Pros: Fascinating information and delicious recipes!
Cons: More ingredient listings would be nice
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Review book (published 2009) courtesy of Chronicle Books.
Also posted on Epinions.com.
When I lived in Boston over my college years I was introduced to the concept of tapas at a local tapas restaurant, and instantly fell in love with them. According to Wikipedia:
Tapas (IPA: [ˈtapˌas]) is the name of a wide variety of appetizers in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or warm (such as puntillitas, which are battered, fried baby squid).
In North America and the United Kingdom, tapas have evolved into an entire cuisine. In these countries, patrons of tapas restaurants can order many different tapas and combine them to make a full meal.
The serving of tapas is designed to encourage conversation because people are not so focused upon eating an entire meal that is set before them. Also, in some countries it is customary for diners to stand and move about while eating tapas.
In Joyce Goldstein’s book, Tapas: Sensational Small Plates from Spain, she explains the origin of tapas as snacks meant to accompany wine, and the manner in which they evolved into el tapeo, or “essentially the Spanish version of the English pub crawl.” Instead of a formal dinner, people wander from bar to bar enjoying small plates of food along with their drinks.
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