How to Host an Easy Tapas Dinner Party

This post is sponsored  by The Fifth Empire Wine Co. All ideas and opinions are my own.

In this post, we are answering common questions about a tapas party; what to serve, how much to serve and some of our favorite dish ideas.

In Portugal, small plates of food are often referred to as petiscos. While in other parts of the world, you may hear these family style plates of food referred to as tapas. No matter what you call these small plates of deliciousness, they are perfect for sharing over a glass of wine or two with great friends. Today, we are sharing our favorite tips for hosting a tapas style dinner, made complete with our favorite Portuguese wine, Destino from The Fifth Empire Wine Co.

Tapas Dinner Party- The Basics

So, what exactly do you need to pull together a tapas dinner party?

1^st– A tapas menu

A variety of small dishes designed to share.

2^nd– Small dishes and plates for serving each recipe

Keep this process simple; use whatever dishes that you have on hand, even if they’re mis-matched.

3^rd– Wine & wine glasses

Choose at least one red, and one white wine to serve. In addition to wine, offer guests ice water and a non-alcoholic beverage option (i.e. iced tea or a mocktail). Set out glassware, wine openers and cocktail napkins, along with your beverages, in a designated self-serve area.

4^th– Plates, silverware and serving pieces (i.e. spoon, forks, and/or tongs)

Set all of these pieces either on your dinner table itself, or on a nearby buffet for simple serving.

How many tapas make a meal?

How many dishes should you serve for dinner? Since tapas dishes are designed to be shared, 6-8 for a table of 8-10 guests is generally enough. If you are concerned about serving enough food, increase the serving size for each tapas dish, serve fresh bread, and offer an assortment of desserts.

What to Serve at a Tapas Party

This is age-old question whenever planning a dinner party; what should I serve? For a tapas dinner party, choose at least 2 proteins, 1-2 vegetarian options, several other accompaniments, and wine. For our Portuguese inspired dinner party, we served clams in white wine sauce, Portuguese sausage, garlic shrimp, marinated carrots, stuffed olives, fried calamari and freshly sliced bread.

And then of course, we poured both red and white Destino Fifth Empire Wines. Tip: Choose and prepare at least ½ of your tapas recipes before guests arrive, to maximize time spent with friends and family. Chilled items, vegetable or olive dips or marinated items that can be served at room temperature are some of my pre-made favorites.

My favorite part of this dinner party style is its relaxed nature. I love that you can enjoy a meal at your own pace outdoors, enjoying a glass of Destino. I mean….does it really get much better!?