Food and Drinks in Spain..

Food-and-Drink:General

From the cold refreshment of Gazpacho in Andalucia to the warm comfort of Paella in Valencia a culinary tour of Spain will please even the most discriminating palate. Indulging in regional specialties while you travel in Spain is one of the most pleasurable opportunities during your Spanish vacation.

The primary cultural difference you will find during your trip to Spain is perhaps the meal times. The traditional siesta is still observed nationwide, you will do best to honor the tradition and partake in a long and leisurely mid-day meal. For those who have a hard time adjusting to the late dinner hours, you may wish to sample ’’tapas’’ during the early evening hours, as most restaurants do not commence the evening dinner meal until about 9:00 p.m.

Every region in Spain offers its own unique specialty, but in general Spanish food is prepared using a variety of fresh seasonal ingredients including lamb, cod, cured hams, chicken, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, beans, rice, olives, avocado, oranges, lemons, limes, papaya, bananas and fresh herbs and spices.

Spanish tradition follows a dietary schedule of breakfast at 8:00 a.m. consisting of a roll or pastry with jam and butter and milk-rich coffee, a mid-morning snack of pastries and tea at 11 a.m. 1:00 p.m. is time for mid-day tapas, similar to an omelet with fresh vegetables and regional cheeses.

2 or 3:00 p.m. is time to indulge in a long, leisurely lunch called ’La Comida’, generally consisting of 3 courses and followed by a nap. Then Merienda a light snack with tea at 5 or 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. evening tapas can include pate and cheese, fried calamaris or ham croquets. Finally La Cena or dinner at 9 or 10 p.m. which is another 3 course event.

You can imagine this tradition will certainly not leave you wanting for any of the country’s specialty dishes. There are plenty of opportunities to sample the fare and enjoy each and every one of them.

The variety of cuisine in Spain alone is as diverse as the dialects spoken there. A tour of Spain will provide the ideal setting to sample some of its most famous and delicious dishes.

Spain is in line behind France and Italy as one of the world’s leading producers of wine. It is also consumed with as much frequency in Spain as in other wine producing nations. Internationally Spain is recognized for its Sherry. Beer has only recently become popular in Spain, and is often served in combination with tapas. Perhaps the most famous of Spanish liquers is brandy, but as with everything in Spain, each region has its own.

It’s important to remember that over indulgence and public drunkenness is deemed highly irresponsible and should be avoided while touring Spain, as you would in any other country.

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