Barcelona - May 17

Barcelona is the home of the tapa. I went last night with a friend to Maitea Taberna. Maitea has a slight twist on tapas. Maitea presents their food in the Basque style known as pinxtos 

Pinxtos are similar to tapas. Pinxtos are usually served on a slice of bread and secured with a toothpick. When you get finished, they add up the number of your toothpicks and charge you accordingly.

From wikipedia:

“A pincho (Spanish: [ˈpintʃo], literally "thorn" or "spike") or pintxo (Basque: [ˈpintʃo]) is a small snack,[1] typically eaten in bars, traditional in northern Spain and especially popular in the Basque country and Navarre.[2] They are usually eaten in bars or taverns as a small snack while hanging out with friends or relatives; thus, they have a strong socializing component, and in the Basque country and Navarre they are usually regarded as a cornerstone of local culture and society. They are related to tapas, the main difference being that pinchos are usually 'spiked' with a skewer or toothpick, often to a piece of bread. They are served in individual portions and always ordered and paid for independently from the drinks. It is not impossible, however, to have the same item called "pincho" in one place and "tapa" in other.”

We arrived at 8PM to an empty restaurant. By 9:30PM, the place was jumping with locals. Most locals in Barcelona don’t start eating dinner until around 9PM. Grab your plate and help yourself to cold pinxtos in a display case with access from the bar. Hot pinxtos must be ordered from the menu. As the evening progressed, waiters came by the table with a wide selection of hot pintos.

http://www.maitea.es