patatas bravas, calamari and Spanish chorizo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“Wow. There is a huge variety of different flavours and aromas to choose from. Hot and cold. So here are a handful you must try in Spain:<\/p>\n\n\n\n