Pincho, tapa or ración
Pincho, tapa or ración: A basic guide for our Conference bar-goers
As you probably know well, in Spain, people frequently eat out in bars and order pinchos, tapas or raciones to nibble or ‘peck’ (picar) from these dishes as an alternative to the typical lunch or dinner.
The list of pinchos, tapas and raciones served, with their prices, is always displayed on boards near the counter. But if, understandably, you cannot possibly get to know what lacón con pimientos (!) or they like stands for, walk along the bar counter to select your pick: bar counters are generally lined with plates offering their varieties.
Here are some tips to guide you through.
Bar 'Jero' (Correos 11)
Photo: Alfredo Cáliz. Guía Repsol.A pincho is an individual finger food, generally served on a small slice of bread, usually with a toothpick piercing them through the middle. Pincho de tortilla is the staple one, a portion of Spanish potato (and perhaps onion) omelette. Pinchos range from traditional (banderilla, ham, anchovies and cheese, cojonudos, tuna mayonaisse, etc.) to mini haute cuisine, cold or warm.
Bar 'Alarcón' (Alarcón 3)
Photo: Alfredo Cáliz. Guía Repsol.A tapa is a small portion of food (e.g. olives, potato salad, chorizo with cider, shrimps, mushrooms, paella, Russian salad, morcilla, baby squid, etc.) served on a small dish or clay pot, to be enjoyed individually or shared. Traditional soups like caldo (broth), sopa de cocido (stew) or sopa de ajo (broken bread with garlic and paprika) are served individually in a pot.
Bar 'El Corcho' (Correos 2)
Photo: Alfredo Cáliz. Guía Repsol.A ración is a more abundant portion of food (serrano ham, croquettes, calamari, pork casserole, patatas bravas, octopus, prawns, mussels, meatballs, etc.) served on a larger dish or platter, usually to be shared on individual dishes while seated. Order 2 or 3 raciones for a group of 4. You may also order half portions (media ración) for one person only or for a group to taste a wider range of specialties.
Yes, you will find most people standing up by the counter with their friends and socialising while 'pecking' from one same dish. They'll probably be soon leaving for the next bar and do the tapas crawl, or having their tapa as an appetizer before going home for lunch. Most bars, however, have seats for people to relax and enjoy a full tapas lunch break or dinner.
Order your drinks as you order your food.
- Please note that if you order una cerveza, you will be asking for one bottle of beer. If that is not what you want, but rather draft beer, do as Vallisoletans do: order una caña (lagger, slightly smaller than half a pint), una clara (a glass of beer shandy), un corto (half a caña).
- To order wine, say un vino (a glass of wine), and simply add tinto or blanco to refer to either red or white wine.
- If you like, you can order drinks by their brand or regional variety, as Vallisoletans most often do: una Mahou/San Miguel (a bottle of Mahou/San Miguel lagger); un Ribera (a glass of Ribera del Duero D.O. wine, red), un verdejo (a glass of Rueda D.O. wine, white).
Be prepared to find out that drinks in Spain are served in much smaller quantities than in the rest of Europe. The smaller, the cooler it stands in the summer!
Pay for your meal when you are finished. Spanish people are happy to go Dutch at this point, if in a group. You may of course, if you wish, buy your friends' drinks, but no one really expects you to do so, especially if you've all had tapas.
You may eat for as little as €5‒10. Enjoy!