Tapas - Andalusia Style

A surprising find of a Spanish Tinto wine at my gourmet market has inspired a happy hour featuring the tapas of Andalusia.

Spain's Andalusia region is most known for flamenco, the music and dance form performed by the Gypsies. There, the summers are hot and the chorizo is spicy. In Seville's cafes and bars, you can order the popular Tinto de Verano, which translates to "red wine of summer". Tinto is an authentic alternative to Sangria. It is a simple mixture of red wine and lemon flavored soda or lemonade made with seltzer, served over ice. From Tinto, it is very easy to develop an Andalusian celebration with Spanish food and atmosphere.

Manchego cheese, Chorizo sausage and Serrano ham are easily found at gourmet or specialty markets. A Tempranillo red can be substituted for the Carro Tinto 2006 I discovered. Other regional specialties are available online at La Tienda. Here you can order the flavorful Bonita del Norte, an olive oil packed, line caught and hand packed tuna. Piquillo peppers can be stuffed with the tuna or crabmeat from your grocer. You might also serve them with just a drizzle of quality Spanish Olive Oil, for they are the sweetest roasted red peppers you will ever eat. Either way, garnish the peppers with stemmed Caperberries, Olives and Capers. Try the Vichy Catalan sparkling and mineral waters, which are ubiquitous in Andalusia's cafes. La Tienda has 71 appetizer and tapas recipes. My favorites for a happy hour include Avocado and Prawn Cocktail, Sizzled Shrimp, and Rioja Potatoes. They are easy to prepare but never fail to wow my guests. The tinto recipe below can be made for a self service bar by pouring the bottle of wine into a pitcher, adding a cup or so of sparkling lemonade or a can of Limonata and lemon slices.

TINTO de VERANO

Bottle of Tinto or Tempranillo wine
San Pellegrino Limonata, Sparkling lemonade or Lemon flavored soda
Lemon slices

1. Fill a tall, skinny glass with ice.
2. Add the red wine up to 2/3 full.
3. Top the wine with the Limonata
4. Garnish with a lemon slice.

At an Andalusian Tapas happy hour, Flamenco music is a must. If you are unfamiliar with this genre, Narada's Tabu and Obsession  compilations are a good place to start. Jesse Cook is one of the best contemporary flamenco guitarists and has just released Frontiers. If you are fortunate to live in a community that has a Flamenco presence, hire a local guitarist.

Think of the Flamencas costumes when determining your decor. Incorporate the ruffles and lace of the gypsy dancer. Polka dots in vibrant contrasting colors, such as those designed by Sally Russell, are a fresh Sevillanos touch versus typical fiesta stripes. Forgo cut stemmed flowers for potted blooming plants, similar to those displayed in Cordovan courtyards in May. Fans are great to have on hand so guests can cool themselves on the patio or to take with them as party favors.

With a little online shopping, a trip to your nearby gourmet market and a few hours of preparation, you can elevate the growing trend of tapas to a savory Andalusian experience for you and your guests.

Resources:

Carro Tinto 2006  www.madwine.com
Brody Cooler   www.cb2.com
Polka Dot Linens  www.sallyrussellstudio.com
White Paper Fans www.whiteaisle.com
Tapas: The Little Dishes Of Spain by Penelope Casas www.amazon.com
Tabu, Mondo Flamenco by Various Artists, Obsession - New Flamenco Romance by Various Artists and The Ultimate Jesse Cook by Jesse Cook www.narada.com