As I arrive for my annual vacation in Spain, I’m already excited at the thought of the delicious foods that await me!

So in this post I thought I’d explain some of the typical Spanish foods that go beyond Paella, rice dishes, seafoods and tortilla. I’m sure most people are familiar with Tapas, but what about Tablas? Pinchos? Montaditos? Bocadillos? Tostadas?

Here’s my cheat’s guide to some Spanish delights and what to expect:

Tapas – A tapa is typically a small food served with a drink. The word tapa stems from the Spanish verb ‘tapar’ which means to cover. The tradition of tapas dates back in history when bars would have large legs of ham hanging from the ceiling, thus encouraging flies. So bartenders would usually offer a small plate of food or ham to the customers (or just some bread) and the customers would use it to cover their drink to protect it from the flies. Perhaps this is why tapas are still presented to this day on a plate? Tapas typically consist of smaller versions of larger hot or cold dishes such as Spanish omelete, Russian salad, spicy potatoes or garlic prawns. In some areas in Spain it is common to go ‘bar hopping’, enjoying tapas and drinks in each bar until the equivalent of a full meal has been consumed. It’s a great way to spend an evening, particularly in a city – at least I think so!

Pinchos – The word pincho comes from the Spanish verb ‘pinchar’ which means to pierce. The pincho is served on a small piece of bread with a topping and pierced with a toothpick to hold it in place and lift to one’s mouth. Pinchos are quite small therefore not considered a sharing food, so are eaten individually. They are so small that they would be difficult to share. Each person orders and eats his or her own pinchos and keeps track of their toothpicks which are used to calculated the cost at the end based on the number of toothpicks that you have.

Tablas – Tablas are the Spanish equivalent of charcuterie boards. The Spanish world Tabla translates to ‘board’ therefore the food is always served on a board!

These boards are served for sharing and diners can help themselves. A ‘tabla’ will consist of a variety of Spanish hams and chorizos, cheeses, olives and nuts (and of course, served with a side of bread)!

Montaditos – These are very similar to a small open sandwich. Baguette bread is topped with a variety of ingredients. The Northern regions of Spain started this tradition, however they are now enjoyed throughout the country. The bread is usually toasted, brushed with oil, then a selection of ingredients are placed on the bread or ‘mounted’ - which translates directly from the Spanish world ‘montado’. Typical ingredients include chorizo, cheese, jamon serrano, Spanish omelete, roasted pickled vegetables or anchovies. Sometimes when there are many toppings a toothpick or small skewer is used to hold the montadito in place, similar to a pincho although a little larger. A montadito is not shared with others and it can be eaten in a few bites.

Bocadillos – A bocadillo is basically a baguette style sandwich. Compared to a montadito it is larger, more substantial and has a top layer of bread as opposed to being open. The fillings may be similar although may include heavier ingredients such as grilled pork or steak. Commonly eaten in the late morning, a few hours before lunch or in the evening instead of a meal if a long, heavy lunch was enjoyed.

Tostadas – Simply put… toast! For many Spaniards breakfast will consist of tostada with either butter and jams, tomato, or ham and cheese accompanied with fruit juice and a lovely morning coffee. It’s quite common to see locals in the coffee shops in the mornings enjoying this start to the day with friends.

You may have noticed that bread (otherwise known as ‘pan’) is a staple of the Spanish diet. It is served alongside most meals and frequently before the start of a meal in a restaurant, accompanied with a dip of alioli (garlic style egg mayo) and some obligatory olives. Just remember not to eat too much! Spanish meals can be long and full of many delicious dishes so make sure you leave some space for what comes next!!

Buen Provecho!

Julia Esteve Boyd

The Etiquette Consultant