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Most people now are familiar with the term tapa (meaning cover) which is authentically a small, prepared dish used to cover a drink served in a Spanish bar. Now there are many tapas bars and restaurants serving what are referred to as small plates. In many parts of Spain and elsewhere in the Mediterranean, the dishes feature seafood and many vegetables.
Mezze, most commonly pronounced mez-eh or mez-ay, is a mediterranean and middle eastern meal, and on festive or special occasions may precede a meal as would appetizers. It consists of a collection of small tidbits or snacks. It is served at breakfast, lunch, tea and dinners. The mezze meal commonly includes bread, hummus, olives, olive oil, yogurt, cucumber, tomatoes, peppers in some / various forms, and cheese. It often includes stewed vegetables or meats, falafel - patties made of chickpea or fava, kofta - meatballs made with lamb and ground onion with spices, cured or grilled meats and greens. Honey, jams and sauces also have a presence. One of the enchanting things about this style of meal is that nothing needs to be prepared in large quantities (unless you're serving a crowd), and most of the meal requires minimal preparation.
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