Good Things Come in Small Packages

Apologies for the long absence of new posts. I've been back from Barcelona for nearly two weeks already, but my time at work has been monopolized by the inevitable game of catch-up and overtime. And right now, my cats are not making this any easier by parading between me and my laptop and licking my face and fingers.

Another deterrent was the fact that I had ambitious plans for this first post upon my return -- ambitions that weren't matched by my energy level or mental capacity. Winter has descended upon us and this season has a way of sucking the life out of me.

But I digress. The trip to Barcelona assured me that the architectural splendor of the city has remained intact over the past decade and bold plans are already underway to further transform the landscape. Its coastline and natural charms are as beautiful as ever -- what Canuck wouldn't get deliriously giddy at the sight of palm trees in a busy, metropolitan centre? We were given ample opportunity to wine and dine until ready to burst. The conference hotel rooms were equipped with bathroom scales which the women promptly utilized to depress or reassure themselves about their rate of consumption. My scale was conveniently broken and lied to me about my weight, which suited me just fine.

Regrettably, some foul first-hand experiences with crime as well as second-hand reports of incidents from colleagues left a bitter aftertaste. It threatened to spoil the entire experience for me and now I'm not so sure I would want to go back there a third time.

Which would be a real shame given that the sins of the few shouldn't damn everybody or everything.

Spanish tapas is something that I already miss a great deal. Tapas isn't so much a style of cuisine as it is an approach to eating that differs from the regimented meal schedule that North Americans are programmed to follow. For one thing, Spaniards eat later in the day, having lunch between 1:00-4:00pm and dinner between 9:00pm-12:00am. The lateness of the last meal encourages a reduction in portion size -- going to bed with a full belly is as uncomfortable as it is unhealthy. This is in stark contrast to the massive production that is usually "dinner" in North America.

The word "tapas" originates from "tapar", which means "to cover" in Spanish. (Spanish-speakers, please correct me immediately if I'm talking out of my ass.) The consumption of tapas is inextricably linked to the imbibing of alcohol. In my research, I've consistently come across two stories about the origin of tapas: (1) the practice was decreed in the 13th century by King Alfonso X of Castile (aka Alfonso the Wise) who credited his recovery from an illness to a diet of small portions and wine; consequently, wine could no longer be served anywhere in the land without a bite of food, and (2) it became customary to cover a glass of wine with a slice of bread or cheese, either to keep out offending contaminants like sand or bugs, or to hold in the funky smell of bad wine. While I like anyone who advocates drinking wine, I think I prefer the second explanation. El mundo de las Tapas has a much more detailed history of tapas (and recipes!) for anyone interested in reading further.

Catalan food is typified by marvelous variations of Iberian pork -- cooked, cured, dried -- and delicious seafood. Oddly enough, guidebooks state that the seafood sold in Barcelona is mostly imported despite local fisheries along the Catalan coast. I couldn't tell, judging from the superb hake, cod, squid and anchovies I sampled. Paella, of course, was a dietary requirement for me while I was there. It was always moist, flavorful and crammed with monstrously huge prawns, chorizo, saffron and other goodies.

Spaniards don't have a patent on the idea of serving several small dishes instead of one heavy meal. The Chinese have dim sum (I'm planning to take a dim sum cooking course next year!). Greeks, Cypriots, Turks, Lebanese, Albanians, Serbians and Bulgarians have meze or mezze. Filipinos have pica-pica and coincidentally, even a cured beef dish called tapa. Japanese kaiseki cuisine has a tapas-like structure, consisting of an array of small dishes; Japanese pottery is resplendent with gorgeous, tiny plates designed specifically for this.

And why shouldn't this be a global phenomenon? Eating lots of small dishes throughout the day is accepted by many as a healthier alternative to overloading on food three times a day. I think smaller portions also force you to stop and taste what you're putting in your mouth. You can't just scarf it down. Like a Fabergé egg, there's something precious and charming about a small thing that still requires as much effort and skill to prepare as something bigger.

My friend Ireen has taken beautiful photographs of the food we had in Barcelona. She's a far more skilled photographer than I am, so hopefully she'll either post them publicly or let me post a few here for your enjoyment. I'll keep you posted.