Probably the most famous Spanish dish is paella, which takes it name from the Catalan word for the heavy iron skillet in which rice, prawns, mussels, clams, chicken, chorizo, peas and saffron are cooked. It is similar in style to risotto or jambalaya.
Spain is also home to Tapas, small portions of hot or cold food, invented in Andalusia (a region of Southern Spain). The Spanish equivalent of hors d'oeuvre, mezze, or antipasti. A tapas meal consists of an arrangement of small plates of food which are consumed throughout the evening, often in a tasca (a tapas bar), accompanied by a glass of wine or sherry. Ideally, they should be small and easy enough to eat so that they don't hinder the conversation.
Tapa translate into English as "cover." In Andalusia, it is customary to "cover" your wine glass with a saucer to keep the fruit flies out. A mouthful of food is then placed on the dish to attract patrons to the wine bar, and chefs compete with each other to produce more attractive tapas. Covering your wine glass with your plate also frees one hand to eat with while standing up in a tasca.
Part of the Spanish way of life is tapa-hopping, stopping at several bars during an evening to have a glass of wine and sample the tapa specialities of each. A much more elegant version of our pub crawl.
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