About La Tapa Lounge
The history and origin of Spanish Tapas originated in Andalucia, a southern province of Spain. The word "tapa" translates as "cover". Tapas traditionally may have been a complementary piece of sliced ham served on top of a glass of wine, but we know them today as small portions of food commonly served as a snack before lunch or dinner. Tapas can be as simple as a bowl olives or more hearty, such as slices of Serrano ham.
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The tapa was born when, due to an illness, the Spanish King Alfonso X, the Wise, had to take small bites of food with some wine between meals. Once recovered from the disease, the wise King, decreed that no wine was to be served in any of the Inns iin the land of Castile, unless accompanied by something to eat. This was a wise precaution to counteract the adverse effects of alcohol on those people who could not afford to buy a nourishing meal and drink alcohol at the same time.
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Kenny Snyder
Kenny Snyder is an Asheville native. He has been in the restaurant
industry for 23 years. He has corporate management training,
competitive and classic bar knowledge, and enjoys serving the community.
For many years Kenny pursued a career in entertainment, but
being a father kept him close to home. He found a passion for
bartending and decided to focus his time and energy in the bar
business so he could stay close to his family.
After earning his degree in business. He began to crave a new
adventure. He found himself drawn to the beautiful city of Black
Mountain. This is where he decided he would embark on a new journey. He and his business partner found a location, and they have now opened La Tapa!
Jhonathan Nungaray
Jhonathan Nungaray was born in Barcelona, Spain. He spent a lot of his
life traveling the world and experiencing food that helped to solidify his
passion for cooking. Jhonathan grew up with his mother in Mexico City
where food was bright, fun, and full of flavor. When he puts out his
dishes, they always have hints of these vibrant colors and bold flavors
he discovered as a child.
Jhonathan has been cooking in a professional setting for 17 years. He
started his culinary journey in the small family-owned kitchen at
Mamacitas in downtown Asheville. Under his leadership, and
management Mamacitas was named best restaurant in the Mountain Express.
From there Jhonathan furthered his expertise as the sous chef of Indigo
Hotel. He remained with Indigo until he landed the head chef position
at Twisted Laurel. He has helped create a brand that is well known
across Asheville and the surrounding areas as a wonderful date night,
hangout, and has even turned its locations into beautiful event venues
that compete with the cities best in the business.
Jhonathan has wanted to own his own restaurant for many years. When
presented with the opportunity to join the beautiful community of
Black Mountain, he felt this was an opportunity he could not refuse.
Bienvenido a La Tapa
