"Tapa," from the Spanish tapar meaning "to cover," traditionally means a small snack whose purpose is to serve as an informal lid for one's cerveza to keep unwanted pests from taking a dip (that's flies we're talking about, not friends!). Here at Emiliano's, we refer to tapas conversationally as the small snacks that comes before a meal: appetizers. But when it comes to flavor, have no doubt, we've got you "covered."
What is a Tapa?
"The eating of tapas lies at the heart of Spanish tradition, where friends come together to share bowls of simple yet delicious morsels washed down with a glass of chilled sherry or wine.
The word "tapa" means literally "lid" in Spanish. This comes from the days when bar owners served their customers a drink with an edible lid placed over the glass to keep out the flies... from here grew the extraordinary variety of tapas found today in bars all over Spain, ranging from a simple bowl of marinated olives… to bubbling dishes of garlic prawns."
The Essential Mediterranean Cookbook
Tapas Calientes (hot tapas)
camarones pili pili
large shrimp sautéed in a spicy garlic and butter ajillo sauce with chili flakes and cayenne pepper
trio of stuffed tostones
three fried plantain “cups” filled with poblano olivada, beef picadillo, and crab meat
tortas de cangrejo
grilled lemon-tarragon crab cakes served with a spicy chipotle aioli
camarones “jerk”
large shrimp sautéed in our spicy sweet jerk sauce, served with amarillos and roasted red pepper aioli
camarones al ajillo
large shrimp sautéed in a garlic and butter ajillo sauce with red and green peppers
mejillones a la marinera
PEI mussels steamed in a white wine and garlic sauce finished with fresh basil and fire roasted tomatoes
vieras y chorizos al jerez
sea scallops and spanish sausage sautéed in a rich sherry sauce
almejas y chorizos al ajillo
little neck clams & spanish sausage sautéed in a garlic beurre blanc
empanadas
traditional fried stuffed pastry turnover with a daily selection of fillings
tostones full
“twice fried” green plantains, crunchy and golden, served with our garlicky “mojito”
amarillos full
sweet fried ripe plantains
yuca frita full $5/half
fried yuca wedges served with our garlicky “mojito”
patatas al ajillo
diced potatoes tossed with garlic, herbs and butter
escalivada
grilled vegetables served hot with olive oil and herbs, topped with parmesan cheese, and served with crisp pita points
alcachofas rellenas
spinach-ricotta stuffed artichoke hearts topped with a creamy béchamel sauce
patatas bravas
diced potatoes tossed in a spicy tomato sauce with garlic and fresh herbs
warm brie
in a spicy mango glaze served with pita chips
mediterranean flat bread
grilled flat bread topped with a rich black olive tapenade, artichoke hearts, fresh tomatoes, chopped basil, and parmesan cheese
arepitas
parmesan-corn griddle cakes with a choice of topping
crab stuffed portobello
baked portobello mushroom cap with a crabmeat stuffing, topped with queso blanco, served over a calabaza-jalapeño cream sauce
serrano flat bread
three bean pesto, caramelizes onion, asparagus, manchego cheese, and serrano ham
tortilla española
spanish omelet with potatoes, onions and spanish sausage
chorizos españoles
spanish sausage sauteed with cipped garlic, onions and peppers
Tapas Frias (cold tapas)
chips and salsa
black bean-corn salsa with toasted pita chips
tomato-jalapeno salsa with corn chips
alcachofas marinades
artichoke hearts marinated in an aromatic fresh herb vinaigrette served with pita toast
aceitunas aliñadas
marinated olives in olive oil, garlic and fresh herbs
ceviche de champiñones
marinated button mushrooms in olive oil with red onions, peppers, garlic and herbs
ensalada caprese
fresh mozzarella, sliced roma tomatoes, and basil herb mix drizzled with a balsamic-tamarind reduction
cheese plate
a selection of cheeses and seasonal fruit
ensalada de pollo al curri
our popular jamaican curry chicken salad served with green apple slices, grapes and pita toast
ensaladilla de salmon
atlantic salmon tossed with dill, capers, celery, roasted peppers, raspberry vinegar and olive oil served with pita chips
ceviche de vieras
scallops marinated in lime juice with cilantro, red onion, peppers and garlic
Porciones (portions)
porciones are single a la carte servings of some of our popular latin classics. these are perfect for paring with other tapas to create a special meal
arepas de maiz
a serving of three parmesan-yellow corn griddle cakes
churrasco
grilled sliced marinated flank steak topped with chimichurri
ropa vieja
shredded flank steak braised in a rich red wine-tomato sauce with onions and capers
Surtidos (samplers)
surtido de tapas fritas
yuca fries, amarillos, and tostones
surtido de tapas frias
aceitunas aliñadas, alcachofas marinadas, and ceviche de champiñones