Food & Drink in Spain
Eating & Drinking
The Spanish are passionate about food and the traditional cuisine is one of the healthiest and most delicious in the world. It is based on excellent fresh local ingredients: meat and fish, olive oil, rice and lots of vegetables and fruit, carefully and lightly cooked to retain flavour.
Fast food is not much in evidence outside tourist resorts. Instead the Spanish have Tapas. More a way of eating than a food, tapas may describe something as simple as a plate of fresh olives served with cubes of cheese and ham or a series of elaborate morsels shared by everyone at the table.
Popular dishes include the rice based Paella a speciality of Valencia;Pimientos rellenos, peppers stuffed with minced meat or seafood; Tortilla de patatas, an omelette made with potatoes and Calamares en su tinta, Squid cooked in its own ink.
The Spanish eat out a lot, and there are numerous restaurants even in small towns. You will eat far better and for far less money in those frequented by locals than in ones aimed at tourists.
Wine, Beer & Spirits
Lager style beer, or cerveza, is very popular, especially with Tapas, and is served very cold. Brands to look out for include Alhambra Reserva and Voll Damm.
Jugs of Sangria are a common sight in restaurants, but only on tourist tables, the Spanish consider it a party drink, like punch. Rioja is Spain’s most popular wine, but look out too for wines from the Ribera del Duero region.
Nor do the Spanish care much for the sweet Sherry so popular abroad, they opt instead for the dryer and lighter Fino or Manzanilla.