Tapas Noche!

Barb demonstrating she can sate her large
appetite at a small cost in Croatia.

As former college students, most of us are familiar with the expression, “Drinking your dinner.”  With limited monies, you might have had to choose if you want to spend your meager income on dinner or the $1 Busch Lights.  As an older, wiser consumer of alcoholic beverages I can now tell you that there is something systematically wrong with the serving of American cocktails. 

I just returned from Spain, where I was introduced to a whole new culture of drinking.  First, let me set the stage for this life changing revelation.  I must do so by introducing my cousin Barbara, who can best be described as a Frugalista Travelista. Barb has a particular talent for making her pennies stretch, despite her habit of spending hours shopping at garage sales, gas stations, mega malls and everywhere in-between.  She is currently teaching English in Jaen – spending most of her conservative income on travels throughout Europe. 

I ventured to Spain to visit my Barb and do a bit of traveling. I have to admit, one of my largest concerns with traveling with Barb was that we would return to the college mentality of spending all our money on drinks rather than dining.  NOT SO! Barb shared with me the most brilliant law ever passed by any ruler ever: Tapas.

Now I’m not talking about overpriced, small portioned dinner plates that you can find at Solera. By royal decree around 1250, a Spanish King ordered that with every alcoholic beverage that is purchased, a small snack must accompany it.

You see where I am going with this, right?  This means you can drink FOR your dinner! Not only that, but on average a beer costs less than $2.  Now you can see why my frugalista cousin has chosen Espana as her home away from home- she can quench her thirst and sate her appetite (which is just as healthy as mine)! 

Now you may be quick to point out the free bar nuts, popcorn and select fruits that are sometimes available, or perched atop your drink.  But Spanish tapas are tasty; ranging from a bowl of olives, to paella, calamari and my favorite- croquetas!

To me, esta es perfecto! America, land of possibilities, you don’t want to give us free health care FINE.  But can I please, please, PLEASE get some free food with my beers?

Okay, not likely to happen.  But maybe in my next career you can find me and Barb pouring brews and serving up free apps to our patrons at the coolest bar around--- the one we will open with this amazing concept.  Or maybe, we’ll just head back to Spain...