Madrid: A Taste of Spain

Four the past four months I have been sampling and savoring exquisite Spanish cuisine. I have had the opportunity to travel to many regions all over the Country, including Madrid, Andalusia, The Basque Country, Castilla and Leon,Valencia and next week Catalonia. Throughout my travels I have noticed that the Spanish dish of choice is sure to vary depending on the region, culture and climate, but there is one thing that stays the same: it is all delicious.

Spaniards love food. They cherish their eating time so much they have scheduled eating hours. Breakfast is the smallest meal and is usually eaten at home before starting the day. Around 10 or 11 a.m. it is a custom to have tapas (small snack) and a mid-morning coffee break with friends or co-workers.  Anywhere from 2 to 5 p.m., Spaniards take a break from work or school for lunch.  During this time they eat their largest meal of the day and take a small nap, known here as a siesta.  Dinner typically falls between 10 p.m. and midnight. It is a smaller meal than lunch and might consist of an assortment of salad, fish, eggs, rice, or ham. 

After living in Madrid for a winter,  I've had the chance to explore a variety of different types of Madrileကo cuisine. Today I thought I'd share with you some of my 

favorite foods I've encountered thus far.

Sheep Cheese

First there's cheese. Cheese is a very important part of the Spanish culture. Every region in the country has its own type of "specialty" cheese. They range from creamy and soft, to hard and tangy. Queso de oveja is one of my favorite cheeses here. It is a delicious cheese made from sheep milk in Central and Northern Spain. Spaniards make five different types of cheese out of this milk: Idiazabal, Manchego, Roncal, Brugos and Zamorano. Manchego is probably the most famous Spanish cheese. Tradition dictates that it be made from the milk of a pure bred, Manchego sheep. The cheese itself is soft and has a crumbly texture. It is piquant, buttery and a bit nutty. Manchego is often served with cured ham and a piece of bread. 

Almost all tapas come with bread

Chorizo

Chorizo (pork sausage) and Spanish ham are both delicacies in Spain. Chorizo comes in many different varieties and can be bought cured or fresh. What make this sausage different from all other sausages and gives the chorizo its distinguishing flavor is the Spanish paprika, which can be sweet or spicy. Cured ham is a historically important food to the Spanish culture. Ham has been cured and a part of the diet of the Iberian peninsula for centuries. The two most famous types of cured ham are Jam　n Serrano and Jam　n Ib退rico. Jam　n Serrano is made from different breeds of white pigs that are fed mainly cereals and is cured for about 7 to 16 months. Jam　n Ib退rico is made from the Iberian pig, the breeding of which is restricted to an area in Southwestern Spain. These pigs are also fed cereals but are allowed to roam the countryside and feed on acorns. The Jam　n Ib退rico curing process can last anywhere from 14 to 36 months. Having tried a few different types of hams in Spain, I'd have to say that my favorite, by far, was Jam　n Ib退rico de Bollota (acorn). The ham is a bit darker and beautifully marbled with fat, giving it a golden reflection. It was soft and easy to chew, perfectly sweet, and not too salty. It's a fantastic (albeit pricey) ham.

Jam　n Serrano
One of my favorite Markets in Madrid to go for a few tapas, fresh produce, seafood, and/or wine is the Mercado de San Miguel. The market is located near La Plaza Mayor in the center of Madrid. Built in 1916, it is one of the oldest, covered markets in the city. The building was refurnished and now has a lively, colorful atmosphere. The market is always crowded with locals and tourist either buying groceries or coming to dine over fresh Spanish food. It has 33 shops that offer a wide variety of the best delicatessen products in the city. When I want to splurge and eat out I'll usually pick this market over any restaurant in the city. That or I'll go to its sibling market, The Mercado de San Anton, in Chueca, which is usually less crowded. 

Fresh Produce

Paella, which originated in Valencia, is considered Spain's national dish. Three of the most widely known styles of paella are the Valencian paella, the seafood paella, and the mixed paella. Valencian paella consists of white rice, green vegetables, meat, beans, and seasoning. Seafood paella replaces land animals with seafood and subtracts the beans and green vegetables. Mixed paella is a free-style combination of land animals, seafood, and vegetables. The secrets to making an authentic, delicious paella is a big paella pan, good olive oil, and quality saffron. Black rice paella is also a very popular dish. Its name is derived from the color of the rice which is achieved by applying squid ink. 

Ham and Chorizo Tapas

Croquette's

Octopuses are often found in most markets around the city.

                              

Tinto de Verano and Sangria are some of the most popular drinks in Spain. Sangria is wine with fruit, a sweetener, and brandy; sometimes Sprite and Seven Up are added as well. Tinto de Verano is similar to Sangria and simpler to make. It is just wine and lemon Fanta. As far as beer goes, Mahou is certainly Spain's most recognizable and popular beer.  It is easy to drink and has a 5.5% alcohol content. 

The tapas I tend to always find myself craving are seen below: 

My favorite is crab with caviar (2 identical tostadas pictured above). My mouth is watering just thinking about it. In second comes the lettuce, ham and almond tostada (bottom-left), it's a crunchy delight. The shrimp with avocado spread is also a good one too. Unfortunately they were out of it when I went so it's not pictured. Last but not least is sardines with tomatoes (on the right).  It's definitely fishy and the saltiness of it left me wanting some more tinto de verano. 

Yum!

And of course we can't forget about the dessert. I always get a small but rich chocolate truffle. Pastries, Turr　n (Almond Nougat), and Catalan Cream (Catalan's version of a Cr耀me br뀀l退e) are popular Spanish deserts as well.  

Desert

I hope you liked the pictures and learned a little bit about Spanish food.