Thursday Life stopped by our little piece of Greece, last Thursday, to get a taste of the culinary offerings of Brazilian chef Fernanda Pinheiro — who was chef/restaurateur of her own eatery Terra Brasilis in Sardinia — for the launch of Tapas, the newest weekend foodie allure at OPA! Santorini Skylounge. Tapas are savoury snacks, canapés or small servings that originated in Spain — served hot or cold, and by tradition, with wine or beer — originally to encourage conversation in an informal dining setting.

“After years of giving you Greek food, it’s now time for Tapas! Tapas originated in Spain, and are small plates, quick servings that you can have while enjoying wine and beer, say, with friends. We have Fernanda from Brazil doing Spanish-Brazilian tapas every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Santorini Skylounge,” gushed OPA! Director Alexx Antaeus.

It was this Spanish-Brazilian combination of flavours that attracted Prime Minister Holness and his wife Juliet, Member of Parliament for St Andrew East Rural, to enjoy tapas over conversation with diplomats from the South American community in Jamaica. Whether it was the octopus salad, crostini de mozzarella y pesto, crostini with caramelised onions, feta and bacon; shrimp vol-au-vents – French puff pastry shells filled with shrimp and tartar sauce and garnished with fresh parsley; or the mussels alla marinara, there were several tasty tapas thanks to the shy and unassuming chef, who specialises in the fusion of Brazilian, Italian and Spanish tapas, and told Thursday Life that “…everything is fresh and made in Jamaica, a fusion of Spanish-Brazilian tapas with an Italian kick.”