Spanish Tapas

An extract from my book ‘The Bougainvilleas

Hilary and Carla decide to have a get together and what could be more fun than a visit to a restaurant for Tapas – read the following extract when Carla decides to dig for information and also enjoy herself. Here Carla opens the conversation. Read on

‘If you don’t mind I think a set meal is to formal, shall we go for the tapas? They make a surcharge if you have them at the table but there’re fun, and if done well delicious. Here they’re really good, set meals tend to be tourist orientated, but with tapas you get a real Spanish feel.’ At that moment the waiter returned with the fruit juices, set them down on the table, and then stood waiting in anticipation for the order. ‘Shall I order?’ said Carla.

‘You’d better, I wouldn’t know where to start,’ Hilary replied.

‘Bien,’ Carla spoke to the waiter. ‘Jamón serrano, gambas a la plancha, calamares fritos y patatas bravas, mejillones a la marinera tortilla y salada verde, oh y salpicón de mariscos,’ she looked at Hilary. ‘Would you like some of the local potatoes, they’re cooked in very salty water?’ Hilary nodded. ‘Y papas arrugadas,’ she glanced towards Hilary again. ‘Do you like Cava … sparkling wine?’ then as Hilary nodded. ‘Bien, Cava Seco.’ At this the waiter departed.

‘What did you order it sounded quite a lot to eat?’

Carla smiled at Hilary’s question, as the company was paying she had ordered most of her favourites. ‘The Spanish salt cured ham, prawns, squid rings, potatoes in spicy sauce, mussels. Then Spanish omelette, a salad and finally the local potatoes.’ She didn’t mention salpicón de mariscos; the dish was her favourite but inclined to be expensive. ‘Don’t worry it comes up in quite small dishes which are placed on the table between us. You put what you want onto your own plate, then you pick at it slowly while you sip your wine, it’s great, you’ll love it.’

‘Tortilla I know, but surely that’s mainly potatoes, there sounded like a lot of potatoes!’ Hilary saw anything resembling a controlled diet going out of the window. ‘You did say salad, a plain salad?’ she added hopefully.

‘Look, eat only what you want,’ said Carla, ‘we’ve a couple of hours, and we can pick and chat without worry.’ At that moment the waiter came with the sparkling wine and some more glasses. ‘Just open it, we can pour it ourselves,’ Carla was feeling in a party mood, ‘Would you like some in your orange juice, a Buck’s Fizz?’

The extract is about Spanish Tapas and continues for over two hours. Did Carla find out all she wished to know? For that you need to read the book!

Regards to all Patrick