World Tapas Day: 9 must-eat tapas dishes

A Venetian take on tapas, cicchetti are small dishes often served while standing at the bar, accompanied by a glass of wine. Typical cicchetti include crostini - small open sandwiches with various toppings - freshly prepared sarde in saor - sardines in a tangy onion and vinegar sauce - as well as polpette (fried meatballs). Polenta is also the star of many cicchetti dishes, being combined with salted cod, or simply sliced and grilled. As you travel from Venice to Rome by rail, you’ll easily find bàcari (traditional Venetian taverns) and most restaurants serving cicchetti.

One of the most popular foods in traditional Portuguese cuisine, Pastéis de Bacalhau can be enjoyed at snack bars, restaurants, delicatessens and everywhere in between - for good reason! These bite size fritters combine deep fried potatoes and bacalhau (dried salted cod) with onion and parsley, and can be eaten hot or cold. Discover the highlights of Spain and Portugal for an opportunity to try these moreish fishcakes.

Claimed to be a Catalan creation, pan tumaca was designed to keep hungry farmers going until dinner time. The simple combination of toasted bread, juicy tomato pulp, olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt makes it the perfect light snack at a bar, or a side dish. However, it can also be enjoyed with cured meats, cheeses, and tortillas right across Spain.

Fideuà is a variation of paella, using short spaghetti-style pasta called fideos instead of rice. Featuring a classic seafood base of squid and prawns, it’s as fragrant and colourful as a classic paella. Traditionally, it’s cooked over an open fire outdoors - you’ll also find it in many restaurants in Barcelona. The rich tomato and pepper sauce combined with the seafood stock makes it flavourful and warming, perfect for both hot and cold weather.