Spain food and drink [20]

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/spain/0242020880.html

The Cuisine

Soups & Appetizers ,
Eggs,
Fish,
Paella,
Meats,
Vegetables & Salads,
Desserts,
Olive Oil & Garlic

Drink:
wine,
beer,
milk,
water,
Sangria,
coffee,
soft drinks,
Whisky & Brandy

Spanish cuisine (西班牙菜) consists of a great variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the country's deep Mediterranean roots. Spain's extensive history with many cultural influences has led to a unique cuisine with literally thousands of recipes and flavors.
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Main components of Spanish cuisine:

A significant portion of Spanish cuisine derives from the Jewish and Moorish traditions. The Moors were a strong influence in Spain for many centuries and some of their food is still eaten in Spain today. However, pork is popular and for centuries eating pork was also a statement of Christian ethnicity or limpieza de sangre, because it was not eaten by Jews or Muslims. Several native foods of the Americas were introduced to Europe through Spain, and a modern Spanish cook couldn't do without potatoes, tomatoes, peppers or beans. These are some of the primary influences that have differentiated Spanish cuisine from Mediterranean cuisine, of which Spanish cuisine shares many techniques and food items.

Spanish飲食文化:
1. The essential ingredient for real Spanish cooking is olive oil, as Spain produces 44% of the world's olives.

2. Daily meals eaten by the Spanish in many areas of the country are still very often made traditionally by hand, from fresh ingredients bought daily from the local market. This practice is more common in the rural areas and less common in the large urban areas like Madrid, where supermarkets are beginning to displace the open air markets. However, even in Madrid food can be bought from the local shops, bread from the panadería, meat from the carnicería, etc.

3. One popular custom when going out is to be served tapas with a drink (sherry, wine, beer, etc.). In some places, like Granada, tapas are given for free with a drink and have become very famous for that reason. It should be noted that almost every tapas bar serves something edible when a drink is ordered, without charge.

4. Another traditional favorite is the churro with a mug of thick hot chocolate to dip the churro in. Churrerías, or stores that serve churros, are quite common. The Chocolatería de San Ginés in Madrid is especially famous as a place to stop and have some chocolate with churros, often late into the night (even dawn) after being out on the town. Often traditional Spanish singers will entertain the guests.
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Typical dishes:

potato omelette ("tortilla de patata"), gazpacho, paella, stews, migas, sausages (such as embutidos, chorizo, and morcilla), jamón serrano, and cheeses. There are also many dishes based on beans(chickpeas, lentils, green beans); soups, with many regional variations; and bread, that has numerous forms, with distinct varieties in each region. The regional variations are less pronounced in Spanish desserts and cakes: flan, custard, rice pudding(arroz con leche), torrijas, churros, and madeleines are some of the most representative examples.
Others include:
Arroz a la Cubana
Cocido (a chickpea and meat stew of sorts)
Chorizo (spicy sausage)
Chuletillas (grilled chops of milk-fed lamb)
Gazpacho (cold bread and tomato soup)
Fabada Asturiana (bean stew)
Jamón serrano (cured ham)
Lechazo asado (roasted milk-fed lamb)
Mariscos (shellfish)
Paella (saffron rice)
Pescaito Frito, marinated battered fried fish, typical from Málaga and Western Andalusia
Tortilla de patatas or tortilla española (egg omelette with potatoes)
Turrón, a dessert with almonds and honey, typical of Christmas
Tortas de Aceite from Seville, a sweet Olive Oil pastry
Calamari (Fried Squid)
Spanish Paella