Eating well in Spain?!

[rkat]

This may seem a strange point of view, and I feel almost guilty posting it here because it seems almost ungrateful, but...

I am living in Spain with my fiance for the next year or two. So far we have really struggled with the food. The amount of oil most dishes are served with is mind boggling, and the salt is killing me!

I KNOW there is great food here, everybody on this forum raves about it, so please please recommend some yummy, not too oily, dishes we can try?

Thanks in advance

[Dave_K]

This may seem a strange point of view, and I feel almost guilty posting it here because it seems almost ungrateful, but...

I am living in Spain with my fiance for the next year or two. So far we have really struggled with the food. The amount of oil most dishes are served with is mind boggling, and the salt is killing me!

I KNOW there is great food here, everybody on this forum raves about it, so please please recommend some yummy, not too oily, dishes we can try?

Thanks in advance

Why do you think Spanish food is unhealthy? They must be doing something right according to this UN life expectancy X country table (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy). Research the "Mediterranean paradox" (or "French paradox").

[Gudes]

This may seem a strange point of view, and I feel almost guilty posting it here because it seems almost ungrateful, but...

I am living in Spain with my fiance for the next year or two. So far we have really struggled with the food. The amount of oil most dishes are served with is mind boggling, and the salt is killing me!

I KNOW there is great food here, everybody on this forum raves about it, so please please recommend some yummy, not too oily, dishes we can try?

Thanks in advance


That is not my experience. Where I live - some place North - I have noticed that restaurants use less and less salt every year and I don't see the oily food you are mentioning. I tend to eat salads, white fish, pasta, lamb.

I don't know where you are from but compared to an American hamburger Spanish food is less greasy and less oily. I still remember last time I tried a burger in the USA in one of those really low places and I felt a deep nausea...

But you probably know better where and what you are eating. Tell us...

[Ben]

...and remember, that oil is probably olive oil, which is super healthy! Funny though, that I don't find the food oily at all either, though it's not the first time I've heard that complaint.

I think you will have to just keep trying things til you find what you like. Have a few menu del dias and see what you keep ordering again and again!

[ValenciaSon]

The jamon iberico is also non-intuitively healthy as it contains like the olive oil, HDLs (high density lipoproteins) and antioxidants. I have to say, after watching the cooking segments on España Directo on TVE, I always laugh when they say "ahora un poquito de aceite" and they pour it on like syrup. But since Spain has one of the healthiest vital statistics in the world, their food preparation can't be all bad.

[Finster]

Over the past years I have learned the difference between "greasy" and "oily". I remember when my wife and I went to Greece and got our first Greek salad....sliced up cucumber and tomato swimming in olive oil. At first we were very turned off. How could they eat sooo much oil. It was delicious of course, but our impression was that "oil" equals "artery-clogging".

Since then I've read a lot about Mediterranean diets and the benefits of olive oil. Now I use a lot of oil in my kitchen.

[Beckett]

According to an article in yesterday's El País (http://www.elpais.com), Spanish children have lousy diets, with 20% of them having never eaten a tomato!!! :eek:


http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/escolares/ha/probado/tomate/elpepusoc/20080109elpepusoc_2/Tes

[midnightgolfer]

@rkat...
I hear you. I know exactly what you are talking about, as my wife is a Spaniard, and a fairly 'typical' one. She insists on preparing the food most of the time. I used to be polite, and I honestly wanted to give everything a try, and 'get used to it.' I haven't got used to anything, none of my food preferences have gotten any better, and I'm frankly tired of being 'polite.' So, I go hungry sometimes, and since I work graveyard shift, at home, I just eat what I want, without the extra oil, salt, vinegar, garlic, onions, seafood, crustaceans, pork, ham, etc.
My wife stood awestruck in the kitchen when my grandmother cooked us eggs, without using any oil, shortly after we got married. Teflon, it's even better for your cholesterol levels than olive oil.

[epicous]

http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/display/465a8a61-7b3a-4d15-8153-6d969922c3c4.jpg

[Edith]

So, I go hungry sometimes, and since I work graveyard shift, at home, I just eat what I want, without the extra oil, salt, vinegar, garlic, onions, seafood, crustaceans, pork, ham, etc.


Cooking without any fat? But you need a minimum amount of fat in your diet each day - about a spoonful or so - and olive oil is great for that! I agree on the salt - I hardly ever use it except on meat and fish - but what could possibly be wrong with garlic and onions? :D They are delicious, and very healthy too! :thumbs-up: As far as crustaceans and jamón ibérico are concerned... yummy!!! :thumbs-up: (and this comes from a person who normally shuns pork)

Years ago, I hated the smell of olive oil because I wasn't used to it, now it's one of my favorite kitchen ingredients. Sometimes I use truffle-scented olive oil from Tuscany as a special treat!

The 'problem' with Mediterranean food: it's very tasty compared to bland, boring Anglo-Saxon and northern European fare... people from Mediterranean countries use natural ingredients like herbs and garlic and fragrant mushrooms to jazz up their plates. It can't be a coincidence, either, that most BBC TV chefs rave and rant about Mediterranean cuisine, Indian cuisine, etc. ¡Por algo será! ;)

[Edith]

I always laugh when they say "ahora un poquito de aceite" and they pour it on like syrup.

That must be José Andrés! He also uses way too much salt. I always look away when he does that. :D

[eldeano]

...

You play golf at midnight? How good is that?

[Juanjo]

You play golf at midnight? How good is that?

You haven't lived until you play night-golf at La Dama de la Noche course outside Puerto Banus- and I really mean "golf" not a euphemism for a "club alterne";).

The scent of the flowers (Dama de la Noche) that only comes out at night is fantastic.:thumbs-up:

[madrid2008]

I agree with the original poster. I never did manage to get used to the food here, and watching a fried egg swim around in a sea of oil almost makes me sick at the sight of it.

That said, I really wish I wasn't such a fussy eater, as I am certainly missing out on some classics.

[thindi]

well i agree about the oil in the food. the smell coming from the bars used to make me sick just to walk by them. now i crave a calamar sandwhich at xmas time !
i think the bars dont deep fry in olive oil though.

also at times i get tired of the same flavors and seasonings used here. but since i am the cook, i have the power !!

i dont eat mcdonalds, but i would love to see a taco bell....

[Elvis]

i am the cook, i have the power !!

i dont eat mcdonalds, but i would love to see a taco bell....With all that power, why don't you make your own tacos?;)

[Edith]

but i would love to see a taco bell....

Taco Bell = bland Anglo factory food. Real Mexican dishes - and authentic Southwestern dishes - are much tastier!

http://www.desertusa.com/web_cart/db/pages/9059.html

http://mexicanfood.about.com/

[Edith]

i think the bars dont deep fry in olive oil though.


And it's always possible to order seafood 'a la plancha'. :)

[Edith]

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g52/tetabiakti/Tenerife%20and%20La%20Gomera%202006/VicentespaellaTenerife2006.jpg?t=1213696237

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/118/315085755_f9c0aadf41.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/107/315086034_7048000c6b.jpg?v=0

[thindi]

With all that power, why don't you make your own tacos?;)

ah yes i do! and burritos and enchilatas. i have had to grow my own jalapeños since they dont sell fresh ones here. i even make tortillas because i find the store ones very expensive.
taco bell would only be a fast food emergency! i usally put a ton of hot sauce on it.. then it isnt so bland! :-*

we have vineyards were we live and i pick the leaves to make stuffed grape leaves. it may be harder to find what i like, but a person just needs to search and improvise.

another good thing... lemons ! lemons and oranges are soooo good here.

[thindi]

@edith

that paella looks fantastic ! where is that place? please dont say valencia...

[Edith]

@edith

that paella looks fantastic ! where is that place? please dont say valencia...

No... it was a hotel on Tenerife... the recipe may not have been 100% authentic, but all the ingredients he used were quite healthy. :thumbs-up:

The meat dish and salad are from a restaurant frequented by Spaniards rather than guiris (also on Tenerife) and the salad was not swimming in oil. From what I remember, the dressing consisted of lime juice and only a few drops of virgen extra. The food wasn't too salty, either (I'm not used to using much salt, so I would notice this right away).

P.s.: the red sauce is mojo picón, a Canary Islands specialty, with bell pepper, olive oil, a little bit of chili, and LOTS of garlic in it! Great to dip your bread in, but it's usually eaten with papas arrugadas (another local specialty). Pure, authentic and simple - I could live on that stuff if it weren't for the fact that many people in bland boring Holland don't like garlic breath, though it's considered OK to reek of cigarette smoke. ;)

[thindi]

i have tried that salsa once before. i liked it, anything that has strong flavors and spices i like. tenerife? a bit far for me.

i had to laugh one time... my son ordered tuna bocadilla and literally oil was dripping from it. this was out of the ordinary, but obviously the ¨chef¨ thought the oil was wanted.

my favorite spanish meat... cochinillo. yum... dont worry i dont eat it but about every 18 months.

a question... in my little town they refer to me as an extranjera. should i say im a guiri. is that better? the people here have some prejudices against the immigrants. most dont recognise english when they hear it spoken and think that i am a rumanian.

[Edith]

a question... in my little town they refer to me as an extranjera. should i say im a guiri. is that better? the people here have some prejudices against the immigrants. most dont recognise english when they hear it spoken and think that i am a rumanian.

This must be 'España profunda' indeed. :rolleyes: I would just say 'soy de Gran Bretaña' if I were you! ;)

[Elvis]

ah yes i do! and burritos and enchilatas.Glad to hear!

we have vineyards were we live and i pick the leaves to make stuffed grape leaves. it may be harder to find what i like, but a person just needs to search and improvise.When vine leaves aren't available, try using the green leaves from a tight cabbage for dolmades, it works quite well, we had some yesterday.

[zuri]

i have tried that salsa once before. i liked it, anything that has strong flavors and spices i like. tenerife? a bit far for me.

Mojo it easy to make at home, its great stuffed into chicken breasts wrapped in Serrano Ham and roasted.



a question... in my little town they refer to me as an extranjera. should i say im a guiri.

Guiri is mostly used as either a humourous way to describe you/them or an insulting way to describe you/them.

Its was originally used as an insult, but manly now its just a funny way to stereotype people.

If somebody has referred to you as a Extranjero it`s a neutral description without prejudice and shows respect when used in the correct context.

Guiri doesn`t tend to show respect from the person saying it though, unless there making friendly jokes.

[Elvis]

I've found a few varying descriptive notes on guiri:
Guiri: adj. Iberia lines tourist, fair-skinned, usually doesn't understand Spanish language or culture, source of amusement and annoyance to locals ...I'd like to revamp that quote: "it ain't easy bein' guiri". Sure, Spaniards will say they like foreigners, that they depend on them for tourism, ..."Guiri" is a Spanish expression applied to those laughable foreigners who stand out like a sore thumb in Spain. ...Tengo muchos amigos en Madrid pero tengo un problema - casi todos son guiris y no he venido aquí para conocer mas guiris! ...Barcelona » housing » rooms wanted » chico ingles busca un habitacion (no es un guiri!Note on topic: Anyone looking for a change from cream on their postre should try mascarpone!:thumbs-up:

[ValenciaSon]

My father is going to Valencia in September. He is a diabetic and wonders if there is any diabetic horchata and other foods in Spain modified for diabetics.

[thindi]

This must be 'España profunda' indeed. :rolleyes: I would just say 'soy de Gran Bretaña' if I were you! ;)

i would love to be able to say that. but my ancesters from england went to the US like 400 years ago. my grandmother immigrated from ireland, does that count? sometimes i wonder who hates americans and since this is a small town i need to have concern for our 7 yr old.

funny what i have found is that the old men are the nicest and friendliest people. the older women usually ¨dismiss¨ me when they realise im not spanish. but i have found a lot of the mothers ( from the school) to be very nice and patient with me. that helps mucho !

so if i call myself a guiri, i will be poking fun at myself and people will think it a joke. or at least that i have a sense of humour. i wouldnt want to insult anyone though. i have to much sensitivity to this situation to do that.

[thindi]

Mojo it easy to make at home, its great stuffed into chicken breasts wrapped in Serrano Ham and roasted.

that sounds wonderful ! ill have to google this!

[Elvis]

thindi wrote: i would love to be able to say that. but my ancesters from england went to the US like 400 years ago.my grandmother immigrated from ireland, does that count?No, none of that is possible because:-

A. 400 years ago, America wasn't the USA!*

B. Your grandmother emigrated from Ireland and immigrated to America.




* The first Declaration of Independence was drawn up in 1776.

[ValenciaSon]

No, none of that is possible because:-

A. 400 years ago, America wasn't the USA!*

B. Your grandmother emigrated from Ireland and immigrated to America.




* The first Declaration of Independence was drawn up in 1776.

The land mass in question did exist over 400 years ago and yes we showed the redcoats the exit in 1776.

[Edith]

i would love to be able to say that. but my ancesters from england went to the US like 400 years ago. my grandmother immigrated from ireland, does that count?

Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't check your profile! :blush: Somehow I assumed that you were from the UK and that you were of Indian/Hindu descent (> your moniker!), which may have confused the Spanish locals because they are not familiar with multicultural Britain. Me and my imagination! :D Hope you don't mind. :blush:

sometimes i wonder who hates americans and since this is a small town i need to have concern for our 7 yr old.

Xenophobia is so stupid - and why is it that people often hate those nationalities they know so little about? :rolleyes:

[Edith]

Mojo it easy to make at home, its great stuffed into chicken breasts wrapped in Serrano Ham and roasted.

Oooh that sounds yummy. :thumbs-up: But I would certainly drain off all the fat before serving! ;D

[Elvis]

The land mass in question did exist over 400 years ago and yes we showed the redcoats the exit in 1776.Well we fired our guns, but the British kept a' comin, but there wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago, they ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch 'em, on down the Mississipi to the Gulf of Mexico.
And other myths about lighting a 'gater full of gunpowder.;D

My thanks for that go to Lonnie Donegan for some of my teenage history learning, via the words to the songs he recorded.
_____________________
Well the land mass of 9.83 million km² is all yours now and you're quite welcome to it!:p


NB: But it wasn't the USA until 1776, not 400 years old until 2176, if my arithmetic still serves me, still a while to go yet.;)

[eldeano]

B. Your grandmother emigrated from Ireland and immigrated to America.

It might be right but it sounds horrible. Wouldn't we normally say 'your grandmother emigrated from Ireland to America'?

[Elvis]

It might be right but it sounds horrible. Wouldn't we normally say 'your grandmother emigrated from Ireland to America'?We might, but thindi wrote: "my grandmother immigrated from ireland." ;)

I suppose I should have written, emigrated from or immigrated to, instead of and.

Me da igual.

[Edith]

OK, let's discuss the Melungeons and how their ancestors got to North America. :rolleyes:

[Edith]

Some more great Spanish food...

http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/Gastronomia/?Language=en

[greytop]

My father is going to Valencia in September. He is a diabetic and wonders if there is any diabetic horchata and other foods in Spain modified for diabetics.The supermarkets have a range of diabetic or diet food (including horchata) and there are many health food stores around that also supply dietary foodstuffs. Larger farmacias may also be helpful.
A bit more difficult in cafes although they all have "light " or "zero" soft drinks. The bottled water makes a great alternative - some of the con gas products are very tasty.
There is a Spanish diabetic association I think but I don't know the name of it. Get Googling as they may be able to offer you advice, or PM me and I'll ask around.

[MrMark]

It's strange (at least to my ears) that the 2 most common complaints I hear about Spanish food is that it's too greasy, and too dry - which seem contradictory to me. I know that a lot of food I sample when in Spain - Gazpacho, Albondigas, Fabada, Pote Gallego - have had some oil input at some stage, yet don't come across as greasy to me in the slightest. There again I admit my taste buds aren't quite the same as everyone else's. I'm not a big fan of paella - once in a while is ok but outside of Valencia I tend to avoid it. Plus I quite like nibbling on olives while sampling the local beer. Salad tends to come dry (at least where I eat my menu del dia) and you have the option of adding oil/vinegar to taste. A lot of the seafood is a la planca, so perhaps the "dry" criticism may creep in here.
However one area where I do miss my homeland's culinary choices is at breakfast. I normally take toast or churros with my coffee in Spain, but miss the full English (especially on holiday or at the weekend). Still, there's always the alternative of the montado de lomo (a la plancha). Mmmmmm.

[ArualyEgroj]

This may seem a strange point of view, and I feel almost guilty posting it here because it seems almost ungrateful, but...

I am living in Spain with my fiance for the next year or two. So far we have really struggled with the food. The amount of oil most dishes are served with is mind boggling, and the salt is killing me!

I KNOW there is great food here, everybody on this forum raves about it, so please please recommend some yummy, not too oily, dishes we can try?

Thanks in advance

Perdonales señor porque no saben lo que dicen.

[Edith]

Perdonales señor porque no saben lo que dicen.

:D

[ArualyEgroj]

:D

a gift for you:

RED MOJO PICON:
garlic
oil (olive of course)
venegar
tomatos
water
salt
hot or spicy paprica...(pimenton picante vamos)
grated bread

GREEN MOJO PICON:
the same but with parsley instead tomatos

AGUACATE MOJO PICON:
the same but with aguacate instead tomatos and parsley

PAPAS ARRUGADAS:
put in a sauce pan small potatos
add water just to cover them
add lots and lots of salt
heat till potatos get very dry

good meal! ;D

[ValenciaSon]

No, none of that is possible because:-

A. 400 years ago, America wasn't the USA!*

B. Your grandmother emigrated from Ireland and immigrated to America.




* The first Declaration of Independence was drawn up in 1776.
Let me help you sort it out. She was referring to the land that is known as America to its current inhabitants. Was it called that before 1776? No. Did people emigrate to the US before it was known as the US? YES!! Is there a history to the US that predates 1776? YES!! There was no spontaneous generation of folks on July 4, 1776. Something or someone led up to our cutting off Ye Royal Umbilical in 1776. But that is ancient history, right? :zzzzz's:
Don't get hung up on a minor error as immigrated vs. emigrated, especially on a new forum member.

[Edith]

a gift for you:

RED MOJO PICON:
garlic
oil (olive of course)
venegar
tomatos
water
salt
hot or spicy paprica...(pimenton picante vamos)
grated bread

GREEN MOJO PICON:
the same but with parsley instead tomatos

AGUACATE MOJO PICON:
the same but with aguacate instead tomatos and parsley

PAPAS ARRUGADAS:
put in a sauce pan small potatos
add water just to cover them
add lots and lots of salt
heat till potatos get very dry

good meal! ;D

¡Thank you so much for the recipes, I'm going to try them very soon! I love the aguacate variation too... in Mexico, they use cilantro (equally yummy). :thumbs-up::thumbs-up::thumbs-up: :)

[thindi]

valencia son... thanks for the defence. i dont mind, i am mujer fuerte ! someone can correct that too if they want !
well i was looking at my records... samuel lincoln ¨sailed for¨ ( since this emigrate and immigrate i will never have straight ) ....... hingham ,massachusetts in 1637 ( sorry not a full 400 years, i was guess-timating at the time ) i realise mass. wasnt a state at that time either,,, but it is now !
ArualyEgroj... thanks for the recipe also !
edith.... how funny you thought i was indian. i love the food! but no, im very white and galic irish looking. i chose _ thindi_ because that is how the spanish would pronounce my name if they read it..... cindy

[zuri]

quote=MrMark Gazpacho, Albondigas, Fabada, Pote Gallego - have had some oil input at some stage, yet don't come across as greasy to me in the slightest.

Regions change.

Andalucian food is oily to the extreme.


However one area where I do miss my homeland's culinary choices is at breakfast. I normally take toast or churros with my coffee in Spain, but miss the full English (especially on holiday or at the weekend).

Typical breakfast in the South is a Catalan which is a pitufo con jamon, tomata, aceite y sal.

Small miniture roll toasted on the plancha, then placed in a plate of oil to soak into bread, then crushed tomato spread on top with slices of jamon and salt to taste.

A typical breakfast with the lads before doin our calls would be lomo adobado fried with a green sweet pepper and mayo served in a Pitufo or some would have tortilla made with Spinach and mayo.

A common ration in the south is roughly chopped tomato chunks on a plate with enough vinegar & oil to cover most of the plate, about 3 cloves of chopped garlic salt.Once tomato is eaten then dip in crusty bread to finish of the liquid gold.

You also get little wooden plates of Cheese which then has olive oil poured over the top, sometimes you`ll see a cheese thats typically found in Jaen region that has olive oil added during the making process and drips out when you cut it.

My grandmothers from Jaen and her homemade Ensalada Russia floats in the oil.

[ArualyEgroj]

Typical breakfast in the South is a Catalan which is a pitufo con jamon, tomata, aceite y sal.

are you still here Zuri? :thumbs-up:

I dont understand why they say a slice of bread with serrano jam and tomato comes from catalunia, in jabugo they have bread and tomatos as well, I think is so stupid to say a so logic dish belonges to somebody or somewere.
so I can say the whell belonges to my family, or how to make fire belonges to Tomelloso de la sierra.

any way my breackfast is a pincho de tortilla wich a coffe, wich some people says is estrange but i love it.

P.S. the pincho de tortilla with onions of course.

[ValenciaSon]

In the Washington DC area, there is a decent pizzeria chain known as Mamma Lucia, that serves pitufos sin jamon while you wait for your meal. It isn't called that but it is a nice toothy bread sliced and toasted with garlic and tomato scraped on it and of course, olive oil. Small world.;)Typical breakfast in the South is a Catalan which is a pitufo con jamon, tomata, aceite y sal.

are you still here Zuri? :thumbs-up:

I dont understand why they say a slice of bread with serrano jam and tomato comes from catalunia, in jabugo they have bread and tomatos as well, I think is so stupid to say a so logic dish belonges to somebody or somewere.
so I can say the whell belonges to my family, or how to make fire belonges to Tomelloso de la sierra.

any way my breackfast is a pincho de tortilla wich a coffe, wich some people says is estrange but i love it.

P.S. the pincho de tortilla with onions of course.

[ArualyEgroj]

talking about food in Las negras (cabo de gata, Almeria) there is a restaurant called Chubbys with spanish, texmex, indu, and more stiles dishes very very good and chipper, and they speaks spanish, english and french.

P.S. I´m not saying that because the couple who works there are friends of mine of course...:angel:, but if you are around there try it and you will enjoy.
:cheers:

[zuri]

are you still here Zuri? :thumbs-up:

In the South yes but not for much longer.


I dont understand why they say a slice of bread with serrano jam and tomato comes from catalunia, in jabugo they have bread and tomatos as well, I think is so stupid to say a so logic dish belonges to somebody or somewere.

It comes from the Catalan Pa Amb Tomaquet/Pan con Tomata which originated in Catalunia and spread throughout Spain.

So its used to describe the Catalana Con Jamon.

The Mojo recipe you gave was spot on but you didn`t mention everything gets put into a pesto and mortar and crushed up.

[zuri]

Here is a great stew dish for Wild Boar.

500gr Wild Boar
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Salt to taste
2 Large Onions
2 Tomatoes
fresh Parsley
6 Whole Garlic cloves
Shot of Brandy
Bunch of fresh Herbs, Thyme,Parsley,Rosemary,Sage.
Almonds.

In a casserole dish fry the Onions & 5 Garlic cloves slowly in the Oil.One soft add the Tomatoes and cook slowly until they become a dark viscous mixture.

Meanwhile seal the meat in a seperate pan, then transfer to the Onion and Garlic, Tomato mixture.Add the Brandy and the Herbs and small amount of water.

Cover the pot and cook slowly.

Once the stew is cooked crush the Almonds, Parsley and 1 Garlic clove with a little oil into a crude paste, add to the stew and serve.

[Edith]

Here is a great stew dish for Wild Boar.



Owww, I'll have to save that one for next winter! :thumbs-up::thumbs-up::thumbs-up::thumbs-up: Is it a Spanish dish?

[Legazpi]

It sounds like a Catalan dish I did a while back - I think I did it with chicken. It came out well.

[MrMark]

I saw a dish very like this on a cookery programme a couple of months back. The presenter was based in Castile La Mancha somewhere. I imagine it's a recipe in quite a few areas of Spain where you still get wild boar and authorised hunting zones

[ArualyEgroj]

In the South yes but not for much longer.

no, here in the blog, I cant believe...why
joking ;D

It comes from the Catalan Pa Amb Tomaquet/Pan con Tomata which originated in Catalunia and spread throughout Spain.

So its used to describe the Catalana Con Jamon.

and because they say a have to believe...:p

The Mojo recipe you gave was spot on but you didn`t mention everything gets put into a pesto and mortar and crushed up.

I was so tired...:zzzzz's:

[zuri]

Owww, I'll have to save that one for next winter! :thumbs-up::thumbs-up::thumbs-up::thumbs-up: Is it a Spanish dish?

Its a Catalan dish called Jabali Estofado.

[midnightgolfer]

You play golf at midnight? How good is that?

It's from a MadTV skit. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3nKVRPCgXs)
And, I work nights, and from the window next to my desk, I can look out over a golf course.

And, golfing at night is way more fun.
And, I bought a 'baby' dama de noche plant for my apartment... heaven!

Growing up in Southern California, my parents and grandparents were pretty dedicated to "mediterranean cooking" I never liked seafood, pork, olive oil, onions, garlic, nor overly salty nor spicy food back then, and I don't think I'll ever get 'used' to it.

(FYI: Sometimes they insisted on forcing me to eat, other times they just let me decide for myself. - It's not a big deal, I just know what I don't like.)

Also, for frying, olive oil just doesn't get hot enough for me. And if it 'smokes' it makes the whole damned house smell like crap, and it ruins the meal.

[Juanjo]

It's from a MadTV skit.
And, I work nights, and from the window next to my desk, I can look out over a golf course.

And, golfing at night is way more fun.
And, I bought a 'baby' dama de noche plant for my apartment... heaven!.

If you get to Spain, you can play midnight golf and enjoy the scent of the flowers at the eponymous Dama de Noche golf course in Puerto Banús nr Marbella:thumbs-up:

[Jon Hundt]

if you don't like oil, you won't like this:

a bread roll cut in half and toasted
a bottle of olive oil
salt

pour the olive oil over the bread 'til it is saturated. throw a bunch of salt on top. eat it - it's good! If it isn't dripping you don't have enough oil.

I learned this from the local people, it is a very common breakfast. The real hard-core locals up in the hills just use some kind of animal-fat insteasd of oil. That was a little too much even for me...

Olive oil is wonderful... how could you ever get "too much"?

[gary]

Seen the same done with sugar intead of salt...

...but not unusual - in t'north we had beef dripping and salt on breadcakes, the beef dripping usually has delicious brown sludge at the bottom of the tub so this dish was known colloquially as a mucky fat sandwich... mmmmm deleicous

[ArualyEgroj]

To say "I don´t like pork" is like to say "I don´t like any colour", there are so many diferent tastes from the pork that you just CAN´T say it if you have a litle "eating culture".

[midnightgolfer]

If eating culture requires liking any type of pork, I don't want to be cultured.

I don't generally like any pork, some types I actually DISlike.

I once had some bacon-bits on a baked potato, and I liked the effect on the flavor.

When I looked at the container; "Contains no actual bacon."

I guess I don't need it.

[ArualyEgroj]

If eating culture requires liking any type of pork, I don't want to be cultured.

I don't generally like any pork, some types I actually DISlike.

I once had some bacon-bits on a baked potato, and I liked the effect on the flavor.

When I looked at the container; "Contains no actual bacon."

I guess I don't need it.

so you don´t like serrano ham or york ham or chorizo or salchichon, oreja, manitas, careta, morro, migas, gachas, fabada, cocido madrileño, morcilla, pork empanada, ham croquetas, panceta, macarrones a la madrileña, cortezas, pate la piara, pastries..........

[midnightgolfer]

so you don´t like serrano ham or york ham or chorizo or salchichon, oreja, manitas, careta, morro, migas, gachas, fabada, cocido madrileño, morcilla, pork empanada, ham croquetas, panceta, macarrones a la madrileña, cortezas, pate la piara, pastries..........

Yes, and I really dislike little pork cubes in my green beans. :eek:

To be honest, it's not just pork, but when I can manage to work up an appetite for any type of meat, I really, very, much prefer beef to anything else. But I'm not a fan either.

[hellothere]

If eating culture requires liking any type of pork, I don't want to be cultured.

I don't generally like any pork, some types I actually DISlike.

I once had some bacon-bits on a baked potato, and I liked the effect on the flavor.

When I looked at the container; "Contains no actual bacon."

I guess I don't need it.

I am not a big fan of Spanish cuisine in general - to put it mildly - but, taking your example, I guess one can live in large cities like Madrid without having to eat pork, even if it is pretty much part of the staple diet there.

The ingredients used in Spanish food are varied enough, I think, so one can pick and chose :)

[ValenciaSon]

so you don´t like serrano ham or york ham or chorizo or salchichon, oreja, manitas, careta, morro, migas, gachas, fabada, cocido madrileño, morcilla, pork empanada, ham croquetas, panceta, macarrones a la madrileña, cortezas, pate la piara, pastries..........lomo embuchado, sobrasada, longaniza, chisparra, damelo, DAMELO! OK, I'm back.

[rod]

There was an article in the local Granada newspaper this morning (http://www.ideal.es/granada/20080923/local/provincia-granada/cerdos-tambien-comen-aceitunas-200809230852.html) about a producer who specialises in selling olive-fed pork (in the same way that they feed acorns to pigs in the Sierra de Aracena). I shall have to try it, although I'm sceptical that olives will affect the taste as much as acorns.

But this could be an interesting new precedent. By feeding them first to pigs, you could eat all your favourite Spanish foods - spinach with chick peas, rabbit paella, gambas, jamón etc - solely through the medium of pork :rolleyes:

[ValenciaSon]

When I told a friend about the health benefits of eating pork from acorn-fed pigs, she told me than squirrels must be a very health source to eat. What do you think, squirrel embuchado?:rolleyes:

[jonk]

theres been a lot of talk about this topic at my language school. Namely, how hard it can be to find good food.

Generally - I have been here 6 weeks so forget falts in accuracy - the quality of food in bars is pretty or very low. The ingredients are crap, the bread is never fresh, etc. Bit of a disappointment in that regard. Also there´s no effort as far as presentation goes.

Now, as regards restaurants, like any country it is a mixed bag but in general the food while good can be bland occasionally because the Spanish cant handle spicy food on the whole. (the sight of someone choking on chicken korma, one of the mildest dishes on an Indian menu, will always stay in my memory.) and it can be a little oily.

However, this past weekend I had some incredible meals. Two of them prepared by Spanish families... I´m getting the impression that when the Spanish really want to, they can cook up a storm but the problem is they dont want to enough. Some restaurants have been fantastic, others not so.

In terms of dishes, I cant understand the fuss about paella, however many other dishes are delicious. And some of the chorizo .. mindblowing.

Plus they could also do with some fresh milk here.

Thats my take after 6 weeks.

[Legazpi]

Jonk - which part of Spain are you in?

I find the food available in Madrid to be of an acceptable quality, even if you often see the same dishes. Then again, the longer you spend somewhere, the more you know about where to find the best food.

However when I visit new places, especially coastal touristy places, I end up eating crap food, and have occasionally been badly ill. I get the feeling that a lot of bars/restaurants located where many tourists pass through just don't care. They know there is little point in building up a reputation or getting people to return because most of them will never come back anyway.

This doesn't just apply to Spain either. I remember spending a few days in Venice a couple of years ago and the food was terrible, and every restaurant had exactly the same menu. On our last day we went for a Chinese, and that was by far the best meal we had.

[midnightgolfer]

I think, so one can pick and chose :)


When your spouse gives up on making or sharing food with you, and you are left to buying and preparing the majority of your own food, then yes, you kind of have to pick and choose.

Okay, she didn't give up until I started working night-shift, and since then I've had to make two out of three of my own meals, just for my schedule's sake. (Either that, or scrounge through her left-overs for anything that I like.) But, it's not like she didn't know that have very different tastes in food than her before she married me. Even my parents, whose food she loves, told her about it.

[ValenciaSon]

The only place I would eat at, that's on a main drag in Madrid is Museo de Jamon, otherwise, I would find those places that are nested in those tiny streets.

[jonk]

Jonk - which part of Spain are you in?

I find the food available in Madrid to be of an acceptable quality, even if you often see the same dishes. Then again, the longer you spend somewhere, the more you know about where to find the best food.

However when I visit new places, especially coastal touristy places, I end up eating crap food, and have occasionally been badly ill. I get the feeling that a lot of bars/restaurants located where many tourists pass through just don't care. They know there is little point in building up a reputation or getting people to return because most of them will never come back anyway.


yeh thats my suspicion actually. I have travelled around a bit and am now in the middle of my 2nd week in madrid. am learning more about madrid and had a great night out friday with two madrileñas who knew the bar staff at the bars, all had great free tapas... especially one with the most incredible calamari. give me a month and i will probably be singing the praise of the food in madrid from the roof tops :D;D

[hellothere]

Jonk, I have missed fresh milk for as long as I have lived in Madrid on a permanent basis.

You will find fresh milk in larger supermarkets, though.

Now, the way it tastes may come as a bit of a surprise. At least it did to me, when I found out it tasted exactly like UHT milk... So I gave up on it.

And, as Legazpi has mentioned earlier, in a big city like Madrid, you will eventually find restaurants that you like :)

[gary]

The only place I would eat at, that's on a main drag in Madrid is Museo de Jamon, otherwise, I would find those places that are nested in those tiny streets.

Four more weeks to go and thats where I'll be headed - ice cold beer and a freebie plate of Ibericos for just over a Euro.... Cant wait - and in deference to you VS I am determined to do the Chocolateria San Gines

[ValenciaSon]

Four more weeks to go and thats where I'll be headed - ice cold beer and a freebie plate of Ibericos for just over a Euro.... Cant wait - and in deference to you VS I am determined to do the Chocolateria San GinesI am honored, envious and now hungry, thanks.;)

[kenpeace]

Hey Gary,

Four more weeks to go and thats where I'll be headedWhich dates are you in Madrid then? I'm back at the end of October.

[gary]

Hey Gary,

Which dates are you in Madrid then? I'm back at the end of October.

29th Oct - 1st Nov

[kenpeace]

29th Oct - 1st Nov

I'm sure that you have plenty of plans and friends to see, however I'm in town on 29th. If you fancy a swift beer, a longer dinner or anything in between then let me know.

I fly in on the Monday but head straight off to Vitoria until late on Tuesday. I'll be working in Alcobendas on the Wed then off to another customer in Madrid Thu morning before the gold tailed Easyjet bird home MAD-LPL.

Cheers
Ken

[gary]

I'm sure that you have plenty of plans and friends to see, however I'm in town on 29th. If you fancy a swift beer, a longer dinner or anything in between then let me know.

I fly in on the Monday but head straight off to Vitoria until late on Tuesday. I'll be working in Alcobendas on the Wed then off to another customer in Madrid Thu morning before the gold tailed Easyjet bird home MAD-LPL.

Cheers
Ken

Nothing worse than dining and drinking alone - I am in town with my son Michael (dont worry hes in his 20s) and Im sure we can at least have a beer and a bite

Contact me by PM and we can exchange details

Lucky man - you get paid to travel to spain!!!!

[kenpeace]

Lucky man - you get paid to travel to spain!!!! Not much though!

Reminds me of that old joke about the guy working in the........

<actually let's not go there>

[Cid73]

This may seem a strange point of view, and I feel almost guilty posting it here because it seems almost ungrateful, but...

I am living in Spain with my fiance for the next year or two. So far we have really struggled with the food. The amount of oil most dishes are served with is mind boggling, and the salt is killing me!

I KNOW there is great food here, everybody on this forum raves about it, so please please recommend some yummy, not too oily, dishes we can try?

Thanks in advance
The Spanish gastronomy is not as well-known as the French or the Italian, but it is very diverse (of the north, meditarrean etc etc etc...) and is considered one of the best of the world. I believe that you should buy yourself a book of recipes. I don't know from where is you, but a burguer king is it is not spanish food

[Iffy]

Some foods can be oily...and there can be too much of a good thing.
If you and your girlfriend are living in Spain, why not do more cooking on your own?
Some rice dishes are not too oily. I don't find omelettes to be oily, such as tortilla. Fish dishes may have sauces or just be grilled.
When I visited San Sebastien I really wanted to try the cuisine. I had fish cheeks in an emulsion. Do you know what an emulsion is? It's an incredible amount of oil...emulsified. But the tapas were terrific, mushrooms were very good,etc.
Don't give up and don't eat in the cheapest places.