WRITING PROMPT RESPONSE

Spain’s Cuisine is the Perfect Combination of Flavor, Elegance, and Simplicity

It indulged and changed my palate forever — and it all began at Cerveceria Cervantes

It all began on the same day we arrived in Madrid. When we were ready for our first official meal and excursion out in the city, we asked for restaurant recommendations at the hotel. After reviewing a list of international options, the concierge told us about Cerveceria Cervantes, a locals’ favorite: It was an easy decision.

Cerveceria Cervantes (Brewery Cervantes) was a fantastic, authentic first impression of Spanish culinary art. Spanish cuisine is a seductive complement to your visit. It might even be the reason to visit again.

We will never forget the pulpo a la gallega (Galician octopus tapa) we ate at Cerveria Cervantes. We tried this dish in Madrid and Barcelona — the one from Cerveceria Cervantes was hands down the best.

Pulpo a la gallega is served atop slices of potatoes sprinkled with olive oil, saffron, sea salt, and something else — I am sure it was not that simple. Or perhaps, that is their secret: simplicity. I remember feeling the tiny sea salt grains melting in my mouth along with the tastiest potatoes and octopus I have ever tried. It was unbelievably delicious.

There is so much to explore in Spain. Each city offers a different kind of charm: absorbing history, interesting customs, and delicious cuisine where tapas are the constant delicacies.

Elegance and Simplicity

It is strange to describe a meal as elegant, but that is the word that comes to my mind when I see the impressive variety of tapas: finely chopped vegetable curls, all types of seafood, pates, mushrooms, prosciutto, and more. There is no pattern for tapas. Chefs and cooks use their creativity to make tempting and tasty treats.

Tapas translates to “covers” in Spanish. They originated in Andalucia and can be eaten cold or hot. Although traditionally eaten as an appetizer or snack, tapas are very filling; you can eat them as a main course. For us, it was fun to order a variety of tapas to treat our taste buds for dinner.

Mercado San Miguel

If you are in Madrid, make sure you visit Mercado San Miguel (Market San Miguel), which opened its doors originally in 1915. It is located in the heart of the city and is a few steps from the impressive Plaza Mayor (Main Square) built in the 15th century.

Mercado San Miguel is not a regular market. A visit to this beautiful market with glass walls is a tutorial on Spanish cuisine; it is like an art gallery of traditional tapas. In it, you will also find fruits and vegetable vendors, flowers, small butcheries, vine, champagnes, and more.

My husband’s head spun in all directions with a frozen smile as soon as we walked in. Mercado San Miguel was a paradise for him.

Prices at Mercado San Miguel are slightly higher than many cafes and restaurants, but the entire experience is worthwhile. Initially, we thought the market was tailored for tourists, but quickly realized that there were potentially more locals than tourists during our visit. It might have been the time of the day. We heard that the market is a great after-work meeting spot for locals.

Colorful and Healthy

Spanish tapas are, in general, very healthy; many are based on seafood, the traditional Jamon Iberico (Iberian ham), olives, and exquisite cheeses. Salads and tapas are coated with the most refined olive oil and sea salt. They do not use the heavy premade dressing that’s typically used in the United States.

The selection of natural fruit juices was a fantastic treat, and something I missed from South America. In Spain, most cafes and restaurants serve fresh fruit juices. A favorite of mine is a blend of oranges, carrots, and basil — very refreshing.

After my son was born, I asked a nutritionist for recommendations to ensure healthy eating habits, and she told me, “Just give him colors.” Colors mean most likely a variety of nutrients, and this is what you see in Spanish cuisine: colors, flavor, practicality, and beauty.

Spaniards do not eat processed foods, at least not as frequently as we do in the United States. Somehow, life seems slower in Spain. People seem to either have more time or they make the time to cook healthy meals at home. It isn’t uncommon for Spain families to have a helper who cooks for them.

Although Spaniards consume foods high in cholesterol, such as hams and cheeses, they also walk a lot. I am sure they are not heavy drinkers of sweet sodas, either.

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Another dish that’s a must-try in Spain is paella. I was not necessarily craving paella during our visit, but I felt it was a required part of our culinary experience.

We enjoyed the traditional Spanish paella at a restaurant near Park Güell in Barcelona. Although the paella was tasty, what I remember enjoying the most were the tapas we ate throughout our trip across five cities in Spain.

Spanish cuisine also shines in the vegetarian category. We were not expecting various delicious vegetarian dishes. If you are a vegetarian traveling in Barcelona, Teresa Carles Healthy Foods is the place to go. I am sure you will find other fantastic restaurants similar to Teresa Carles in this cosmopolitan city.

While I was in San Sebastian, I tried the most delicious coffee I have ever tasted.

One beautiful sunny morning, we went to a cafe/bakery called La Tahona.

On their menu, I discovered Cafe Bombon, which is espresso coffee on a thick layer of condensed milk, topped with coffee foam, in equal measures. It is bizarre because I do not have a sweet tooth, but condensed milk is my known weakness. Coffee and condensed milk sounded wonderful to me.

I have tried a similar coffee at Vietnamese restaurants in the United States, but this was heavenly different. It might be too sweet for others, but for me, Cafe Bombon was perfect. It was so tasty; I almost died.

I’d be remiss if I failed to mention churros. Whenever you visit Spain, you must try churros with chocolate (hot cocoa).

In Europe, particularly in Spain and Italy, hot cocoa is mixed with cornstarch, so it is very thick. Its texture caught my son by surprise. Luckily I had the camera on hand, and we captured some hilarious photos of him displeased with the unexpected pasty, thick warmed chocolate.

Breakfast Overhaul

Ever since our visit to Spain, we have changed our breakfast repertoire. We do not have much time for breakfast because of our regular work/school routine, but we now make it more fun, tastier, and healthier.

We make our own tapas — our favorites are slices of salmon on a toast coated with a thin layer of butter, olive oil, or avocado. For our tapas, we marinate raw salmon with salt and a bit of sugar for 48 hours. Instead of salmon, my husband sometimes uses anchovies or sardines (not my favorite). We also eat avocado toasts topped with thin layers of manchego cheese or any cheese we have. Turkey rolls with hummus are also a very healthy, quick option. We just use our creativity to make it tasty and easy.

I will close this article with pictures of two of the delicious vegetarian dishes we tried in Barcelona. I can keep going on and on. It is hard to stop sharing everything we did, saw, and ate. I hope this article gives you a good idea of what to expect when you visit Spain. We can’t wait to be back.

#localdelicacies

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