The Spanish tradition of tapas has a long and storied history dating all the way back to the 10th century.
Legend has it that when King Alfonso fell ill, his course of treatment included small plates of food taken periodically with wine. Once recovered, the Epicurean royal made "tapa" the rule of the land.
Makes sense.
Anyone who's been on a bender knows that a belly based with crusty bread, fatty cheeses and rich meats is a far more stable being than an empty vessel filled with booze.
And in these fledgling smoke-free days in Philly, what could a more satisfying solution to ward off bad habits than reaching for chorizo or goat cheese, rather than another Marlboro?
So it's with good reason that tapas has made a second coming among trendy party people, bar hoppers and savvy restaurateurs nationwide. (Remember its first go-round in the '90s?)Regardless, the difference is, today's tapas comes with varying accents, adding more options to the mix.
Amada
Restaurateur and executive chef Jose Garces owns tapas in Philadelphia. Sure, there are tons of places serving up savory sides with well-considered cocktails. But Garces' places remains in a league of its own. His cavernous Old City restaurant is at once authentic, innovative, stylish and lively. And most importantly, even while spirited flamenco dancers stomp and spin, the food here is always the big draw. Memorable pulpo callegro (Spanish octopus) and gambas al aijillo (garlic shrimp) pair perfectly with artisanal Spanish olives, spicy potatoes and melon con jamon. Amada, 217-219 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, 215.625.2450; www.amadarestaurant.com
Bar Ferdinand
It's not fair. Northern Liberties now has more than its fair share of killer restaurants that are as much a bar scene as a place to eat. Enter Bar Ferdinand. It's here in this hipster hang where Spanish wines and old-world beers are made more memorable when matched with small plates of grilled watermelon and flanked modestly with aged ham and topped in tarragon. Boccadillos come in the way of mini sandwiches fixed with a variety of fillings. And basic Spanish flan is anything but, with stepped up varieties and variations that are made even better when ordering another round of Alhambra Especials. Bar Ferdinand, 1030 N 2nd St., [Liberties Walk], Philadelphia, 215.923.1313; www.barferdinand.com
Red Sky Lounge
Tapas by any other name is sometimes called dim sum. And at this sleek Old City lounge, glowing in crimson hues, sample interesting takes on Amer/Asian small plates in the way of pepper crusted Ahi tuna and pomegranate-glazed BBQ ribs. Wash it all back with a carafe of white cosmos or another house signature elixir and drink in the scene. Red Sky, 224 Market St., Philadelphia, 215.925.8080; www.redskylounge.com
Fork
Restaurateur Ellen Yin can single handedly be held responsible for the single-syllable restaurant name craze of late. And who can blame the copycats? Yin cooks up a successful scene set in stylish but comfortable digs and pairs it all with New American cuisine that marries European and Asian flavors with seamless dexterity. These days, Fork expands its repertoire with select tapas served at its sophisticated bar. Additionally, a mid-day menu bridges the gap between lunch and dinner and weekend late-nighters can nibble until 1 a.m. Fork, 306 Market St., Philadelphia, 215.625.9425; www.forkrestaurant.com
