![\"tapa\"](\"https:\/\/www.veoapartment.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/tapa-296x300.jpg\")
Tapa literally means a lid or cover. In this case a small dish of food, or even just a piece of bread that you could put over your glass of wine to keep out the dust and flies, which would then be topped with a piece of jam\u00f3n or cheese. To tapear (verb) is to go from bar to bar having tapas. Tapeo (noun) is the journey that results \u2013 a kind of civilised pub-crawl, with food. Both the cuisine and the custom are thought to have developed in the taverns of Seville and other parts of Andalucia in the 18th and 19th centuries. In recent years the concept of the tapa has been spreading abroad, and the cuisine gaining increasing international recognition.<\/p>\n
Why do it?<\/strong><\/p>\n Well, firstly, because you\u2019re in Seville, the home of the tapa, and there are few better ways of getting to know about another culture than through its food and eating customs. Secondly, because it\u2019s fun. It\u2019s a social event with family or a group of friends, sharing food, taking your time, talking, meeting people. It\u2019s informal, often noisy, and often done standing up at the bar. The best bars are usually crowded and busy, and to the uninitiated can seem chaotic and intimidating, but don\u2019t let that put you off \u2013 the natives are friendly.<\/p>\n Some tips<\/strong><\/p>\n In some bars you can only get tapas at the bar \u2013 at the tables or on the terrace you may have to buy raciones (big plates), but there\u2019s no set rule. If in doubt ask (“hay tapas en las mesas\/la terraza?” “Are there tapas at the tables\/on the terrace?”) There\u2019s usually waiter service outside, and often at tables, but watch what other people are doing. You may have to go to the bar to order.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t order everything at once. There won\u2019t be room on the table, the food will go cold, and you may find you\u2019ve ordered more than you want (the size of a tapa can vary). As a rule of thumb order one tapas per person per round. If you\u2019re still hungry order more. There\u2019s no rush. If you see something you like go past, you can add it to your order. When you\u2019ve had enough, stop. The bill is La Cuenta. There\u2019s no rule for tipping, but I generally leave around 10%.<\/p>\n The Cuisine<\/strong><\/p>\n For practical reasons most of the dishes have a short \u201cfinal preparation\u201d time, so lots of fried or lightly grilled fish and seafood and lean meat cuts, and marinated or cured meat and fish. Must sample tapas include the famous Jamon Iberico de Bellota (cured free range ham from the black foot pig), carrillera (slow-cooked stewed pork cheeks), and marinated anchovies. What you won\u2019t find is much in the way of spicy food. Patatas bravas is about as hot as it gets.<\/p>\n![\"tapas\"](\"https:\/\/www.veoapartment.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/tapas-300x300.jpg\")
It\u2019s a good idea to have a list of recommended places, so that you don\u2019t end up wandering aimlessly around, wondering which bars to go into. There are said to be around 3,000 in the city, and though many are very good, there are also plenty that are mediocre. You should also have a few things that you know you want to try, but be flexible.<\/p>\n![\"veo\"](\"https:\/\/www.veoapartment.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/el-rinconcillo.jpg\")
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