About a week ago my host family served me pig ears...

It has taken me awhile to compose this blog post because I am still unsure how I feel about this.

I could not have refused them--first, out of courtesy, and second, because it was a challenge; when they served me the dish, they quickly told me not many Americans would try it. If there is one thing I have learned from my travels, it is to never back down from a challenge, and to always try new things (#don'tbescared).

As it turns out, I did enjoy the pig ears a lot, and the look on my friends'/family's faces back home when I tell them this story will be priceless. It was a lot like trying frog legs for the first time, at least the thrill was the same.

As for their taste, I am going to let you all find out for yourselves.

¡Buen provecho!

From Markets to Manners

What I think about Spanish food.... 

Well, I guess since my Junior summer of High School I have been learning more about Spanish food every year. To be honest, before then I kind of associated it with Mexican food, but when my foreign exchange student, Amaia, came, she quickly corrected me. She taught me how to cook some typical dishes and explained their customs.I learned not only does Spain have a very different eating schedule than the U.S., but the food they eat also varies greatly. I had no read idea what "Spanish" food was, because there are no Spanish restaurants near me, or if they are they have been greatly Americanized. 

After my trip to Madrid last summer, I had a whole different perspective on Spanish food. Amaia's mother took my friends and I around to the supermarket and market where she buys her meat, like we did in class. The first meal her mother cooked for us was amazing. Nothing like I expected. From just one day, I understood how important meals are to them. Now when I think of Spanish food, the whole meal process comes to mind, not just the food itself. Even when it was just Amaia, Amaia's friends, My friends, and I eating, we always took the time to sit and talk for a while. What surprised me the most was how they served their food. Whoever made the food would dish it out, not taking any help. And whenever anyone's glass was empty, a person sitting next to them would gladly refill it without being asked. I wish American's would integrate this into our meal times. Families would get to know each other better and actually spend time together. 

For the actual food of Spain, I tend to think about paella, ham, and fish. However, after taking this class I know some of those foods are located in only certain parts of Spain. Each region has its own Specialty, in turn making its own identity. For example, one of the foods Salamanca is known for is it's ham. Which is pretty good I might add. 

Overall, Spanish food has left a great impression on me. From the actual fresh ingredients to sitting down to eat them - it is all meant with love and care. 

Aceite, ajo, y sal

My host mother, Soledad, shows off a
monolithic jug of olive oil

Spaniards, it is said, are not afraid of salt. 

Nor would they appear to harbor any misgivings towards lavish quantities of olive oil.

Having traveled to South America—home to countries which long desperately to appear European (Argentina, cough cough!)—I thought I had an idea of Spanish cuisine, coming in.  Bland food, by and large, inevitably piled with French fries and a fried egg.  Lots of rice; an unending supply of potatoes in various forms.  Carbs reign supreme.  Breakfast, the same every day: bread with butter and jam.  Bananas and…more bananas.  Mayonnaise slathering everything it can get its gooey white fingers on, maybe a bit of avocado.  Perros calientes aplenty!

Spain was at once a disappointment and a pleasant surprise.  That is, the food is very similar to what I expected, to what I had seen in places like Perú, Argentina, Bolivia.  But what happened to turn me on my head was Spain’s amazing combination of an overall Spanish theme, that serves as a foundation to most if not all its cooking, paired with a delightful tendency to source locally. 

A homemade dish of rice,
peppers, mariscos,
olive oil, garlic, and salt

It is true, I weary a bit of every meal beginning with ajo—garlic—continuing on with aceite de oliva, coming to close with the inevitable fistful of salt.  But the regions of Spain have adapted this simple culinary trio to whatever it is they make best with finesse.  For Salamanca and the rest of Castile y León, this of course makes for a delicious salty, alioli-drenched bocadillo of Spain’s finest pork.  For others, it means sumptuous paella, high-end goat and sheep cheese, mariscos, cocidos…La lista sigue.

In short, Spain is a mix of the utterly expected and the carefully crafted.  I may personally prefer a greater variety (and quantity, moreover!) of spices and ingredients, but I cannot say that the Spanish do not put together what they have in masterful ways.  

The thought of Spanish Foods

What typically came to mind at the thought of Spanish food was Spanish rice. Foods that are colorful, a little zesty, complimented with hot peppers, beans, chicken, and wrapped up in a tortilla. I've always believed that food from Spain was at least a little similar to the taste of Mexico--tacos, enchiladas, tomales, burritos, etc. However, I was far off in my assumption despite that fact that the spanish rice dish was named Spanish.  I was also expecting something very exotic and fancy, and mucho seafood after watching TV specials about foreign countries on the Food Network. In my actual experience in Spain so far, my expectations of what I'd be eating varied a lot from what I consumed. I am still not able to pinpoint or define what Spanish food is because I am still learning and trying new things, but I have discovered a couple themes. For one, I thought most of the foods were very bland. As a person who enjoys the seasoning and spices of foods, I had to add mucho salt and pepper to some of my dishes, including la tortilla, el bistec, and various pastas. I also found many of the foods to be American-like or universal like spaghetti and hamburgers. Perhaps the most unique food I ate was jamon--a different kind of ham made from cured pig--and as raw as it looks, it isn't half bad. I am still waiting on the seafood though, but I'm sure it's great. So what's so special about Spanish food? I personally think it's the culture. Just these last few days I learned so much about Spanish food, how it is prepared, how/when it is eaten, and more. A few things that I recall when dining in Spain is that there is sobremesa (table talk that occurs after you finish a meal), no tipping, sharing of las tapas, and a big lunch right before siesta. I know I didn't exactly answer the question of what Spanish food is, so to sum it up here's what I think. Spanish food is not to be confused with Mexican. It is very meaty but also healthy. It has a variety but is unique to its culture.

Las tapas

What now comes to mind 

Sidenote: tomorrow is the last day of the practicum, which saddens me. After trying many delicious tapas, I'm hoping that some dessert can be our next treat :)

Comida Espanola


Before coming to Spain, I tried to think of a few Spanish dishes that I wanted to try this summer. A few came to mind, such as paella, gazpacho, flan, Spanish tortillas, etc., but what became prevalent in my mind as I imagined these meals was the customs that accompanied them. For me, the actual eating of Spanish foods has not been a huge adjustment, but the cultural differences have taken some getting used to. There have been a few small peculiarities that I wasn't expecting, such as the abundance of olive oil and salt, serving salad after the first plate, and a senora that seems to insist on eating to the point of explosion. Those, I have come to accept and expect. However, I'm still learning how to pace myself correctly throughout the day - I'm not used to the huge lunch, late dinner, and the ever-famous siesta. I’m certainly becoming more accustomed to it with time, though. One concept that I have really enjoyed in Spain is the idea of sobremesa. I marginally knew about it before, but I did not realize just how important the social aspect of food was to the Spanish – I think it is one of the most important customs, and one of the best ways to learn more about the culture. Talking with my senora after meals has shed a new light on Spanish culture that, for me, has helped bring this city to life.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the vegetarian alternatives in Spain. Before I left for Europe, tons of people would say to me, “You’re going to Spain as a vegetarian? How?” They would insist on eating meat. Even though Salamanca is fairly pork-centric, I’ve always found some alternative, and each time it has been delicious! My worries about vegetarianism in Spain have been thoroughly quenched.

Spanish Food Through My Uneducated Mind

When I think of Spanish food, I’m taken back to high school. I learned about a lot of foods, but the only two I can really remember are Tortilla Espanola and paella. I recall my teacher making a big deal out of making sure we all knew Spanish food and Mexican food are two very different things. I didn’t make much out of it at the time, but even being here for a few days I understand why my teacher said that. In the U.S. there are tons of Mexican food restaurants, but I can’t recall ever seeing a restaurant that serves strictly Spanish food.  It will be interesting to enjoy all this (hopefully) amazing food while in Spain, and be able to form a better idea of what Spanish food is really all about.

Olive oil is another Spanish staple that comes to mind.  I was first exposed to real olive oil while in Greece last year, and I haven’t looked back since. I brought some back to the U.S., and I rationed it off like crazy. The Greek olive oil was so much better than any one that I’ve ever had in the U.S.  Thus, I’m excited about all the olive oil I will be able to eat here!  I am also a mega carnivore, so I’m definitely pumped about all the meat I have heard Spaniards eat.  On the other hand, I’m nervous about the amount of eggs I have heard are used here.  My sister went to Spain a few years back, and said most of her meals consisted of eggs and yogurt.  I’m okay with the yogurt, but I must admit I have a bit of an “egg phobia.”  It didn’t appease my worries when I told my senora I wouldn’t eat Tortilla Espanola and she nearly fainted.  Still, I’m looking forward to the delicious/luscious food that is to be consumed while in Spain.

Spanish Food....

When I think of Spanish food, my first thought is actually of Mexican food. My second thought is then how wrong that is. In the majority of my Spanish classes, any of the food we studied or had in class fiestas was usually Mexican, and even after all these years I still sometimes fall back on that stereotype that we're taught to avoid. Once I actually remove burritos from the mix, the food I associate most with Spain is seafood. It was certainly like that in the other places in Spain I visited, but I was surprised (pleasantly, because I really don't like seafood) that it wasn't in every dish like other people made me think. Besides the things I had heard about Spanish seafood, I really didn't have many preconceptions about what to expect once I got here. I don't know much about food in general, but I'm especially lost once we venture outside the realm of hamburgers and grilled cheese. From what I have seen so far of Spanish food, it has certainly been disproving and exceeding my expectations.

When I think of Spanish food, fresh is the word that instantly floods my mind. All the food that I have encountered in Spain has been of the utmost quality. I have yet to eat a meal that doesn’t contain some form of a fresh vegetable or fruit. It has become rather clear to me that the food in Spain is much different than the food in the United States. I do not expect to eat processed food for lunch or dinner while eating with my Señora. I know that when I dine with her, I will be eating a meal that she has put a considerable amount of effort into preparing.

            Perhaps the biggest difference between eating in the United States and eating in Spain is snacking. It is not uncommon for me to snack while I am at home during the day before dinner in the United States. However, I have noticed that it is rather unlikely to find a Spaniard to be shoving their face full of popcorn or potato chips during the day. Tapas are a form of snacking, but the portion size of a tapa is nothing like the amount of snacking I generally do in between meals.  Although I have only been in Salamanca for three days, I know that Spanish food will be something that I will miss when I return to the US.  

When I think of Spanish food I think of....

Blandness.  I have never been a food connoisseur, per say, so I have no experience with any sort of food other than American (or, at best, some sort of Americanized ethnic food).  My father went to Europe a few years back and the few things he said about the food was that it was bland.  As the trip approached, I decided  I really ought to research some more about the food in Spain.  Through this research, I learned that the Spaniards are a big fan of potatoes, seafood, bread, and pig.  Thus far, I have found the pig, potato, and bread portion to be true, whereas the seafood portion has not.  I did see an enormous amount of seafood at the market, but, as we have talked about in class, I think seafood is a more prevalent food group among the coastal cities.  My host family has actually made quite a bit of chicken while I have been here, but I think that is them trying to appease the American in me.

   When I thought of Spanish food, I thought of healthy foods because I have heard that the obesity problem in America is exponentially worse than that in European countries.  However, I have found that they fry and deep fry and salt quite a bit of their food.  I suppose it's the olive oil that makes the difference.  Additionally, I would never think of french fries or potato chips coming with a typical Spanish meal, but the restaurants I have visited thus far have proven me wrong.  Overall, I think I am gaining a better understanding of what to think of when I think of Spanish food through this trip because, to be truthful, I had a very limited grasp on what it meant to eat in Spain.   

Fish in Spain

Just as other students have already mentioned, I had very little idea about Spanish food. Every time I tried to think of what Spain might serve, tacos and enchiladas kept coming to my mind. I have never been to Europe, so inferring from my experience in the regions in Central America, I assumed Spanish food would be somewhat similar. I had heard that Spain would treat lunch more seriously than other meals, which I was fine with, but I was completely unaware of how late dinner would get. Also, as a seafood mania, all the fish I saw in the market was a pleasant surprise. I didn't think Spain would be big on fish, but here I saw one of the biggest fish I had ever seen at a market. I didn't know this gigantic fish would be tuna, the fish I always saw in smaller slices or in cans. It was a surprise to see what they actually looked like in real life. Some of the foods are a bit salty or oily, but I'm really enjoying the food here. I'm hoping to try more seafood here and maybe travel to a region famous for their seafood!

Pig is king

Before coming to Spain I knew very little about Spanish cuisine and its delicacies. I would have guessed that the food would be similar to America's idea of "Mexican food," but this is hardly the case. My first night in Madrid I tried tapas and was introduced to the Spanish custom of sharing small portions of a variety of different snacks, all equally delicious and filling. The next day, I went to the supermarket and bought some chorizo and a baguette to snack on during the day. Little did I know that the pig is by far the most popular meat in Spain--a fact I learned in our first practicum--and that the Spanish use practically every part of the pig, wasting nothing. Thus it is only fitting that on my second night in Salamanca, I ordered the Entremeses which consisted of chorizo, lomo, and jamón. So far I find most of the Spanish food to be very salty, which I enjoy. I hope to continue to sample more Spanish foods from both my host family meals and also from excursions to restaurants.

¿Una carta ingles?

Before this trip I was quite scared about eating a whole new type of food with an entirely different schedule. I was terrified that by two or three pm I´d be ravished or that I would become sick from the cuisine. Once I got here though (I traveled a week before), I kept reminding myself that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and rather than get caught up in worrying if something will make me sick or how strangely late they eat here, I just had to go with it. And I´m so glad I did, otherwise how would I ever know that Pulpo de gallego is SO delicious. Like Andy said--don´t be scared! Which is why when they started asking if I wanted an English menu I said no...they looked at me funny and sometimes I ordered strange things, but it´s also how I learned. To me, Spanish food is so much more than just fueling your body (which is how I previously saw food), but more of a custom, way of life and a fantastic social bond through which we can try new things, expand our horizons, get to know our new families and neighbors...and maybe inadvertantly discover we actually really like octopus. A lot.

A Spanish Meal

I am finding that a "real Spanish meal" is far less defined than I'd imagined.  I knew about tapas, and that's about it. I am a vegetarian, and I presumed that meant that any Spanish meal is inaccessible for me.  When I told people I was studying in Spain, they would ask me what I'd eat (if anything,) which would lead to a conversation about what is, really, Spanish cuisine.  I don't think that in the US we have it yet.  I have a vague notion of what French cuisine is like, and Italian, Greek, and German.  But, at least for me, Spanish food slipped under the radar.  In Salamanca, I am learning everything as I go.  I know that meat is central for the diet, but I feel like I am doing pretty well without.  All the food I can eat is very interesting, and tastes good.  I expected the food to be heavier, but with such a heavy emphasis on fruit, I feel fresh after meals.

El Almuerzo and Spanish Food Culture

For me, every time I have thought about spanish food in the past it has been along the lines of the largest Spanish meal of the day, el almuerzo. Like other students might remember, illustrations of el almuerzo that I saw as a high school student in my spanish text books seem vivid in my memory now, and were preconceptions I took with me before arriving to Spain. The image of Spanish families and friends set amongst a full table of breads, rices, fish, salads y much more talking in the home, or sitting and dining leisurely in la playa has remained in my memory and today, this is still how I think of Spanish food: long conversations and diverse and large food plates that is the result of the combination of both Spanish food and social cultures.

Let's think about food for a moment

An egg is an egg, right? How much difference can there be in one of the most basic food products we regularly eat? Here is a picture of two eggs. One is the product of the vertically integrated agribusinesses so prevalent in our modern society while the other comes from a subsistence farm. Do you see the difference?