photo via Vanielje Kitchen

For me, the word tapas has a Pavlovian response and immediately my mouth starts watering thinking about tiny little dishes of croquettes, little grilled veggies, delicious seviche and omfg bacon-wrapped dates! As hedonistic as a three-hour meal sounds, the entire principle behind tapas is actually pretty healthy. Instead of rushing through everything, you're eating smaller bites, concentrating on flavors and textures, chewing more slowly, all of which gives your noggin time to hear your tummy's fullness cue. In addition, a perfect tapas spread involves all a little bit of food groups, so even if you're not a vegetable fan, the lack of commitment to any one flavor means that you're more likely to get a variety of vities. And most tapas recipes are following the Mediterranean diet, so you've got automatic portion control of diverse elements and enough variety that it's impossible to get bored. If you don't have a Spanish grocery store near you, La Tienda has everything you'd need for the true Barcelona experience. Need more convincing? Check out these ten great ideas for tapas!

• Avocado, Fig and Serrano Ham salad served in small quantities? Delightful!

• Spanish tortilla is not what you think: try frittata not flatbread.

• Get your shellfish fix with sauteed scallops with saffron lemon sauce.

• I already know that my weekend is going to involve making Deb's lentil with chorizo and jamon chip salad.

• Grilled Eggplant, Tomato and Goat Cheese will please your inner vegetarian.

• Working with fresh clams seems scary but steamed in white wine and tomatoes, they are so easy and delicious that it's worth getting over your trepidation.
  
  
• Escalivade is an authentic Catalan recipe (and bonus, vegan!) that's almost like ratatouille.
  
  
• You might think you hate beets, but Mario Batali will convince you otherwise with these amazing roasted beet bruschetta.
  
  
• Nothing says yum like the sweet and savory mix of cheese and fruit but balsamic adds another element in these Parmesan-stuffed Figs with Balsamic Reduction.
  
  
• You already know how I feel about bacon-wrapped dates, but up the ante with some sherry-soaked prunes wrapped in bacon.