ADVERTISEMENT
- Real Recipes from Real People -

Recipe: Cheese and Quince Tapas, Dessert Tapas - and What are Tapas?

Desserts - Assorted
WHAT ARE TAPAS?
Source: TAPAS: the Little Dishes of Spain by Penelope Casas

"It is difficult to say exactly what TAPAS are, for tapas are not necessarily a particular kind of food; rather they represent a style of eating and a way of life that are so very Spanish & yet, so adaptable to America. Tapas are as varied as the cooks who create them & in Spain range from the simplest fare, like grilled chorizo sausage, flavorful jamon serrano (cured ham), tangy Manchego Cheese & simple canapes to surprisingly sophisticated dishes using quail, frog legs, fresh snails, caviar and angulas (baby eels). They can be food we traditionally eat as appetizers, but more often than not cross the line into what we might think of as first course or main course dishes.

In Spanish bars & taverns, tapas are served quickly & consumed just as quickly; any delay in service diminishes the tapas raison d` tre (reason of being).

The TAPAS way of life is completely in tune with the Spanish character. To eat tapas-style is to eat by whim, free from rules & schedules. It is meant for those who wish to enjoy life to the fullest & who love towhile away the time with friends. Since home entertaining is not common in Spain, the thousands of bars & taverns in the country become logical meeting places...". TTAPAS: the Little Dishes of Spain by Penelope Casas, Pp. xii& xiii of the Introduction.

Regarding Page's observation that there are no dessert Tapas I searched carefully all my available books on the subject & I found just one example:


CHEESE AND QUINCE (QUESO CON MEMBRILLO)
Source: New Tapas: Today's Best Bar Food from Spain by Fiona Dunlop
For 6 tapas

Saltiness & sweetness combine in this traditional Spanish tapa.

6 slices of Manchego Cheese
3 slices country bread
quince paste

Place a piece of Manchego Cheese on a half slice of bread. Place a smaller wedge of quincepaste on top of the cheese.


Another sweet tapa mentioned in two menus in the same book are (but no recipe):

Page 56: helado de caf (coffee ice cream), bizcocho de frutas secas y helado de chocolate dry fruits cake with chocolate ice cream, trufas de chocolate (chocolate truffles.

Page 25: chocolate con Naranja Confitada (chocolate with an orange candy.


My advice is that you serve refreshing desserts in small quantities, according to the spirit of what tapas reallyb are.

Gladys/PR

MsgID: 095869
Shared by: Gladys/PR
In reply to: what is a Tapas?
Board: Party Planning and Recipes at Recipelink.com
  • Read Replies (19)
  • Post Reply
  • Post New
  • Save to Recipe Box
UPLOAD AN IMAGE
Allowed file types: .gif .png .jpg .jpeg

POST A REPLY
Post a Request - Answer a Question
Share a Recipe
Thank You To All Who Contribute
  • Recipe: Cheese and Quince Tapas, Dessert Tapas - and What are Tapas?
  • Please select one:
  • This message includes a recipe that I have not made Recipe: will appear as the first word of the title
  • This message includes a recipe that I have made Recipe (tried): will appear as the first words of the title
  • This message is a question or a request for a recipe ISO: (In Search of) will appear as the first words of the title
  • This message is to thank the person(s) that answered my request Thank You will appear as the first words of the title
  • No Prefix


POST A NEW MESSAGE
Post a Request - Answer a Question
Share a Recipe
Thank You To All Who Contribute
  • Please select one:
  • This message includes a recipe that I have not made Recipe: will appear as the first word of the title
  • This message includes a recipe that I have made Recipe (tried): will appear as the first words of the title
  • This message is a question or a request for a recipe ISO: (In Search of) will appear as the first words of the title
  • This message is to thank the person(s) that answered my request Thank You will appear as the first words of the title
  • No Prefix