I first fell in love with tapas during a summer study abroad program during college. I spent a month in Granada, also visiting Seville, Córdoba, Ronda, Nerja and Madrid. I think fondly of enjoying tapas while having a glass of wine. As I’ve mentioned in several of my blogs, I love food. Sampling new cuisine has always been one of my favorite aspects of travel. When I’m not able to explore a new destination, I like to try new restaurants in my own city. Over the weekend my boyfriend and I went to Tinto in Philadelphia. The Jose Garces restaurant is located in the Rittenhouse section of the city and boasts a tapas-inspired menu of small plates. Of the Garces restaurants I’ve patronized, including Amada and Garces Trading Co., I found Tinto to have the best ambiance. The space is dimly lit. It feels intimate but inviting, with multiple seating options. We sat at the bar, which is separated from the rest of the dining room by a large wall serving as a wine rack, with the center portion of the structure filled with corks. After ordering wine and cider, respectively, we started the meal with a meat and cheese plate and house-smoked Marcona almonds. The almonds were such a delicious surprise, and we discussed ways to recreate the smoky-flavored snack on our own. Next came octopus with olive aioli and spicy tomato. It was my favorite dish of the night. Spiced meatballs on skewers with a poached egg and pork loin with green onions were then served. Although we were getting full, we inquired about the lamb skewers we ordered. Our waiter forgot to put in the order, but we decided this was probably for the best. We continued slowly sipping our drinks as we didn’t have to rush to our evening plans. A few minutes later, the waiter brought out our lamb, on the house, apologizing for missing it. We were glad he did — it was divine. It was cooked perfectly with bacon in a rich, creamy sherry sauce. Tinto is a great spot to enjoy a taste of Spain in Philadelphia. — Katie Skrzek, digital media manager