by Luke Gregory (Nooch Co-founder) There are two popular theories to the origins of Tapas. The first dates all the way back to 1222-1284, When Alfonso X of Castille ordered that taverns would not be allowed to serve wine to customers unless it was accompanied by a small snack or "tapa". This was after he himself, recovered from an illness by drinking wine with small dishes of food in-between. The more modern theory states that King Alfonso X111 (1886-1941) stopped by a tavern where he ordered a glass of wine. The waiter covered the glass with a small slice of cured ham, a tradition believed to have become popular to stop, sand, dust and flies entering the wine. Apparently on finishing both the wine and ham, he ordered another wine "con la tapa"("with the cover"). Perhaps both played their part, but either way, it shaped a way of eating for centuries to come.
I can still remember my first taste of Tapas. At twenty two years of age, I had not long been a chef, and ventured out into the hustling streets of London on a very rare break. It had been one of the many grueling 90 hour weeks of constant, stressful, fast-paced and repetitive graft. On this particular day, I was at the end of an eighteen day stint in the kitchen. I had just had a royal rollicking from the head chef (due to the fault of my hungover section leader, another common sight in the kitchen), I was exhausted, broken and ready to call it quits on the career I had worked so hard on learning.
You would think being a chef that I must have eaten like a king. This unfortunately is far from the truth. Back when I was learning the ropes of my craft, it was expected that you would work through breaks, and break your back working unpaid overtime in the pursuit for perfection. Mix this expectation with the overly masculine bravado of who can work the hardest and longest and you have the perfect recipe for the complete neglect of self care.
However on this day, I decided I would take a break, clear my mind and have a hard long think about whether this was the career for me. Sitting in a small park next to Smithfield's market, surrounded by squirrels harassing for scraps, head in hands and belly rumbling, I decided what I needed was my first sit down meal in those last eighteen days.
Photo credit: Gary.williams@OurWorldforYou.com
This is where I would gather my thoughts, and befriend the local squirrel population.
Fun fact: One of the James bond car chases goes straight through Smithfield's.
A short stroll away I came across a little restaurant, people were outside in the sun laughing, sharing bottles of wine and nibbling snacks from little bowls of food. It was close to where I worked, so was convenient for getting back in time for the evening service. A waiter quickly seated me on the last remaining table outside like I requested and asked if I had eaten tapas before, to which I sheepishly answered no. It was like I had made his day, a huge smile beamed across his face as he told me how I was in for a treat, that he would guide me through the menu and help me pick a well balanced and rounded meal. He suggested 4 plates, his family favorites, and pointed to these on the menu. I ordered a glass of red wine to feel civilized and cast my eye over the enormous amount of choice whilst he went to pour. I was amazed about the number of little plates of food that was on offer and wanted to try everything. By the time the waiter returned with my wine, I had selected his four recommended dishes, plus a further four!
You must bear in mind that this was over ten years ago. So these next words come from a place when I was in a very different place and though I no longer consume animal products, it does not change the way I felt a decade ago.
Now you could call this greedy, but that was the point... I felt like I needed to indulge and treat myself for once. I had ordered a mixture of dishes: squid, sea bass, chorizo, chicken, patatas brava, Padron peppers, garlic mushrooms, and chickpeas. I could smell the food before I saw it and that alone was enough to make you salivate, and dish by dish, the waiter came with that huge smile upon his face as he presented and described the food. Each dish being quickly devoured of every morsel before the next...
The taste, the smell, the sight, the enthusiasm and joy from the waiter. That is what I had been missing, I had forgotten what cooking was all about. I had forgotten what food was all about. Why I had fallen so in love with food in the first place. It wasn't about making sure each single element was as perfect as it could be. Food was about enjoying the process, enjoying the moment, and sharing that joy with the people you love.
For me that greed, led my mind to become more balanced, it was invigorating and revitalizing. I mopped my mouth with the checkered napkin, belly full, sat back and smiled for what felt like the first time in a long time. I went back to work that night with a spring in my step, hungry to learn more, and with a new found enthusiasm to learn about as many cuisines as possible. The start of my dining journey had truly began, and it is why, to this day, Tapas shall always put a smile in my heart.
Photo Credit: @FoxandBriar | Patatas Bravas
September the 8th & 9th we host our very own indulgent all you can eat Tapas night. Which I am personally so excited about. Not only do I get to share my passion, I now get to put our plant-based spin on the menu. Although the 8th is looking fully booked, there is still space for Saturday the 9th. So if you want to come and take a trip down my personal memory lane, get yourself booked in!