I had never known the origin of meat Tapa 'til I visited the historic country of Spain last summer. I realized you enjoy eating a certain dish more when you know some tidbits about its history or origin. That's how I felt when one sunny afternoon, my history-major Spanish friend told me some interesting facts about my favorite tapa.
While feasting on a
delightful tapa with wine, my nerdy pal told me that tapa originated from the time when their king, Alfonso the 10th, ordered a decree telling that no wine shall be served in all the hostels of Castille, unless a heavy meal go together with it. Inn owners looked for that "heavy meal" and they found out a food long been associated with their farmers- - the fat-saturated tapa. This meal is so heavy to digest that farmers during those time had to take a several hours of break, known in Spain as siesta, before resuming their work in the fields.
Tapa is a food known to maybe almost every country. When cooked tenderly and right, its sumptuous taste and flavor will make you crave for it every time you have lunch. But be warned, overindulgence with tapa may clog your arteries due to
fatty cholesterol build-up. So, I suggest you just enjoy this original Spanish dish in moderation.
