Tapas For Beginners: Guide From A Caldwell Restaurant

CALDWELL, NJ — What are tapas? What are the most common types – and ingredients? And what should newcomers know before they take their first bite? These are some of the questions that Patch recently posed to Carmen Mendez, co-owner of Xunta - Tapas España in Caldwell.

The local restaurant at 392 Bloomfield Avenue has gained a reputation for serving up some seriously authentic tapas: small Spanish savory dishes that are typically served with drinks at a bar.

According to the eatery’s website:

“There are many different versions as to the origin of tapas, which also depends on the region in Spain. One version, the most popular, is that it started as a simple piece of bread placed over the wine glass or bottle to keep the flies out. The word ‘tapa’ means cover or lid. So it began ... quickly developing into savory morsels of cheeses, hams, vegetables placed over slices of bread or on their own. As well as almonds fried and served hot ... always accompanied by a glass of vino or sherry. Spain's diversity in regions, climates and landscapes has helped create the tapas or pintxos, as they are known in the northern regions. They can be simple small dishes...to the elaborate...but always with lots of flavor.”

“Tapas sound intimidating to the novice, but it’s a fun and connected way to gather and enjoy a good meal with others or even alone,” Mendez said. “That is what ‘Xunta’ means – a gathering – and what could be better than that?”

Eager to try tapas, but want to dip your toes in the water first? Here are five things to know, as per the folks at Xunta - Tapas España.

PATCH: Are tapas an appetizer, a full meal… or something in between?

XUNTA: Tapas are all three actually. They are small plates, some may say appetizers, they are dishes that stagger out and will delightfully appear at the table just as you think it can’t get any better. LOL … I actually stole that from a customer. It’s all about sharing, like eating family style. It’s so much fun to mix and match and try many different dishes instead of just one plate. Many clients come in not knowing what to order, how or what to expect, but once they try it, they love the experience and are quite surprised at how filling tapas are ... not to mention delicious!

PATCH: Pretend that we’ve never had tapas before. What should we know before we take our first bite?

XUNTA: Traditionally tapas were served in bars throughout Spain and used to cover wine glasses to keep the flies out, hence the word ‘tapa’ and ‘tapas,’ which means to cover … but the culinary world certainly had its input and tapas have become a foodie favorite. Tapas are exclusive to Spain, although we have been seeing other ethnic restaurants embrace the tapas format. We make our tapas in the Spanish tradition and all made fresh to order with local and imported ingredients. I tell my guests to order two tapas per person, so two guests would order four plates (tapas) and share them all. I also tell everyone not to miss our patacas braves, they are a favorite… our most popular tapa. We even bottle the sauce after a customer suggested we should. I’ve had many a client try to get the recipe out of me … to no avail, of course.”

PATCH: What’s the relationship between tapas and liquor? Can you eat tapas without alcohol, or are you missing out on a key component of the meal?

XUNTA: Tapas have historically been served in bars across Spain, something as simple as a piece of bread with cheese but now they are so much more. You can still find local bars in Spain that will offer you a little ‘snack’ with your drink. Alcoholic beverages are not necessary to enjoy tapas, just like any other dish out there, but like any other dish out there, wine can make any meal more enjoyable. So … is alcohol a key component of any meal? Depends on who you ask. Most of our customers bring a bottle of wine. We are a BYOB and offer a delicious sangria mix that we make in house with fresh fruit. We make it with you provided bottle of wine. It’s very popular.

PATCH: What are the most common types of tapas?

XUNTA: We have a pretty extensive menu with dishes from many regions of Spain. From the traditional Gambas al ajillo (garlic prawns), Galician Octopus, Tortilla Espanola (potato and egg omelet), meats, Spanish sausage, Portuguese Sardines, etc. There is something for everyone on the menu. We can even make a few tapas vegan if requested. Most of our tapas (except for three) are gluten free. Not because we purposely wanted to do so, but because our recipes did not require any ingredients with gluten. Our tapas are made fresh in house to order no frozen premade ingredients which do contain extras such as gluten. We just don’t add flour and such to thicken our sauces. It’s indicated on the menu of course.

PATCH: Okay, tapas sound interesting. We want to try a little bit of everything. What should we order off your menu?

XUNTA: I get this question frequently, especially from our new guests. All of our tapas are truly delicious, and you would certainly want to return and try other dishes. My recomendations for a first time table depend on how many guests are dining. Let’s just say we have a table of four, I would suggest tapa of our spicy potatoes (patatas bravas), Empanada Gallega, Datiles (bacon wrapped dates described by a customer once as ‘a party in your mouth’), Pulpo Gallego (grilled octopus), Grilled Chorizo, Braised Short Ribs, Serrano Ham and Cheese Croquettes, Garlic Prawns. There are so many delicious tapas dishes, but we can start with that. We also have a wonderful dessert menu … some favorites like flan for example, that we make in house.

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