The combo plate as a way to save money

The combo plate, a necessity that has become a tradition.

The combined dish was born in 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, as a way to bypass the restrictions imposed on single-dish meals and represents a social and cultural response to the specific circumstances that were being experienced.

It all started when a measure called 'Single Dish Day' was implemented, where restaurants and all the hospitality sector had to offer only one dish on the 1st and 15th of each month for the price of a full menu, and part of the money collected went to charity. The other part was used for war expenses and to help the population.

This time restriction was moved to be on Fridays, which led the restaurateurs to get creative, and they decided to combine all the foods contained in a daily menu into that single dish, so that customers could get more variety of food for what they paid, without breaking the law.

The consolidation of the combo plate

In 1960, Spain experienced a period of rapid tourist and economic growth, and this led the Ministry of Information and Tourism in 1965 to require hoteliers to offer set meals at moderate prices, including bread, a drink, and dessert as part of the local cuisine, and to call them 'tourist set meals'.

This one never became a hit, and in 1970 they decided to change its name again to 'daily combo plate' and took advantage of this change to announce to the press the benefits this dish would have, since it wasn't famous due to its lack of 'glamour.' That’s why they decided to say that in all cafeterias and restaurants of any category, one could find a thoroughly complete meal at a fair price for everyone.

During the following periods, the combined plate was already considered an affordable, quick, and economical option, especially in neighbourhood bars, cafés, roadside restaurants, and restaurants near workplaces.

After all, the mixed plate represents a tradition that arose from a historical need and has evolved over the years, and today it is still one of the main dishes you can find on a restaurant menu.