Good Food Blog

Tapas

Posted at , 14 January 2008 by Gregg Wallace - TV presenter, greengrocer

Tapas are a wonderful thing. Delicious little morsels to nibble while you're drinking. What a wonderful idea.

If you visit Spain, you'll find most traditional bars offer a selection of fantastic little plates, highlighting the best local produce of that region. And when you travel from region to region, the tapas change as you go, for example, Andalucia is famed for its fried seafood, with mouthwatering dishes like Gambas al pil pil and Salpicón de mariscos. This is a fine tradition and a good way to sample local food.

Can anybody explain to me then, why a tapas restaurant in England sells Spanish food? A tapas bar in Spain wouldn't serve English food. We're missing the point completely. To accurately copy the Spanish example we need to sell our own local delicacies.

So here's a challenge, what do you think would make the ultimate English tapas menu?

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Comments

  • 14 January, 2:05PM

    mandy

    Open QuoteI agree that tapas are truly wonderful. I spent a year in Vigo, a major city in Galicia, where every bar had its own speciality which ranged from baby squid cooked in its ink to mind-blowing pimentoes fried in olive oil. No need to eat in a restaurant, I used to change bars to change a course, great fun! I now live in Brittany where tapas don't exist but the infamous "apéro"certainly does! When inviting at home, the French usually serve up nibbles which constitute a full-blown meal! They laden the table with slices of saucisson, garlic olives,and homemade savoury cakes ( which are delicious). It beats the salted peanuts and packets of crisps the Brits are used to. British tapas do exist on the East coast of the UK however! I was born and brought up in Norfolk and have fond childhood memories of the caravan parked on the quai at Wells-Next-The-Sea. My mouth waters as I remember those tiny white plates of cockles and whelks that were then doused in lashings of malt vinegar. The ideal

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  • 14 January, 9:21PM

    Kirsten

    Open QuoteWe have some of the best cheese in the world so I would think that would be a great place to start! A really strong Cheddar with chutney is wonderful. I am sure we could do something with Yorkshire pudding too - working on that one. But as I live in hampshire I suppose watercress is a must. Thinking cap on!

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  • 15 January, 3:22PM

    crazyfox

    Open QuoteIt would have to be Chips really wouldn't it!. The curly fries that have a spicy coating are very morish. Who could resist a plate of chips with a bowl of mayo?!. The chips can be all sorts, from curly, thin cut, to the chunky ones. And You could have different dips of course.

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  • 16 January, 11:10PM

    desiree

    Open QuoteWas just wondering how u kept all tapas dishes hot when you serve such a variety. Too hard to do at home I reckon, unless u keep making and serving.

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  • 17 January, 10:15AM

    Pumpkin

    Open QuoteHere's a few ideas: 1. thin slices of roast beef toppped with radish slices and watercress mayo 2. small chunks of fish fried in batter with chips, served with cucumber, avocado & spring onion salsa 3. yorkshire puddings filled with baked beans and fried sausage chunks I'll keep on thinking.....

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  • 17 January, 11:56AM

    squizita

    Open QuoteThe North Star in Ealing has done just this, made a British Tapas menu. Sausages, potatoes, cheeses and so on.

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  • 19 January, 7:48PM

    Liana's best

    Open QuoteBritish cheese, sausages, picadilly and other English chutneys, fried fish, shellfish, chips, eel in jelly, aspargus, mini pies, ..... The point is: all the old favorites, in smaller portions since its not a meal, just something to have with your beer or wine.

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  • 20 January, 4:24AM

    msmooo

    Open QuoteThe tapas could be along the lines of a Ploughman`s Lunch, with the glorious uk cheeses, chutneys, pickle onions, etc and fresh baked crusty bread. Or since the UK are curry mad the indian platters - samosa`s onion bajhees, mini papadoms etc all served with lovely fresh chutneys and dips.

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  • 20 January, 9:29AM

    triggers

    Open QuoteThe only reason we try and open tapas bars in the uk is because people have seen how much money can be made off holiday makers!!. No one is intrested in giving you a new taste sensation, not that tapas are a taste sensation, it's all down to money. One thing that really gets to me is the way a lot people bang on about something they think is a new idea!, eg tapas ect. I have eaten and drank in a lot of pubs in and around the Black Country (just by Birmingham) and in nearly every pub you go in, on diffrent days, there is on the bar a selection of Black pudding, Pickled onions, Cheddar cheese, and Fresh crusty bread and Real butter, ALL FREE. All they landlords ask is 3 things, 1 Don't bring the kids in for their tea, 2 Turn you latest phone on to vibrate so we don't all have to suffer the latest stupid ring tone, and 3 Park between the lines on the car park. Please leave tapas on holiday were they belong!!

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  • 20 January, 4:43PM

    kindregards

    Open QuoteTAPAS! Whst could be more wonderful? Tapas bar's in England should sell regional good quality locally sourced food. Simple as that. We have some of the best meat, poultry, cheese, veg and fruit anywhere! Our English food heritage is utterly amazing! Little English style canape's showing off our best selling food with english champagne and cider; English cider is divine and tastes likes proper cider should! Even our bubbly is getting better we have brilliant cider and sloe gin... we have so much to our advantage, it's just a shame more people wouldnt use it to such!!

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