spain is for food lovers
There are several types of Spanish food we were able to enjoy during our tour. Here are a few of the most notable dishes I enjoyed on the trip:
Paella
Paella is a traditional dish of Spain. Pictured to the left is a seafood paella that we had at our first group dinner together. It is made with rice and seafood (served in the shell) combined with pieces of fish and a variety of seasonings.
There are several varieties of paella made, some include meats and chorizo sausage. As you may already know, they are all quite delicious!
Paella is a traditional dish of Spain. Pictured to the left is a seafood paella that we had at our first group dinner together. It is made with rice and seafood (served in the shell) combined with pieces of fish and a variety of seasonings.
There are several varieties of paella made, some include meats and chorizo sausage. As you may already know, they are all quite delicious!
Iberico Ham, Pata Negra, Jamon
Iberico ham is a not-to-be-missed treat in Spain (unless, of course, you're a vegetarian or kosher). Jamon is the Spanish word for ham and there are many types of jamon (Jamon Iberico is one). Also known as Pata Negra (translated: black foot), Iberico ham is the most expensive jamon and it melts in your mouth. It is totally worth the splurge. You will see jamon legs hanging in many restaurants and markets.
Manchego Cheese
Manchego cheese is very popular and easy to find in Spain. It is made from sheeps milk and comes from the La Mancha region.
Iberico ham is a not-to-be-missed treat in Spain (unless, of course, you're a vegetarian or kosher). Jamon is the Spanish word for ham and there are many types of jamon (Jamon Iberico is one). Also known as Pata Negra (translated: black foot), Iberico ham is the most expensive jamon and it melts in your mouth. It is totally worth the splurge. You will see jamon legs hanging in many restaurants and markets.
Manchego Cheese
Manchego cheese is very popular and easy to find in Spain. It is made from sheeps milk and comes from the La Mancha region.
Churros and Chocolate
Churros and chocolate are a treat eaten in Spain. The quality varies as you can see by the colors of the chocolate in the two pictures below (churros and porras). Churros are a fried dough and are typically served warm. The dough is squeezed through a star-shaped nozzle... sometimes churros are straight and sometimes they are curved. Regardless of their shape, they sure hit the spot for an afternoon snack.
Churros and chocolate are a treat eaten in Spain. The quality varies as you can see by the colors of the chocolate in the two pictures below (churros and porras). Churros are a fried dough and are typically served warm. The dough is squeezed through a star-shaped nozzle... sometimes churros are straight and sometimes they are curved. Regardless of their shape, they sure hit the spot for an afternoon snack.
Porras and Chocolate
Porras are much like churros but thicker. They are a fried dough and also somewhat star-shaped. They are served warm with chocolate. The chocolate is also warm and thicker than hot chocolate that we typically have in the U.S. It's more of a drinking chocolate and it's perfect for dipping.
Cafe con Leche
Cafe con Leche is coffee with milk. I had one with the porras and chocolate. It was the perfect balance to something sweet and gave me the caffeinated pep that I needed to keep me going for the rest of the afternoon.
Porras are much like churros but thicker. They are a fried dough and also somewhat star-shaped. They are served warm with chocolate. The chocolate is also warm and thicker than hot chocolate that we typically have in the U.S. It's more of a drinking chocolate and it's perfect for dipping.
Cafe con Leche
Cafe con Leche is coffee with milk. I had one with the porras and chocolate. It was the perfect balance to something sweet and gave me the caffeinated pep that I needed to keep me going for the rest of the afternoon.
Tapas
Tapas translates to "small plates" and describes a category of food served in Spain... similar to appetizers. Our group had them for a meal or two when we were in Spain. The picture below shows a few of the plates brought to our table one evening. It is easy to make a full meal from a few plates of tapas. Pictured below from left to right are bread (for the fois gras not pictured here), manchego cheese, jamon, and pa amb tomàquet (bread rubbed with olive oil and tomato).
Tapas translates to "small plates" and describes a category of food served in Spain... similar to appetizers. Our group had them for a meal or two when we were in Spain. The picture below shows a few of the plates brought to our table one evening. It is easy to make a full meal from a few plates of tapas. Pictured below from left to right are bread (for the fois gras not pictured here), manchego cheese, jamon, and pa amb tomàquet (bread rubbed with olive oil and tomato).
Pintxos
Pintxos (pinchos) are also very popular in some areas of Spain. They are small appetizers served on toothpicks. When you eat pintxos, you pay by the toothpick. It's a social way to snack and try a variety of items. The pintxos pictured to the right were ours to share at our wine tasting dinner. I believe they are jamon and cheese in the center, fois gras with a red pepper on the left, smoked salmon and caviar around the edges, and on the right it looks like one is tomato with an anchovy curled around the toothpick.
Pintxos (pinchos) are also very popular in some areas of Spain. They are small appetizers served on toothpicks. When you eat pintxos, you pay by the toothpick. It's a social way to snack and try a variety of items. The pintxos pictured to the right were ours to share at our wine tasting dinner. I believe they are jamon and cheese in the center, fois gras with a red pepper on the left, smoked salmon and caviar around the edges, and on the right it looks like one is tomato with an anchovy curled around the toothpick.
going to market
Fresh seasonal ingredients are a staple of life in Spain. The picture below was taken at a market; this vendor sold more than 20 different types of tomatoes! We visited a couple of markets in Barcelona and then a couple more in Madrid. At the market, you can find just about anything you need to cook a meal at home... and often assemble a meal on the spot. Markets are a feast for the senses and are definitely worth a visit when you travel.