Spanish cuisine is much like its climate – the north
stews, the centre roasts and the south fries. But wherever your
clients go they will always be assured of finding the ubiquitous
tapas, offering a huge variety of regional dishes. Here’s a
guide to some of Spain’s local cuisine.
The Basque region
San Sebastian is home to some of the best tapas in Spain. Known
locally as ‘pintxos’, the focus is on fish and seafood
such as ‘bacalao pil pil’ – a dish of salted cod
in a hot, hearty sauce.
In the Basque region visitors can expect to find dishes such as
‘marmitako’ – tuna stew with potatoes and
peppers; ‘txanqurro relleno’ – spider crabs
stuffed with aromatic rice and flamed with brandy; and
‘pimientos rellenos’ – sweet roasted red peppers
stuffed with cured meats in a spicy pepper and tomato sauce.
These dishes can be washed down with a tangy white wine called
‘txakoli’, or a glass of cool cider. These clean crisp
beverages cut perfectly through the intense flavours found in this
region.
Sample product: the Basque port of Bilbao makes a great starting
point for exploration into the region. Kirker Holidays offers city
breaks from £396 per person for three nights at the four-star
Hotel Indautxu, including flights, breakfast and a restaurant
guide.
Andalucia
In Andalucia a lighter, more refreshing style of tapas
complements the hot weather. Dishes include ‘gambas’
– giant prawns; ‘boquerones’ – anchovies
either fried or marinated in olive oil; and ‘ensalada de
patatas’ – the most garlicky potato salad on the
planet. Simplicity is the key to Andalucian tapas, so it’s no
surprise to find wafer-thin slices of cured Serrano ham, a staple
food which originated in the region. A ‘tapa’ of ham
and Manchego cheese with an ice-cold glass of dry (fino) sherry is
a delicious combination.
One of the more interesting haunts in Andalucia is the Antigua
Casa de la Guardia in Malaga. More a corridor than a bar, it
provides the opportunity to experience tapas the authentic way
– standing up. Whatever is ordered is chalked up on
blackboards and totted up at the end.
Sample product: The Real Spain features an eight-day Andalucian
Carousel coach tour from £789 per person including flights,
breakfast and dinner on four nights.
Catalonia
On the east coast, visitors shouldn’t be surprised to find
‘caracoles’ or snails prepared in a variety of ways;
grilled
razor-shell clams with cheese and breadcrumbs or even small
slices of duck with figs, called ‘pato con higo’.
Gourmets shouldn’t miss the famous Boqueria Market in
Catalonia’s capital Barcelona. All the fresh ingredients mean
this market also offers an abundance of good tapas bars. It’s
best to make an
early-morning visit to avoid the crowds. Follow the wafts of
fresh coffee to Bar Pinocho or Blai’s, which has been a
fixture in the market for 80 years.
Sample product: Wallace Arnold offers a nine-day Catalonia and
Andorra tour from £615 per person in September, including
return TGV rail travel, six days’ escorted coach tour and
eight nights’ accommodation.
Madrid
It is said Madrilenos rarely sleep as they spend most of their
time in tapas bars. There is even a verb to describe the practise
of spending all night going from bar to bar – to
‘tapear’.
The region is famous for the quality of its roasted meats and
specialities include ‘magro con tomate’ – roasted
pork in a tomato salsa, or ‘rabo de toro’
– sliced oxtail in its own rich gravy. Madrid is also the
birthplace of ‘patatas bravas’ – fat fried
potatoes served with a spicy paprika dipping sauce. These are
rather moreish, so those who want a larger portion should ask for a
‘media racion’ – a bigger plateful perfect for
sharing.
All districts of Madrid have some great tapas bars, but one tip
is to avoid those where English is spoken, as they will generally
be less authentic and more expensive. If clients are in a literary
mood, they should try Cerveceria Alemana in Plaza Santa Ana, once a
favourite with US author Ernest Hemmingway.
Sample product: Cresta offers two nights at the three-star Cason
del Tormes in Madrid from £317 per person in September,
including flights and breakfast.
