Useful expressions tapear: the verb “to have tapas”, whether alone or in groups. It can be used both at home or in restaurants. It is also important to notice that tapas eating is quite a dynamic activity: usually it implies going from bar to bar. (Example: Donde se puede tapear en Granada? – Where can one have tapas in Granada?) ir de tapas: literally “to go in tapas”, it means “to go out for tapas” (Ir de tapas es un auténtico rito en España – to go out for tapas is an authentic ritual in Spain). el tapeo: the noun for eating tapas (Example: En este restaurante se encuentra el verdadero tapeo mediterráneo – In this restaurant we can find the true Mediterranean ‘tapas eating’). picar: the verb for when people sit around the table getting a little bite of several different tapas here and there.

El arte de tapas o como dicen los españoles tapitas :) In Spain people use the expression “ir de tapas“ — which in Spanish means to go eating tapas — or the verb “tapear“, which basically means to eat tapas. When you use one of these two, it means that you are going to have lunch or dinner just eating tapas. According to culinary legend, the tapas concept dates to the 13th century when King Alfonso X ate small morsels of food with his wine, apparently on his doctor’s orders. Others claim it derives from the habit of farm labourers to eat snacks during long days in the fields. The name tapa – which means lid in Spanish – is said to refer to an incident in the early 20th century when a Cadiz waiter placed a slice of jamón (ham) on a drink ordered by King Alfonso XIII to keep the dust out. What are tapas and what makes them tapas? Some people get confused about tapas because they assume they’re a type of food. Actually, they are not about the ingredients as much as they are about the size. In the end, regardless of what is actually served, tapas are small portions of food served in small dishes, which are sometimes made of clay. In Spain, they are also expected to accompany some type of alcoholic drink, such as red wine or sangría! Good news – in older, traditional restaurants in Madrid and Granada, you might get free tapas included with your drink!