My favorite part of the tapas was the carillada guisada con patatas. It reminded me a lot of a dish my mom makes back home, called carne guisada. These two dishes resemble each other a lot, and they both came served in sauce with potatoes on the side. The carillada guisada was warm, comforting and very delicious.
Carillada guisada con patatas is prepared with pork cheeks, potatoes, onions, carrots, garlic, red wine, beef broth, olive oil, and salt, paprika and pepper! You start by seasoning the pork cheeks with the salt, paprika and pepper. In a large pot, the pork cheeks are then cooked on each side. Once they have browned, the carrots and onions are added, followed by the wine and beef broth. Last to go in are the potatoes, which need about 30 minutes to cook to be soft and soak up all the delicious broth. Carillada guisada takes a total of around two and a half hours to make, but it is so delicious that it is well worth the wait!
In Spain, tapas are more than just food... they're a way of life. Sharing tapas is all about getting together with friends or family, going from one cozy restaurant to another, trying out different dishes,and having a great time chatting. This fun tradition is called ir de tapas (going for tapas). This ritual perfectly captures the Spanish way of enjoying good food and good company. Tapas provides a way to have a relaxed and enjoyable meal. Spaniards often have tapas as a light snack before the late dinner or as a full meal made up of a variety of delicious tapas.
