Eating out in Spain is often cheap and meals are substantial rather than gourmet. One of the best ways to sample Spanish food is to try
tapas, or snacks, which are served at any time of day in local bars. These range from cheese and olives to squid or meat delicacies and are priced accordingly. Restaurants are classified by the Government and many offer tourist menus (
menu del día). Restaurants and cafes have table service. Cocktail lounges have table and/or counter service. There are no licensing hours.
National specialties:• Seafood: cod
vizcaina or cod
pil-pil (Basque provinces);
Angulas, the tasty baby eels (
Aguinaga); shellfish and
hake à la Gallega (Galicia); lobster Catalan (Catalonia); fresh anchovies (Andalucía).
•
Paella based on meat or seafood (Eastern provinces).
•
Butifarra sausage stewed with beans (Catalonia).
• Roast meats: lamb, beef, veal and suckling pig (Castile).
•
Gazpacho, a delicious cold vegetable soup (Andalucía).
• Jabugo ham (Huelva).
National drinks:
•
Sherry (there are four main types:
fino (very pale and very dry),
amontillado (dry, richer in body and darker in color),
oloroso (medium, full-bodied, fragrant and golden) and
dulce (sweet)).
• Wine:
Rioja (Logroñ);
Valdepeñas (midway between Madrid and Cordóba);
Ampurdán;
Chacolí (Basque Country)
and
Perelada (Catalonia);
Cava (sparkling wine):
Codorniú and
Freixenet .
• Spanish brandy:
Lanjarón, Vichy Catalan, Malavella and
Font Vella.
Tipping: Service charges and taxes are usually included in hotel bills, however in addition, a tip should be left for the chambermaid and porters should be tipped per bag. It is also customary to leave a tip for the waiter. Restaurants often include service in the bill so a tip is discretionary. In cafes and bars, it is 5 to 10 per cent. Tip taxis 10 to 15 per cent when metered.
NightlifeSpaniards often start the evening with
el paseo, a leisurely stroll through the main streets. A cafe terrace is an excellent vantage point to observe this tradition, or enjoy street theater in the larger cities. The atmosphere is especially vibrant at fiesta time, or when the local football team has won, when celebrations are marked by a cacophony of car horns, firecrackers and a sea of flags and team regalia.
Tapas bars offer delicious snacks in a relaxed, enjoyable setting and it is fun to try out several bars in one night. The nightclubs of Ibiza, Barcelona and Madrid have attracted the attention of the international media, but the variety on offer caters for most tastes. Things work up to
la marcha (good fun) relatively late and it is possible to literally dance until dawn. Flamenco or other regional dancing displays provide an alternative for those who prefer to watch dancing.
Next Page »
