Salted Almonds

The cheerful ritual of having little snacks washed down with wine or sherry every day before meals is an inseparable part of the Spanish way of life. Unless you count the English predilection for tea drinking there is nothing to compare with this passionate happy hour that takes place in bars the length and breadth of Spain at lunchtime and in the evening.

Tapa means cover and, according to my chum Miguel, in former times bar owners would give their customers a slice of bread