Taste the Flavours of Spain on World Tapas Day in India!

On the 16th of June, stay out of the kitchens and head off to celebrate the World Tapas Day.
No seriously, you need to. All the flavours of Spain are coming to invade India and you absolutely have to be there for the fiesta that follows.
This year, the World Tapas Day will be celebrated in select locations in Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Mumbai. Little chance of you missing out on the fun then!
Some of the participating restaurants include Caperberry and Fava in Bengaluru, Sera-Tapas Bar in Chennai and Kolkata, Imperfecto, Public Affair and Sevilla in Delhi and Amadeus in Mumbai.  
So come and indulge in the sizzling celebration of food, drink and life itself with the World Tapas Day. 

What are Tapas?

Tapas are a kind of apertivo, or appetisers that are supposed to whet your appetite before a meal. Usually accompanied by drinks, tapas come in a variety of tastes and ingredients – and are considered to be a necessary dish on the table if you’re in Spain.
Tapas can be served both hot and cold, in a variety of ways – but they’re essentially finger food. You could change that notion if you have too much of course. They are said to have originated in 17th century Spain when King Alfonso ordered for small portions of food to be served alongside his wine. 

What Kind of Tapas Are Out There?

Tapas, as mentioned before, come in many forms and it’s customary to have a few sworn favourites. It’s not necessary that tapas have meat in them – many kinds of tapas are often an assortment of veggies, or even gluten-free products. Some of the more popular types of tapas are:
Gilda: A classic from the Basque country, gilda is a skewer of an olive, anchovy and a hot pepper. 
Croquetas: The Spanish way of saying croquette, croquetas in Spain are usually stuffed with Iberian ham, although you will come across some with mushrooms, squid, prawns, king crabs, cod or different kinds of strong cheeses.
Calamari: Resembling onion rings, calamari are actually breaded squid that has been fried in olive oil. It’s quite a delicacy – you should absolutely give it a try.
Tortilla Espanola: Ordered as a pincho de tortilla (piece of tortilla), these come with eggs, potatoes and olive oil traditionally although some also contain onions.
Patatas Bravas and Patatas Alioli: Fried potatoes covered in sauce. If you opt for patatas bravas, you’ll get a spicy concoction whereas alioli is made with olive oil and garlic.
Ham and Cheese: Sometimes, the simplest options do best. Iberian ham is perhaps the most sought-after tapas in Spain, and accompanying it with colines (a type of small crunchy bread) will make it even more appetizing.

Spain’s range of cheese, from Manchego to Majorero – spanning different regions in the country – are another great choice for tapas.

How to Have Tapas Like a Spaniard?

One of the first words you’ll learn when visiting Spain will surely be the word ‘tapas’. Synonymous with all manners of activities, even beyond wining and dining, tapas are considered accompaniment to all the best moments that one shares in the company of friends and family.
The way to have tapas is with beer or wine, although vermouth and cider are also partaken. Tapas has always been a group food – and you’ll usually see a group of friends hopping from bar to bar, enjoying the ‘daily tapa’ of each establishment. It’s a fun activity to have a number of different tapas on the table, trying to decide which one you like the most. Do make sure you buy a round, or ronda of drinks for all your friends. And if you’re lucky, a ruta de la tapa (organized tour of tapas) could fall on the dates that you visit Spain!
But why wait for that when all the tastes of Spain come knocking on your door in India. A number of restaurants have decided to grace the occasion and host tapas days in their venues. Make sure you tell your friends – tapas is, after all, a group activity!