Tapas (Tapas), they are just what you think they are and exactly what you think they aren't.
¿Huh? I know they are served along with drinks
in bars at night, but how'd the come to be so fashionable??
Tapas come from a long Spanish history of barflies. Literally, flies, insects that buzz, whatever. Historically, there were a few of these annoying creatures about in the heat of the summer (this dates back to these days of "¡agua va!") who loved nothing more than to piss you and I off by landing inside our favorite caña or tinto. Seeing their customers dissatisfaction with mosquitoes doing the backstroke in their wine, bars began to place a sort of top on these drinks.
The word Tapa comes from the verb tapar, or to cover, and Tapas were placed over the top of a drink to keep out these pesky boogers. Raciones, Canapés, and Bocadillos (or Bocatas) are the most frequent and prevalent versions of this relatively inexpensive way to sample some of everything and have an excellent meal.
