The Tapas Life
Admittedly, I went Tapas crazy in Barcelona, as there are limited options in Boston to indulge at. Plus, have you heard anyone that said they don't like Tapas?
Then I later realized Tapas is so much more than just the ingredients and recipe, it's really a lifestyle. Tapas is basically a selection of small plates ranging from vegetables, seafood to meat and is meant to be shared amongst the whole table. A full dinner of Tapas with at least 4 people will probably allow you to try 8 different dishes. What this also means is you get to try and enjoy a variety of food instead of sticking to the entree you ordered. In between each dish gets served, you drink wine and talk to your dinner companions. No one gets to put their head down and focus on their own food, because we are all sharing, hence the focus naturally gets drawn to the middle of the table. Spanish people are known for being passionate and welcoming, but little did I know even the way they eat stimulates so much human interaction between everyone at the table!
1. Swanky Tapas - Boca Grande
Boca Grande is a 4-story establishment that brings a swanky take to Tapas. We rented out the top floor "The Apartment" space, which has a bar, bathroom, 2 lounge areas with sofas and a balcony. What more can you ask for? The welcoming space is decorated with modern arts wherever your eyes can place and dimly lighted to accentuate the ambiance. Each courses of tapas was brought to us by the wait staff. For the whole night, we were wandering around the space freely, jumping from conversations to conversations. If I was a socialite in Spain in the 20s and 30s, I think this will be my life.
2. Modern Tasting Tapas - Monvinic
Coupled with another eccentric part of the dining culture here in Spain - Wine Tasting, the Monvinic is a modern sit-down restaurant that serves Tapas with wine pairings. The is brightly lit and decorated with achrylic elements. We had a total of 8 creative Tapas courses including dessert. In between each dish, the vibrant conversation never stopped.
3. Classic Tapas - Bar Canete
A couple streets off the famous La Rambla, the noise trailed off and so did the tourist crowds. We came to this small restaurant called Bar Canete. Exactly how you would picture a classic Tapas bar to be, there's a long bar where people sit to enjoy the full dinner, half tables by the wall as standing room and everyone is happily chattering away.
At this point, I'm equating Tapas = Good food, good wine and good conversation. Go be inspired by the Tapas life.