Urbany Blog

 All over the world Spain is popular for its Mediterranean diet, with its quality ingredients, such as olive oil, cheese, ham, sausages and cold meat, fresh fish and vegetables.

Tapas are probably the most peculiar and popular habit tourists are always fond of. Tapa can be any dish, served in a small plate as an aperitif, which accompanies the drink and usually it is charged extra, except in some cities in the South of the country. Traditionally it is usual to go from one bar to another and in each one of them just to have one or two dishes and by the end of the night have a whole dinner tasting different tapas. This is called tapeo or ir de tapas.

It seems that tapas were originally introduced as a way to help customers in bar not to get drunk too quickly, as they always get served together with wine and beer. As well it is possible that in ancient times they used to cover (tapar) the glass with a slice of bread or ham to stop insects.

Some of the most famous and delicious tapas you can try in Barcelona are:

-    pa amb tomaquet (bread, tomato and olive oil)
-    jamón Serrano (cured ham)
-    tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette with potatoes)
-    boquerones (anchovies)
-    chipirones (squid)
-    patatas bravas (potatoes with spicy sauce)
-    croquetas (croquette)
-    calamares a la plancha (grilled squids)
-    calamares a la romana (fried squids)

In the Basque Country tapas are usually served on a slice of bread, with a toothpick on it and they are called pintxos. Basque bars usually ask you to keep the toothpicks and at the end they charge a certain amount for each tapa you got.
You can find any sort of food served as a pintxo, such as sausages, fresh fish, vegetables and omelettes.

Here you can find a small selection of bars where you can try tapas, together with a good glass of wine or beer:

- Ciudad Condal Cervecería – Rambla Catalunya, 18
- Jaica – C/ Ginebra, 13
- La Champañería – C/ Reina Cristina, 7
- Sagardi (Basque bar) – C/ Argentería, 62
- Bilbao Berria (Basque bar) – Plaça Nova, 3

Enjoy your meal!