| Seville | | What is the 'tapa'? |
Gastronomy, history, tradition, equality, variety, renown, tourism and
culture.
Depending on the context, the word "tapa" has one of two meanings:
- A tool - a cover or lid.
- A savoury dish.
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In fact, both meanings of "tapa" share a common history.
The dishes
referred to as "tapas" earned their name many years ago, during a plague
of flies in Seville. In order to prevent the insects from getting into
their cups, people going out for a drink had to put a cover ("tapa") on
them. It became customary to put a bit of food on top of the cover, which
came to be called a "tapa".
Tapas are appetisers which are usually accompanied by a drink, and include
a wide variety of dishes, such as serrano ham ("jamón serrano"), spinach
with chick peas ("espinacas con garbanzos"), fried potatoes with garlic
("papas alioli"), grilled cuttlefish ("chipirón a la plancha"), etc.
Thanks to the warm climate which Seville enjoys all year round, the
streets are usually filled with people, wandering from bar to bar,
sampling the tapas on offer. The bars in the town centre and in Triana
are a favourite with tourists. Sevillan establishments are becoming known
for their tapa specialities.
Tapas sampling has become a well-known and widespread activity in Spain.
This has prompted Sevillan restaurateurs to found a Tapas fair ("feria de
la tapa"), with the goal of promoting and preserving the history of the
tapa. The fair is a huge success, a place where one can sample every type
of tapa imaginable, including certain varieties which are no longer made
in modern bars. In 1997 this Tapas fair takes place at Palacio de Congresos
y Exposiciones from 6th to 9th November.
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