Photo: Larry&Flo

Admitted! I always considered tapas to be a passing fad. Like sushi and club sandwiches. Something people gorge for two seasons before they jump on a new trend and forget all about small Spanish anchovies. Coming to Madrid, I realized this was an arrogant prejudice. After two days in town I was totally in love with the small dishes and three days later, I was addicted. Tapas is genius. Especially in Spain, where dinner is served so close to midnight that food lovers like me would die from hunger if it wasn’t for these delicious appetizers. They are available all over town; even the most humble little taberna has a broad selection of salted cod fish, sardines and rings of battered squid.

After the first euphoria, where I could swallow Pimientos - the peppers stuffed with meat or tuna – like others eat candy, I got more selective. Discovered the difference between an average Empanadilla and a top class Empanadilla, where the pastry is properly crunchy.