The Spanish word tapa means "lid" or "cover." But tapas are also light appetizers or snacks eaten in Spain just after siesta to tide the stomach over until supper at 9 or 10 p.m. It is said that the concept of the tapa was born more than a century ago in the region of Andalucia, where innkeepers would place a slice of bread as a makeshift lid over a glass of sherry (the area's traditional beverage) to keep pesky fruit flies away. The Spanish soon started adding cheese, ham, chorizo and seafood to the bread, and Kansas Citians have imported the near-sacred ritual, recognizing the gastronomic and social virtues of eating a light meal while sipping a delectable wine with friends. La Bodega specializes in tapas. It's most fun to go with a group and order several communally. Some of the best are patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), aceitunas alinadas (a delightful melange of olives), tortilla espanola (a flat pancake made of egg, onion and potato) and alubias blancas (a paté of white beans and roasted red peppers), all of which taste riquissimo.
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