“Don’t eat the peanuts on the bar!” my Mother exclaimed, as my little hand reached for a dish piled high with the salted treats. Little known to me then was the fact that this is where one of the most loved Spanish cuisines had its humble origins. Each Tapas dish, with their unique flavours and composition reflect the personality of the individual Spanish hotel owners who have served these little dishes for more than 700 years. The word ‘Tapas’, derived from the Spanish word ‘tapar’ meaning “to cover” is believed by many to refer to an old practice of covering sherry with a slice of bread so as to keep out fruit flies. From there it became tradition to add small snacks atop the bread. The modern day experience of tapas in small terracotta dishes has been attributed to the obvious space constraints of crowded bars.

From it's emergence as a humble bar snack, tapas began to take on international influence and significance. The Roman occupation of the Iberian peninsula added olives amongst other ingredients, and the Moors in the 8th century introduced almonds, dates, citrus and spices. The discovery of the Americas also herald in the era of many tomato and maze based dishes which have come to represent the very essence of the tapas dish.

  Today you would be hard pressed to find a bar anywhere in the world that was not serving tapas in one form or another. From the salted peanuts that my mother warned me about, to sizzling salt and pepper squid and Spanish meatballs, there is a tapas dish to suit just about any taste or occasion.

Essential Ingredient Rozelle is one of Sydney's premier suppliers of Graupera tapas dishes and serving platters to restaurants and venues, and also offers these items to retail customers. We also stock a comprehensive range of ingredients from saffron threads to sweet smoked paprika.

Tapas dishes are available in a range of sizes starting from $3.95. You can also enjoy a 30% discount on the entire Graupera range.