|
Overview
The
Spanish
cuisine
is one of the
world popular cuisines. Cooking in Spain is
based on two ingredients;
garlic and
olive oil
that are common in most Mediterranean
cuisines. But there are big variety of foods
special to Spain regarding the other
Mediterranean countries.
Dining is very
important for Spanish people. The variety of
food and drink in all regions of Spain will
definitely fascinate you in your
Spain
holidays. The sea food of north, the
rice of east, roasts of the central region,
hams and fries of south... Each region has
its own unique and traditional taste for the
visitors.
Spain’s
gastronomy is separated into six
conventional culinary segments. The North
region of Spain is mostly popular for
its sauces. The Pyrenees is
known for its chilindrones.
Andalucía region is popular for its
fried dishes. Central Spain is
known for its roast. The eastern
region is popular for its rice dishes
and Catalonia comes with its
cazuelas and casseroles.
In addition to
that, the Seafood of the
Cantabrian Sea has a big reputation at
the restaurants. Paella,
Gazpacho, Spanish Omelette and Fabada
are the world famous Spanish dishes. Also the
Spanish majestic stew that is known as
cocido, olla, pote and escudella
depending the regions is popular too.
What to
Eat?
The Spanish
words venta, posada, meson, casa de
comidas and fonda all means
"restaurant". Also the Tapas bars
serving both tapas and meals are considered
as restaurants. In all Spanish restaurants
there is a quality "meal of the day (menu
del dia)" and it includes 3 sort of dish
and a home made wine. Meal of the day is
only be found at the lunch times.
The restaurant
prices on the menus include the tax and the
tip but feel free to give a %5-10 as a tip
if you are happy with your meal. Same for
the bars and cafes. Also if you stand or sit
at the bar tables, you'll get a cheaper
bill than you sit on a table at the bars and
cafes.
Note that the
prices of the famous Spanish dish tapas may
be very expensive regarding the restaurant
and the type. It is the same with the sea
food about over 100 grams. It is better to
ask the price before you get tapas or sea
food at the restaurants.
Eating hours in
Spain are a bit late than the other European
countries. Lunch is between 2.00-3.00 p.m.
and dinner is between 9.00-10.00 p.m. in
Spain. Besides, you are able to find food in
every hour of the day in Spain especially at
the holiday destinations.
Breakfast
Breakfast is the
less important meal for the Spanish people.
A toast (tostada) or a sandwich
with a coffee is typical. If you like
sweets than you may have a fried sweet named
"churro" with your coffee or tea.
Besides, in many hotels there are open
buffets for the holidaymakers.
Lunch & Dinner
Paella is
popular Spanish dish that takes its name
from the black plate that the rice is cooked
with the meat juice. Paella is
one of the most obvious food to eat in
Spain. Paella originates from the
restaurants in the country and is probably
the best known dish to come from Spain.
It’s made from short grain rice and can
include a range of seafood or meat, as well
as vegetables such as peas and peppers. The
real Valencia paella is made from the meat
of chicken and rabbit.
Andalucía
soup is another popular dish made from
tomato, pepper, cucumber, onion and fried
bread. Tortilla is a famous Spanish
omelette worth to taste.
You may also try any Spanish
Tapas worthy of its name with
variety of tasty food such as pickles on
cocktail sticks, homely omelets, cheeses and
hams, baby earthenware casseroles with
sizzling hot dishes and elegant
mayonnaise-topped mouthfuls.
Regional
Tastes
Every
region in Spain has its own production of
sausage, cheese and the dish of meat and
vegetables named "cocido".
Galicia
Galicia is famous with the
sea food, especially with its octopus
(pulpo). Its vegetable soup (caldo
gallego), the dough dish (empanada)
made from meat or sea food, the "hams"
fried in turnip stems and the dishes made
with "red pepper" worth tasting.
Asturias
Asturias is famous with its stew (Fabada
asturiana) made from bean and sausage,
the whiting fish (merzula a la sidra)
with apple wine sauce and the blue cheese
(queso de Cabrales).
Basque
Country
Sea food is the most
popular dish in the Basque region. Morina
in hot garlic sauce (bacalao al pil pil),
little squid (chipirone), spicy
tuna fish (marmitako), meat stew
with tomato & potato and the whiting fish
with mussel & shrimp (merzula con
almejas y gambas) are the famous dishes.
Pyrenees
Meat dishes with chilidron sauce
(tomato, pepper, garlic, ham and wine),
horse meat and mountain trout fish
worth tasting.
Catalonia
Catalonia region is famous with its
esqueixada salad (fried or stewed
vegetables with olive oil), fried fish
with romesco sauce (hazelnut, red
pepper, tomato, garlic and small pieces of
bread), stew with sea food such as
zarzuela and suquet de peix.
Castille
Famous
Castille region menu include; sopa
castellana (soup with garlic, ham and
fried egg) as a starter, cochinillo asado
(dish wiyh pig) or cordero asado
(fried lamb meat).
East Coasts
East coasts are famous with Paella
and all kind of dishes with rice,
especially Valencia Paella is very famous.
La Mancha
La Mancha is famous with its tojunto
(rabbit stew), pisto manchego
(vegetable stew with onion, eggplant, tomato
and cabbage) and the popular lamb cheese
of manchego.
Extremadura
Extremadura
region is famous with its pig meat, lamb
meat and variety of sausages.
Andalucía
Andalucía
region's famous dishes include; gazpacho
and ajo blanco (made from grape,
garlic and almond), fritura mixta or
pescaito frito (a fish dish) and
huevos a la flamenca.
The Islands
Canary
Islands' famous specials include;
mojo picon (spicy red sauce) and mojo
verde (green sauce served with fish),
papas arrugadas (baked potato). In
Majorca, popular dish named tumbet
(stew with meat or fish or potato) worth
tasting.
Desserts
Creme caramel is the
most preferred dessert in Spain. Catalans
make other type of it (crema catalana)
with lemon and cumin.
Every
region has its own candy dessert named
yemas.
Drinks
Spain is a
leading producer of fine wines.
Spanish wines
are very
popular all around the world and one of
Spain's greatest gastronomic attractions. The oldest and
the most protected red wine
is Rioja.
Sangría
is a popular tourist drink made from red
wine, lemon & orange juice, mineral water,
sugar, fruit pieces and ice.
There are
variety of Spanish beer.
Spanish
people prefer do drink coffee (cafe)
than tea (te) and Spanish coffee is hard
one. |
