Group Dating Ideas Series - #6, Go For Tapas
Going for tapas is a great way for two groups to grab a bite to eat without the pressure or structure of a full meal. When meeting new people for the first time, a full meal can feel static and constraining. But the fluid nature of eating tapas allows you to order little by little and try a wide range of flavors. Any meal where you’re forced to pick off of centralized plates with the rest of the group becomes a more interactive experience. When you’re all eating the same foods you can compare tastes and share not only the food, but also your reactions to the food.
For those who aren’t familiar, Tapas are small plates of (traditionally) Spanish food that are great for sharing and excellent for pairing with lots of wine, beer, and sangria.
There are a number of myths surrounding the origin of tapas, but the most common - and most believable - is that many years ago, in the hot summer months, bartenders needed a way to keep fruit flies from finding their way into patrons’ wine glasses. At first they started using small plates as lids (lid is the English translation of tapa) to cover the wine. Patrons immediately got annoyed with the empty plates because as they got drunk, the lids/tapas would taunt their empty stomachs. The bartenders decided that if they had to placate the borrachas (drunkards) with free food, they might as well make it extra salty to ensure continued drink orders. That’s when they started adding fried potatoes (patatas bravas), olives (aceitunas), and peanuts (cacahuetes) to the tapas. Eventually, and with a little help from ambitious American restaurants, tapas evolved into a really delicious, modernized version of the original.
Break out that little story at your next group tapas date to really impress the table!
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