There are many versions regarding the history of tapas, and when it was first invented. They mostly differ between the ones treating tapas as just small dishes served with alcoholic beverages, and the ones claiming tapas were meant to keep drinks from dust or bugs.

According to one story, in the 13th century, King Alfonso V from Castilla found out that after a night of drinking, he can only eat small dishes with his wine. Therefore, he preferred his servants to serve him with some ham, cheese, or olives.

Another version relates to the actual word “tapas” in Spanish, which means a cover or a lid. According to this version, tapas were invented by pubs that wanted to keep their customers happy by keeping their drinks. In some places, flies or dust would enter the bottle or glass and ruined the enjoyment of the drinks. The solution was to cover the glass with a nice piece of ham or a pastry, which served as a lid.

Nowadays tapas is a true pride of Spanish cuisine. Some tapas bars in Madrid or Barcelona will even give you free tapas with every drink you’ll get (making you want to order more and more). It is also widely spread worldwide, with each country adding the local versions of its tapas.

The post A Quick Glance At the History of Tapas appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Pineapple first appeared in the U.K. in 1668 and immediately became popular. Its popularity lasted for a long time and peaked in the 18th century when it was even possible to rent a pineapple for a party. Translated to today’s money, a single pineapple could cost up to $8,000! That sounds completely crazy given that it’s such a common fruit today.

During the Victorian era, celery was considered a luxurious treat. It was served to the first-class guests on Titanic and was generally considered fancy food. The wealthy served it at every dinner, and it wasn’t just a side dish, it was always a centerpiece. A glass celery vase was a typical decor item for any respectful Victorian household — can you even imagine doing that today?

The post Pineapple and Celery: Luxury Foods of the Past appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

There are many versions regarding the history of tapas, and when it was first invented. They mostly differ between the ones treating tapas as just small dishes served with alcoholic beverages, and the ones claiming tapas were meant to keep drinks from dust or bugs.

According to one story, in the 13th century, King Alfonso V from Castilla found out that after a night of drinking, he can only eat small dishes with his wine. Therefore, he preferred his servants to serve him with some ham, cheese, or olives.

Another version relates to the actual word “tapas” in Spanish, which means a cover or a lid. According to this version, tapas were invented by pubs that wanted to keep their customers happy by keeping their drinks. In some places, flies or dust would enter the bottle or glass and ruined the enjoyment of the drinks. The solution was to cover the glass with a nice piece of ham or a pastry, which served as a lid.

Nowadays tapas is a true pride of Spanish cuisine. Some tapas bars in Madrid or Barcelona will even give you free tapas with every drink you’ll get (making you want to order more and more). It is also widely spread worldwide, with each country adding the local versions of its tapas.

The post A Quick Glance At the History of Tapas appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Pineapple first appeared in the U.K. in 1668 and immediately became popular. Its popularity lasted for a long time and peaked in the 18th century when it was even possible to rent a pineapple for a party. Translated to today’s money, a single pineapple could cost up to $8,000! That sounds completely crazy given that it’s such a common fruit today.

During the Victorian era, celery was considered a luxurious treat. It was served to the first-class guests on Titanic and was generally considered fancy food. The wealthy served it at every dinner, and it wasn’t just a side dish, it was always a centerpiece. A glass celery vase was a typical decor item for any respectful Victorian household — can you even imagine doing that today?

The post Pineapple and Celery: Luxury Foods of the Past appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.