General
Meals are an extremely
important social activity in Spain, whether that means eating out late
at night or having large family gatherings for lunch. Although Spain is
faster paced than it once was, few Spaniards race through a meal on the
way to an appointment.
The food in Spain is varied;
the portions are generous and the prices, by Northern European
standards, are low. A recommended economy option is to ask for the daily
menu, (Menu de Dia). Whenever possible, try the regional specialties,
particularly when you visit the Basque country or Galicia.
In general, Spanish meals will
contain more olive oil than a British family might be used to, but
believe me you do not need to be long in Spain to adjust to the
Mediterranean style of cooking.
Many fish restaurants in Spain
close on Monday, so be sure to check ahead. Hotel dining rooms are
generally open 7 days, and there's always something open in such big
cities as Madrid and Barcelona or tourist areas like the Costa del Sol.
Generally, reservations are not necessary, except at popular, top-notch
restaurants.
Meals
Breakfast
-- In Spain the day starts with a continental breakfast of coffee,
hot chocolate, or tea, with assorted rolls, butter, and jam. (This
is the only meal in which bread is eaten with butter). Spanish
breakfasts might also consist of churros (fried fingerlike
doughnuts) and hot chocolate that is very sweet and thick. However,
most Spaniards simply have coffee, usually strong, served with hot
milk: either a café con leche (half coffee, half milk) or
cortado (a shot of espresso "cut" with a dash of milk). If you
find it too strong and bitter for your taste, you might ask for a
more diluted café americano.
Lunch
-- The most important meal of the day in Spain. It traditionally
included three or four courses, beginning with a choice of soup or
several dishes of hors d'oeuvres called entremeses. Often a
fish or egg dish was served after this, then a meat course with
vegetables. These days modern health conscious Spanish families
choose a more moderate diet, in line with northern European habits.
Wine is always part of the meal. Dessert is usually assorted fruit
or caramel cream, followed by coffee. Restaurants, particularly in
the tourist areas, offer a wide range of desserts, including exotic
ice cream variations and pastries. Lunch is served from 1 to 4pm,
with "rush hour" at 2pm.
Tapas
– tasty, freshly prepared, individual dishes, usually on display,
and served rapidly, very often at the counter, are one of the
outstanding features of Spanish tapa bars. They are usually served
from about 11am onwards and provide a refreshing alternative to sit
down menu meals. A tapa, very often served in a small white oval
shaped dish, can consist of a wide variety of food. Popular types of
tapa would include boqueronies, (small pickled white bait), meat
balls, octopus salad, slices of cheese and paella style rice.
Dinner
-- A typical meal starts with a bowl of soup, followed by a second
course, often a fish dish, and by another main course, usually veal,
beef, or pork, accompanied by vegetables. Again, desserts tend to be
fruit, custard, or pastries.
Naturally, if you had a
heavy and late lunch and stopped off at a tapas bar or two before
dinner, supper might be much lighter, perhaps some cold cuts,
sausage, a bowl of soup, or even a Spanish omelet made with
potatoes. Wine is always part of the meal. Afterward, you might have
a liqueur or Spanish brandy. The normal dining hours are between 9pm
to late.
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