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.