Madrilenos live by a different clock. They commence their day with a cafe con leche and churros at the neighbourhood cafeteria. Their work day starts at half past 8 or 9 and ends quite late – post 7 pm or maybe even 8 pm. Most Spanish companies have a lunch break between 2 and 4 pm. It reminds me of Goa and susegad. Quite often people actually go home for lunch. And lunch generally comprises of 2 courses and a dessert with coffee. Wonder how they can work after all that food!!
Madrilenos are a very social lot and their lives revolve around their families and friends. The evening begins quite late – post 9 pm. They start off at a tapas bar, have a glass of wine and a few tapas, whilst catching up with the latest news and gossip. Then they move to the next tapas bar and the next and generally wind up quite late in the evening.
Tapas are a wide variety of appetizers or snacks and they could be either hot or cold. Tapas bars range from the traditional to the modern and there are hundreds of them in Madrid.
The word "tapas" is derived from the Spanish verb tapar, "to cover".
According to legend, the tapas tradition began when king Alfonso X of Castile recovered from an illness by drinking wine with small dishes between meals. After regaining his health, the king ordered that taverns would not be allowed to serve wine to customers unless it was accompanied by a small snack or "tapa."
According to The Joy of Cooking, the original tapas were the slices of bread or meat which sherry drinkers in Andalusian taverns used to cover their glasses between sips. This was a practical measure meant to prevent fruit flies from hovering over the sweet sherry. The meat used to cover the sherry was normally ham or chorizo, which are both very salty and activate thirst. Because of this, bartenders and restaurant owners began creating a variety of snacks to serve with sherry, thus increasing their alcohol sales. The tapas eventually became as important as the sherry.
Tapas has evolved through Spanish history by incorporating ingredients and influences from many different cultures and countries. Most of the Iberian Peninsula was invaded by the Romans, who introduced the olive and irrigation methods. The invasion of the North African Moors in the 8th century brought almonds, citrus fruits and fragrant spices. The influence of their 700-year presence remains today, especially in Andalusia. The discovery of the New World brought the introduction of tomatoes, sweet and chili peppers, maize (corn), beans and potatoes. These were readily accepted and easily grown in Spain's microclimates.
Source: Wikipedia
Sausages which taste very much like Goa Sausages.
The famed Jambon
Salad with anchovies
Hake with crabmeat stuffing
Madrilenos are a very social lot and their lives revolve around their families and friends. The evening begins quite late – post 9 pm. They start off at a tapas bar, have a glass of wine and a few tapas, whilst catching up with the latest news and gossip. Then they move to the next tapas bar and the next and generally wind up quite late in the evening.
Tapas are a wide variety of appetizers or snacks and they could be either hot or cold. Tapas bars range from the traditional to the modern and there are hundreds of them in Madrid.
According to legend, the tapas tradition began when king Alfonso X of Castile recovered from an illness by drinking wine with small dishes between meals. After regaining his health, the king ordered that taverns would not be allowed to serve wine to customers unless it was accompanied by a small snack or "tapa."
According to The Joy of Cooking, the original tapas were the slices of bread or meat which sherry drinkers in Andalusian taverns used to cover their glasses between sips. This was a practical measure meant to prevent fruit flies from hovering over the sweet sherry. The meat used to cover the sherry was normally ham or chorizo, which are both very salty and activate thirst. Because of this, bartenders and restaurant owners began creating a variety of snacks to serve with sherry, thus increasing their alcohol sales. The tapas eventually became as important as the sherry.
Tapas has evolved through Spanish history by incorporating ingredients and influences from many different cultures and countries. Most of the Iberian Peninsula was invaded by the Romans, who introduced the olive and irrigation methods. The invasion of the North African Moors in the 8th century brought almonds, citrus fruits and fragrant spices. The influence of their 700-year presence remains today, especially in Andalusia. The discovery of the New World brought the introduction of tomatoes, sweet and chili peppers, maize (corn), beans and potatoes. These were readily accepted and easily grown in Spain's microclimates.
Source: Wikipedia
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