"Tapas actually Spanish for 'not enough food' confirms Spain"

[David Tallan]

Tapas actually Spanish for 'not enough food' confirms Spain - The Rochdale Herald

Spain has confessed to the international community today that the word Tapas actually translates as ‘not enough food’.

rochdaleherald.co.uk

The Spanish government confirmed in a statement to the UN that: “We don’t eat food on tiny plates at home. We eat normal amounts of food on normal sized plates, like everybody else just with a bit more chorizo. Nobody has time for that much washing up.”

“The word ‘Tapas’ comes from the action of tapping on your plate to indicate that there is not enough food on it. As if to say ‘don’t be shy with the patatas bravas’ if you get my drift. Spain apologises for any confusion caused.”

 

[Perambulating Griffin]

Pleased to see that the UK has an equivalent to “The Beaverton”.

 

[peregrina2000]

Lots of theories out there. I like to think that I’m carrying on a royal tradition when I have a glass of wine and tapas. And that I’m doing it to improve my health.

The accepted legend about the birth of the tapas tradition is associated with King Alfonso X of Castile (1252-1284) was recovering from an illness and had to consume small amounts of food with wine to strengthen his constitution. The method proved successful and so pleasurable to the king that he henceforth proclaimed that alcohol could not be served without accompanying food. It was a prudent decision as the tabernae and inns in Spain at the time were notoriously full of drunken and swarthy sailors. Having the patrons eat while imbibing their refreshments ensured they didn’t get too drunk too quickly and reduced violent incidents on the streets.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

The story I read was that a slice of bread was given with your drink to cover (tapar) it to keep out flies. I imagine that competition led to this simple tapa becoming what it is today.

 

[Robi Diaz De Vivar]

I'm with Rick, but I understand it to have been a slice of chorizo rather than bread. In our local bar here in the Sierra de Aracena the tapas come in a lot of shapes and sizes....... croquetas, empanadillas, salchichon, chorizo picante, chistorros.... the list goes on.

 

[oursonpolaire]

Lots of theories out there. I like to think that I’m carrying on a royal tradition when I have a glass of wine and tapas. And that I’m doing it to improve my health.

The accepted legend about the birth of the tapas tradition is associated with King Alfonso X of Castile (1252-1284) was recovering from an illness and had to consume small amounts of food with wine to strengthen his constitution. The method proved successful and so pleasurable to the king that he henceforth proclaimed that alcohol could not be served without accompanying food. It was a prudent decision as the tabernae and inns in Spain at the time were notoriously full of drunken and swarthy sailors. Having the patrons eat while imbibing their refreshments ensured they didn’t get too drunk too quickly and reduced violent incidents on the streets.

I had heard that it was Charles III (also I, V, and VII depending on the kingdom) who was active in improving and professionalizing the Spanish navy, and who likely thought that sailors drank too much. But both stories are good-- Si non e vero, e ben trovato (Dante-- if it's not true, it should be).

 

[cbacino]

Tapas actually Spanish for 'not enough food' confirms Spain - The Rochdale Herald

Spain has confessed to the international community today that the word Tapas actually translates as ‘not enough food’.

rochdaleherald.co.uk

The Spanish government confirmed in a statement to the UN that: “We don’t eat food on tiny plates at home. We eat normal amounts of food on normal sized plates, like everybody else just with a bit more chorizo. Nobody has time for that much washing up.”

“The word ‘Tapas’ comes from the action of tapping on your plate to indicate that there is not enough food on it. As if to say ‘don’t be shy with the patatas bravas’ if you get my drift. Spain apologises for any confusion caused.”

I found tapas as a way to make small food expensive.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Often tapas were served complimentary with a drink I ordered; or I sometimes ordered two or three as my meal for €1.00-€1.50 and I felt full. I'm specifically remembering Logrono and San Sebastian on the Norte. They seemed quite inexpensive to me, but possibly things and prices have changed since I was last in Spain in 2019.

 

[ChrisGall]

The Wikipedia article on tapas is short but interesting.

An excerpt:
The word "tapas" is derived from the Spanish verb tapar, "to cover", a cognate of the English top.[1]

In pre-19th-century Spain tapas were served by posadas, albergues or bodegas, offering meals and rooms for travellers. Since few innkeepers could write and few travellers read, inns offered their guests a sample of the dishes available, on a "tapa" (the word for pot cover in Spanish).[2]

 

[stinmd]

Pleased to see that the UK has an equivalent to “The Beaverton”.

And the Chinese have their 'dim sum' - also served in tiny portions.

 

[VNwalking]

I found tapas as a way to make small food expensive.

Best answer.

 

[trecile]

The Wikipedia article on tapas is short but interesting.

An excerpt:
The word "tapas" is derived from the Spanish verb tapar, "to cover", a cognate of the English top.[1]

In pre-19th-century Spain tapas were served by posadas, albergues or bodegas, offering meals and rooms for travellers. Since few innkeepers could write and few travellers read, inns offered their guests a sample of the dishes available, on a "tapa" (the word for pot cover in Spanish).[2]

This explanation doesn't make as much sense as those that @peregrina2000 or @Rick of Rick and Peg mentioned - why would this only be something served in Spain, when literacy wasn't common in most of the world centuries ago?

 

[woody66]

The Uk has it's own version of tapas called Greggs !
(it translates as brown food ,the use of any other colour breaks rules established over many many years )
Woody

 

[Molly Cassidy]

This explanation doesn't make as much sense as those that @peregrina2000 or @Rick of Rick and Peg mentioned - why would this only be something served in Spain, when literacy wasn't common in most of the world centuries ago?

Yes, surely they'd just tell you what they have like they do now!

 

[Excursionista]

But a delightful bonus when provided free with a drink, as in Leon and Granada!

 

[sonhador]

I have a horrible knack for picking out the cheapest tapas at first, and then when I order something else, it's three times the price I was expecting - because that tapas is extra special! Oh well, the joys of seeing new things!

 

[oursonpolaire]

Best answer.

That is certainly the case in North American cities where tapa prices can easily start at $7 or $8 (usually for the olives or boquerones supplied gratis in a Spanish bar) and head up into the $20 range. And we won't mention the $18 quarter-glass of middle-range Rioja.

 

[Carlos H]

That is certainly the case in North American cities where tapa prices can easily start at $7 or $8 (usually for the olives or boquerones supplied gratis in a Spanish bar) and head up into the $20 range. And we won't mention the $18 quarter-glass of middle-range Rioja.

A Look at Jose Andres’ Jaleo, DC Tapa Prices

FRITURAS

‘Frying is overrated… Yeah right!’

Croquetas de pollo

Traditional chicken fritters 13

Buñuelos de bacalao*

Fried cod and potato fritters with honey alioli 12

Dátiles con tocino ‘como hace

todo el mundo’

Fried bacon-wrapped dates served with an

apple-mustard sauce 12

Patatas bravas*

A Jaleo favorite: fried potatoes with

spicy tomato sauce and alioli 14

Chistorra envuelta en patata frita*

Slightly spicy chorizo wrapped in crispy potato with membrillo alioli 13

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

We've had a couple of anniversary outings at two tapas places. The bill was a bit over $100 each time.

We've met with friends numerous times for a "traditional" Jewish Christmas Eve celebratory meal of dim sum, sort of Chinese tapas. Much more food at half the cost.

 

[Camembert]

Tapas actually Spanish for 'not enough food' confirms Spain - The Rochdale Herald

Spain has confessed to the international community today that the word Tapas actually translates as ‘not enough food’.

rochdaleherald.co.uk

The Spanish government confirmed in a statement to the UN that: “We don’t eat food on tiny plates at home. We eat normal amounts of food on normal sized plates, like everybody else just with a bit more chorizo. Nobody has time for that much washing up.”

“The word ‘Tapas’ comes from the action of tapping on your plate to indicate that there is not enough food on it. As if to say ‘don’t be shy with the patatas bravas’ if you get my drift. Spain apologises for any confusion caused.”

Tapa in Castillano means cover or top . In Andalusia in a bar ( among others in Sevilla) they used to and still do , pour in a glass of wine and cover the glass with a small biscuit or someting like a cream cracker, chorizo , a slice of tomato or cucumber or other tasty variety with olives , herbs , batatas bravas , jamon Iberico etc. to go together with your wine. These small bites were much appreciated so they developped more varieties and offered them on a plate next to your (alcoholic) beverage. in the meantime there are thousands of so called tapas bars even in Santiago is one .
My favorite place for tapas is the Cava Baja street in Madrid where you hop in from one tapas bar to the other tapas restaurant, drinking wine with a favorite tapa, then going for the next place for another glass of wine and a tapa . That takes quite some time to get ( if you get there) to the end of the street,
Often done with collegues, from work, bachelor parties, friends a night out etc.
In lots of Spanish bars you order a plate of tapas and every tapa has a wooden pick sticked into it
once you are ready eating them and ask for the bill, they count the number of wooden picks on the plate so they know how many tapas you have eaten.
Prices differ from one to the other bar. If you order a plate with jamon Iberico, the sliced ham from the black foot pig ( pata negra) you easily pay 20 € for 8 or 10 slices.

During the time I worked in Spain I have never seen nor heard that people tap on their plate because there is not enough food being served. It is considered to be rude tapping on plates in a restaurant or even at home.

in the northern area of Spain they call it pinxos

 

[David Tallan]

During the time I worked in Spain I have never seen nor heard that people tap on their plate because there is not enough food being served. It is considered to be rude tapping on plates in a restaurant or even at home.

in the northern area of Spain they call it pinxos

You seem to have missed

It wasn't meant to be taken seriously.

 

[Camembert]

You seem to have missed

It wasn't meant to be taken seriously.

I understood that because I already saw your smileys.
Nevertheless I decided to share some experiences.

Tapas belong to the Spanish culture as wooden shoes ( cloggies) and tulips in the Netherlands where I come from