The Foods of Spain and Andalucia

By Graham Andrew Taylor

The food of Spain is exciting with a great deal of variety. One international food critic contends that Spanish food can compete proudly with that of France and Italy and the idea that Spain does not have a culinary heritage is pure nonsense. The food of Spain is a main feature of any Spanish adventure and guests will be able to sample the best of local and wider Spanish flavors in addition to continental and world foods. The food of Spain is as varied as the country, but as a rule it's tasty, substantial and lacking in vegetables. It's also very cheap by northern European standards.

Almost any bar in Spain, as well as hotels and restaurants will sell food, and in bars it usually comes in four varieties, Tapas, Raciones, Plato's de combinacion and Menu del Dia.

Tapas
A small portion of food offen selected from a refrigerated display and ordered with a drink, in Andalucia away from tourist areas, tapas is almost always provided free with a beer. The meaning of the word "tapas" is said to derive from the word for cover, and how the bar owners would cover a glass with a piece of bread to stop flies getting to it.

Racione

Racione or our word Ration refers to a plate of what ever food you choose, normally from the same selection as the tapas, It is common for a group of drinkers to order two or three raciones, of different foods and share them.

Platos de Combinacion

This would be what you would expect from a resturant meal, a combination of meat or fish and potatoes, with little or no vegetables. The Spanish rural culture thinks that vedgetables are for poor people, so why would you want them in a restaurant. This does not mean that the Spanish do not enjoy vedgetables, and you only need to visit a market to see the wide range that is available.

Menu Del Dias

Meal of the day, is a limited choice three course meal, consisting of a starter of soup or salad, a second course of Meat or fish with potatoes, and a desert of a sweet or fresh fruit all served with bread and a drink, either a beer or a bottle of house wine. Aimed at the working man the price of a Menu del Dia is currently (2009) about six to ten Euros, so enjoying the food of Spain can be quite inexpensive.

By Graham Taylor - To find out more about the food and culture of Spain, and why you should consider visiting for your next family vacation.

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