| Spanish food and drink - Spanish cuisine, if you will | | | | any number of other wines, liquors, and fruits. |
| - is quite different from how it may be perceived | | | | Sangria recipes differ based upon who is doing the |
| in the United States. In fact, when most | | | | mixing, so it's not uncommon to find sangria that |
| Americans think of Spanish food they tend to | | | | includes apples and bananas in one bar or |
| think of dishes that hail from Mexico rather than | | | | restaurant and one that contains grapes, white |
| Spain. Tacos, tostadas, enchiladas and such are, | | | | wine, and oranges in another. Tinto verano is very |
| however, wholly Mexican creations and the tourist | | | | similar to sangria, and is very popular at the south, |
| will be hard pressed to find them in Spain unless | | | | were it is drunk during pestival. Wine is available |
| Taco Bell manages to open a franchise there. | | | | everywhere in Spain and costs very little, starting |
| Like most things in modern Spain, traditional | | | | for 1 euro for a glass. The wine loving tourist will |
| Spanish food tends to differ based upon the | | | | have little to complain about when visiting Spain. |
| region that it comes from. The Southern city of | | | | Moreover, the prices of alcohol are cheaper in |
| Seville, for example, offers cuisine that is reputed | | | | Spain that in any other western european |
| to be very delicious while also being very simple | | | | country. |
| to prepare. Here you'll find the cold soup | | | | Spanish wines differ from region to region but |
| Gazpacho, which is a vegetable cream that | | | | most share two common traits: they are delicious |
| includes tomato, cucumber, garlic, paprika, olive oil, | | | | and very inexpensive. The region of Catalunya, |
| and vinegar. This is usually served with bread or | | | | for example, offers wondrous Red wines from |
| even with tomato-bread. | | | | Peralda, Alella, Priorat and Tarragona, and the |
| In the Northern region of Navarre you may find | | | | famous sparkling wine known as Cava. The region |
| many specialties of meats and fish, with one | | | | of Galicia offers several fine wines as well. Here |
| original recipe consisting of a delicious trout | | | | you will find the remarkable Ribeiro, and other |
| stuffed with cured ham. Many dishes here include | | | | favorites include Fefinanes, Betanzos, Rosal, |
| the local beans Pochas de Sanguesa, and of | | | | Valdeorras, Ulla and Amandi. Talking of Wine, you |
| particular interest are the vegetables like | | | | can't escape Rioja, which come from a region |
| asparagus and Pimientos del Piquillo, a mild red | | | | with the same name and is a lovely, greattasting, |
| pepper dish. This Region is also famous for his | | | | inexpenssive popular wine. They even have their |
| Tapas. | | | | own Wine festival in the end of summer, where |
| In addition to traditional regional fare, the nation of | | | | red wine is splashed everywhere. |
| Spain does have some delights that are enjoyed | | | | It is important for the tourist, visiting Spain to |
| nationwide. For instance, many like to snack on | | | | note that Spanish libations are typically much |
| quick Tapas, prepared bite sized snacks that may | | | | stronger than those they may be accustomed to |
| include pieces of fried squid or octopus, spicy | | | | in the US. In fact, a Spanish drink may be as |
| sausage, cheese, squares of fruit, or even sweet | | | | much as three times stronger than a similar drink |
| candy with almonds. Tapas is literally everywhere | | | | made at home. Some experts advise that the |
| in Spain and is often enjoyed during siesta as | | | | visiting American count three rounds for ever one |
| opposed to a full meal. Prices for Tapas vary | | | | actually ordered. Also popular with the Spanish and |
| slightly from place to place, but it is often a very | | | | visitors to their country are Horchatas, which are |
| inexpensive treat. In some places you can get a | | | | frozen drinks made with milk and a variety of |
| Tapa for as little as one Euro and in others that | | | | crushed and chopped nuts. Heralded for both their |
| same one Euro will get you a glass of red wine | | | | taste and the fact that they are rich in vitamins, |
| and a Tapa. No wonder many Spanish stop at the | | | | Horchatas are enjoyed in every area of the |
| local bar, for a meal. | | | | country and differ only slightly from region to |
| Another well-known Spanish food is Paella | | | | region or recipe to recipe. In the hot summer, |
| (pronounced paeya) delicious mixed dish that | | | | their popularity is on top. |
| consists of rice combined with many different | | | | Coffee and hot chocolate round out the staple of |
| types of meat and Seafood. Paella, is perhaps the | | | | Spanish drinks. These are enjoyed daily by most |
| most famous dish to come from Spain and, | | | | Spaniards, including children who often receive |
| although it originates from Valencia, it can be | | | | chilled coffee topped with ice cream as a treat. |
| found and enjoyed pretty much everywhere in | | | | Coffee and hot chocolate are often drunk for |
| the country, from the north to the south. | | | | breakfast and lunch and are enjoyed with churros, |
| Spanish drinks are not quite as varied as the | | | | a pastry that is comparable to a fritter. Many |
| foods, but there are some particularly enjoyable | | | | tourists, however, complain that the Spanish |
| specialties. Spain, like France, is a wine-drinking | | | | coffee taste more like the american mild one, and |
| country and is famous for its various forms of | | | | not like the rich french/italian coffee. |
| Sangria, a sweet red wine that is combined with | | | | |