A tapeo is essentially a moving party set to the pace of a leisurely gastronomic stroll. This lively tradition of strolling arm-in-arm with a group of friends from tapas bar to tapas bar is a ritual of near-religious importance in a country as social as Spain.
Nibbling from small plates and sipping Spanish wine, the tapeo encourages friends to visit several tabernas (taverns) in a single evening. Each taberna lines its platters of bite-size snacks along the bar to create an enticing tapas feast and the ideal accompaniment to a glass of juicy Spanish Tempranillo or luscious Garnacha. Now, my friends, we’re talking Tapeña.
Just what inspired the centuries-long tapas trend that continues today is not certain, but most food historians point to the Spanish King Alfonso the 10th, who is said to have issued a decree that all tabernas must serve a bit of food or tapa with each glass of wine. Derived from the Spanish verb tapar, to cover, a tapa is a bite to accompany drinks, customarily eaten while standing up. During King Alfonso’s days, a savory treat such as jamon or cheese was placed over the top of every glass of wine sold, thus protecting it from flies and dust. While no longer required by law, Spaniards have no intention of turning their back on this satisfying and sensible tradition.
