Spanish Cusine

I consider myself a foodie- I enjoy trying out different dishes, flavors, and textures in food There is always more to a dish than its ingredients and preparation steps, every dish comes from someone, something, and somewhere It may be an ancient recipe or something someone invented in earlier years, either way, there is so much culture in a dish That is why trying out local food in a restaurant is a great and effective way to really experience a country and its culture My stay in Barcelona has allowed me to try Spanish dishes commonly referred to as “Tapas”, a set of many different snacks in small portions so that a person has room to try them all in one sitting At first I was surprised and thought, these dishes are so small, why would anyone order them? But then I understood everything behind them Spanish tapas are not just about the flavors -although they are really tasty- they are about the experience that comes with them They represent socialization, going out to eat with friends after uni or work and just ordering many plates and sharing while talking about how your day went It is a way to relax and spend quality time with those you love, and also gives you the opportunity to meet new people I’ve experienced that first hand first hand during this mobility week Everyday, some students and I have gone out for lunch in the city center and have ordered tapas These lunches have alloweed me to get to know them better, and build friendships with them even though we all come from different cultures and backgrounds It has been fun to talk about the ingredients of a certain tapa and see the faces my friends make when they try something they are not particularly fond of These also open the floor to conversation about traditional dishes in our own countries. For example, the other day we tried a Spanish dish called, “tojilla” which was like a deep fried cinnamon roll It reminded me to a Christmas dessert we have back home in Honduras called torrejas which tastes alike I shared this memory with my friends In the same way, they share similar memories about their food back home- quite an intercultural exchange!

Laughing and eating over a glass of cold Sangria has been one of the many highlights of my trip to Spain

Spain also has this distinctive tradition called “la sista española” which translates to the spanish nap In essence, its this period of time in the afternoon where people take 2-4 hours off of work to go home and rest A lot of shops close during this time usually between 14-17 and re-open in the evening. This also gives them time to have tapas for lunch and relax midday of a working day I think it is very cool because, looking at the bigger picture, they dedicate time to themselves and their relationships instead of living life focusing strictly on a job A cool thing about tapas is their versatility, you can order them at a restaurant or make them yourself at home Usually they consist of a toast of bread with different fillings or toppings Anyone who comes to Spain must enjoy this wonderful culinary experience!

“Spanish tapas are not just about the flavors, -although they are really tastythey are about the experience that comes with them.“