For the catering and hospitality student, study tours to Barcelona can involve participants in demonstrations of Spain's most loved appetiser - tapas. Tapas is an essential part of Spanish cuisine and it has been growing in popularity across the globe. In its most basic form, it is a small snack or appetiser taken with a drink at lunch or early eveninf. Tapas, however, is not merely a type of dish: it is a Spanish style of eating where conversation and sociability are encouraged as an important part of the ritual. On catering study tours to Barcelona students can learn more about this widely loved cuisine that sits at the very heart of Spanish culture.
Origin
The origins of tapas continues to be the subject of controversy, but a common theory is that is that it began with the practise of placing a slice of bread or ham atop one's glass of wine to keep insects out. The word 'tapas' literally means 'cover' or 'lid.' Another theory suggests that tapas became ingrained in Spanish culture, when illness forced the Spanish king, Alfonso the 10th to eat small bits of food with wine between meals. It is said that once the king recovered, he decreed that no wine should be served in the land of Castile without accompanying food. This was meant to discourage the poorer people from drinking on empty stomachs. These are just two of the many theories students can debate on their study tours. However it originated, Spanish tapas quickly evolved into elaborate morsels that now vary from region to region. Today, it represents Spanish lifestyle and plays a role in tourism with many tapas tours on offer.
Origin
The origins of tapas continues to be the subject of controversy, but a common theory is that is that it began with the practise of placing a slice of bread or ham atop one's glass of wine to keep insects out. The word 'tapas' literally means 'cover' or 'lid.' Another theory suggests that tapas became ingrained in Spanish culture, when illness forced the Spanish king, Alfonso the 10th to eat small bits of food with wine between meals. It is said that once the king recovered, he decreed that no wine should be served in the land of Castile without accompanying food. This was meant to discourage the poorer people from drinking on empty stomachs. These are just two of the many theories students can debate on their study tours. However it originated, Spanish tapas quickly evolved into elaborate morsels that now vary from region to region. Today, it represents Spanish lifestyle and plays a role in tourism with many tapas tours on offer.
Tapas tours
On Spanish study tours focusing on catering or hospitality, students can discover the diverse and extensive range of tapas produced across the country's different regions. Each region's tapas tends to have varying compositions and ingredients, depending on historical and cultural influences. There are many types of tapas, including meat tapas, seafood, vegetables, and spicy dishes - among many others. The region of Andalucia, for instance, is famed for its fish, shellfish, olives and fried foods and these tend to be the main ingredients in the tapas of the region. The Central Plain produces Spain's most popular cheese - Manchego - and is well known for its roasted pork and lamb. The Basque province, on the other hand, is known for its fish and seafood and tends to have larger portions of tapas.
Among the most common ingredients of tapas students will learn about on their study tours are olives, olive oil, Serrano ham, chorizo sausages and Manchego cheese. Some of the more popular Spanish tapas include gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), tigres, mejillones ellenos (stuffed mussels), calamares a la Romana (fried squid rings), and jamon, queso y chorizo con pan (ham, cheese and chorizo with bread).
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