Where to find Spanish Tapas in Buenos Aires

Originally, bar owners in Spain would put small plates on top of the glasses of wine or beer to keep the fruit flies and flaking paint from the ceiling from taking a bath in the patron’s brew. It seemed like a good idea to put some olives, cheese and Ibérico ham on top of the little plates. The patrons thought having the little bits of food as a bonus was a good idea. They drank more beer. And everyone was happy.

It’s likely that Spain wasn’t the only country where the bar owners were serving up salty food to beer drinkers during the 15th century. But, for our money, cured ham and Manchego cheese is a better accompaniment to a libation than salty peanuts.