I don’t like sharing food in restaurants. There’s just something about the logistics of switching plates around the table and trying to divide a pastry in three that doesn’t sit well with me. What I do like is if every person at the table orders their own meal and sticks to it. There is a good reason why I chose my dish: because it looked like the best item on the menu for me. If I wanted to taste yours, I would have ordered it (and you should probably have done the same). Thanks, but no thanks.
During a recent trip to Barcelona, I learned that that my ideology needed some fine tuning. The people of Spain have found a way around this by perfecting ‘small plates’ that are meant to be enjoyed communally – sharing is indeed caring. Almost every meal starts with a round of ‘tapas’ (literally meaning ‘cover, or lid’, because the small plates were originally served free with a drink, covering the glass), followed by larger dishes, but that’s completely optional, as a meal could entirely consist of only tapas.
After getting over the initial discomfort (perhaps also the fact that dinner is eaten only around 21:00), I quite liked it – mainly for two reasons: the dishes are perfectly portioned for the number of guests at the table, and you get to taste everything on the menu (I see my philosophy falling apart here, admittedly). And so, after spending seven days in sunny Barcelona and eating my way through the city, here are a few of my favourite dishes:
A few of my favourite tapas spots include:
I’ve realised that sharing food doesn't have to be a logistical nightmare – it can be a culinary adventure that brings people together. While I may still prefer my own dish at times, I’ve come to appreciate the joys of tapas – a tradition that turns every meal into a celebration of togetherness. So next time you find yourself in Barcelona, embrace the small plates – you might just find that sharing really is caring.
I don’t like sharing food in restaurants. There’s just something about the logistics of switching plates around the table and trying to divide a pastry in three that doesn’t sit well with me. What I do like is if every person at the table orders their own meal and sticks to it. There is a good reason why I chose my dish: because it looked like the best item on the menu for me. If I wanted to taste yours, I would have ordered it (and you should probably have done the same). Thanks, but no thanks.
During a recent trip to Barcelona, I learned that that my ideology needed some fine tuning. The people of Spain have found a way around this by perfecting ‘small plates’ that are meant to be enjoyed communally – sharing is indeed caring. Almost every meal starts with a round of ‘tapas’ (literally meaning ‘cover, or lid’, because the small plates were originally served free with a drink, covering the glass), followed by larger dishes, but that’s completely optional, as a meal could entirely consist of only tapas.
After getting over the initial discomfort (perhaps also the fact that dinner is eaten only around 21:00), I quite liked it – mainly for two reasons: the dishes are perfectly portioned for the number of guests at the table, and you get to taste everything on the menu (I see my philosophy falling apart here, admittedly). And so, after spending seven days in sunny Barcelona and eating my way through the city, here are a few of my favourite dishes:
A few of my favourite tapas spots include:
I’ve realised that sharing food doesn't have to be a logistical nightmare – it can be a culinary adventure that brings people together. While I may still prefer my own dish at times, I’ve come to appreciate the joys of tapas – a tradition that turns every meal into a celebration of togetherness. So next time you find yourself in Barcelona, embrace the small plates – you might just find that sharing really is caring.
I don’t like sharing food in restaurants. There’s just something about the logistics of switching plates around the table and trying to divide a pastry in three that doesn’t sit well with me. What I do like is if every person at the table orders their own meal and sticks to it. There is a good reason why I chose my dish: because it looked like the best item on the menu for me. If I wanted to taste yours, I would have ordered it (and you should probably have done the same). Thanks, but no thanks.
During a recent trip to Barcelona, I learned that that my ideology needed some fine tuning. The people of Spain have found a way around this by perfecting ‘small plates’ that are meant to be enjoyed communally – sharing is indeed caring. Almost every meal starts with a round of ‘tapas’ (literally meaning ‘cover, or lid’, because the small plates were originally served free with a drink, covering the glass), followed by larger dishes, but that’s completely optional, as a meal could entirely consist of only tapas.
After getting over the initial discomfort (perhaps also the fact that dinner is eaten only around 21:00), I quite liked it – mainly for two reasons: the dishes are perfectly portioned for the number of guests at the table, and you get to taste everything on the menu (I see my philosophy falling apart here, admittedly). And so, after spending seven days in sunny Barcelona and eating my way through the city, here are a few of my favourite dishes:
A few of my favourite tapas spots include:
I’ve realised that sharing food doesn't have to be a logistical nightmare – it can be a culinary adventure that brings people together. While I may still prefer my own dish at times, I’ve come to appreciate the joys of tapas – a tradition that turns every meal into a celebration of togetherness. So next time you find yourself in Barcelona, embrace the small plates – you might just find that sharing really is caring.
