Tapas tips, tastes at Speak!

Spanish tapas. It’s the food that Anthony Bourdain called “the best food in the Western world,” the small plate-shared meal often eaten standing or informally sitting with friends and family.

Of course, you’ve been to Mas, but now’s your chance to learn more about the Spanish culinary tradition, as Speak! Language Center in the back of the Glass Building off the Downtown Mall will be holding a special Art of Spanish Tapas tasting workshop Friday, April 16 from 7-9pm.

Local chef Marisa Catalano will be on hand to prepare the tapas and showcase traditional recipes, such as authentic gildas, chorizo al jerez, tortilla espa±ola, Basque pintxos, jam³n ib©rico and Catalan pa amb tom quet. Jane Gregg of Epicurean Ways, a Spanish food and wine travel company, will share the history of tapas and explain the social function of the practice. And Market Street Wineshop owner Robert Harllee, just back from Spain, will share some dining tales and recommend some Spanish wines.

The cost of the evening is $45 per person and you can reserve a spot on the Speak! website or drop by the Center at 313 2nd St. S.E., Suite 109.