Tapas Tours, Granada

I've been a bit remiss in my posts about the food here in Granada, which I have found to be excellent. As previously mentioned in my blogs, I have been on two organised Tapas Tours and had a wonderful time. Unfortunately, I mostly forgot to take pictures. However, last night I ventured out with a friend from the school, Ellie, to sample some more of these tasty treats that are a speciality of Spain. The good news is that here in Granada, tapas and drinks are very cheap. But you have to be careful, it's easy to keep having more. And, finally, I remembered to take some photos.

The tapas here are really varied, but will often include pork or chicken, seafood and berejena (eggplant). What you get depends on if you go to a bar that allows you to choose from a selection (of up to 25 different types in one bar I saw) or a bar that has set tapas for the evening. If you choose the second option, there is usually a different tapa for each drink you buy at that bar. It could be anything from jamon y queso (ham and cheese), aceitunas (olives), lomo (a cut of roast pork), to any manner of creative offerings. Given that the most I have paid for a drink (usually a glass of wine) and a tapa is 2 euros (approx. $2.90 AUS), I think that's pretty good value.

Whilst tapas is included in the price of your drink, at least in Granada,  you can just buy the tapa and forgot the drink or get a non-alcoholic drink. Given my explorations in this area, I have a new drink of choice when dining out on a tapas tour - Tinto de Verano. This is a mixture of wine and usually lemon squash type soft drink and served really cold. Very refreshing on a hot day. It also means that I don't have a lot of alcohol to drink in one evening! It makes a change from Sangria and would be easy enough to make back home in Australia. Next Spanish get together, I'll make some if anyone else is interested!!

So to whet the appetite of anybody thinking of coming to Granada, below are a few examples of the tapas to be found here. There are endless variety of others. Also, it is usual to move from place to place, have a drink or two and then move to another bar. This is a very pleasant way to have dinner, particularly if the company is good.

Tapa of lomo topped with a very small fried egg and tomato salsa

Bomba - basically a mashed potato ball filled with meat,
crumbed then fried. Spicy tomato salsa to finish it off
Served hot

Here's one we would recognise at home, smoked salmon and
soft white cheese with olives.

Berejenas - Fried eggplant with a sweet sauce
(usually honey but this sauce was smoky as well,) Served hot.

One of the interesting and cosy bars.

This very interesting dish (for 4 people) is basically fried baby fish.
The fish are similar to guppies. You just stab away with your fork
until you manage to eat them all!

Looks like soup but is actually a specialty white wine, very sweet
Normally served in bowls and you just slurp it up!
I had a taste but it was too sweet for me.

Tinto de Verano - mixture of red wine and
lemonade or lemon squash, served cold
with ice and a slice of lemon.
Very refreshing on a hot day!