Tapas Small Plates History

See? I knew you'd want to read more about the fascinating tapas small plates history and how small plates got started... Read on!

There's the story that some experts believe the name, the tapa or tapas originated sometime around the 16th century.

At that time, a few tavern owners from Castilla-La Mancha discovered that the strong, odiferous smell of mature cheese could help disguise the fact that they were serving bad wine from their establishments.

Thus, serving free cheese with the wine "covered" the bad taste of the wine and the fact that they were cheating their customers! The offering of free cheese as an appetizer when serving cheap wine, became wildly popular.

Unscrupulous practices - yes, but the mouth-watering custom of tapas small plates was invented, according to this version of it's origin.

One more interesting bit of tapas small plates history:

A few researchers assert that the tapa was born when the Spanish king, Alfonso the 10th (known as The Wise), became ill and had to take small bites of food with some wine between meals. (Wow! He must not have been feeling too bad!)

Once King Al recovered from whatever disease was afflicting him, he decreed that no wine was
to be served in any of the inns in the land of Castile... (what???!!!! no wine??? wait... keep reading...) UNLESS, the wine was served with
something to eat. No wonder they called him King Al, the Wise.

Lots of people in his kingdom, apparently would drink their meals (and we're not talking milk!) instead of eating their meals. You can only imagine what the streets must have been like at night, back in the olden days of Spain before the recovered king had his say.

Beyond the royal disease of our friend, Wise King Al, in recorded tapas small plates history, there's yet another theory that the first tapas small plates appeared because of the need to take small amounts of food during the work day of many farmers and workers.

This allowed them to continue working until it was time to eat the heavy midday meal. (Wow, yet, another demonstration of the voracious appetite of man... oh how we all love to nibble). Wine was the perfect drink to go along with the tapas small plates.

As most of us know, wine makes you feel mellow, increases strength, (or so the workers all told their wives!) And in the winter, a little wine warmed the body to help the workers combat those cold, cold days in the fields and workshops of the Middle Ages.

So, between covering the wine with smelly cheese and covering the wine from dirty, germ-carrying flies, small plates evolved from these covering practices. Small plates can only contain small portions, thus, small bite before a meal not only enhanced the appetite, but had a usefulness beyond the obvious.

Today, a favorite way of eating is indeed smaller portions on small plates.

Wow! Now you know a little more about tapas small plates history than you did 5 minutes ago! If you're interested, read more about the Art of Tapeo and other adaptations of the tapas tradition.

Web www.easy-appetizer-recipes.com

If you would like to try out some tapas recipes for your next party or gathering, then visit our Tapas small plates page where you'll find a nice variety of easy appetizer recipes.

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