by Julia Vargas
ConsumerFraudDefense.org
Spanish cuisine is a natural extension of Spanish culture. Food is life in Spain and in Hispanic countries everywhere. Life centers around the meal. Life centers around the dinner table. If you'd like to really get to know Hispanic cooking, learning Spanish and having an empty stomach are the two requirements!
Spaniards add ingredients such as oranges, shrimp, mushrooms, cheese, tomatoes, and lemons to the food for taste. They throw in some hot sauce for kicks and flavor along with a little bit of wine. Of course peppers, sausage, olives, potatoes and corn are must needed ingredients for Spanish dishes.
Not only are a variety of sauces used, but there are also a number of spices involved in the creation of a Spanish dish which will be foreign to most diners. In Spain today, more people are choosing to eat spicy foods for the perceived health benefits (and el sabor!). That's a good thing: Spanish food is full of hot spicy peppers such as jalapeños, which can cause any dish (even a bowl of ice cream) to fire in the mouth. Another famous Spanish dish is the tapas. Tapas are covered morsels of food which vary from simple to complex including fish, cheese, vegetables, dips, eggs, pastries and more. Tapas make an excellent meal and can sometimes constitute an entire Spanish meal.
Learning Spanish and enjoying Spanish food go hand-in-hand. You must come with an open mind and an empty stomach to fully understand and appreciate Spanish culture. This will help you learn Spanish that much faster!
As far as the differences between Americans and Spaniards is concerned, the entire life-style between the two countries is vastly different, especially when it comes to eating habits. Spaniards have a light breakfast around 8:00 a.m which is subsequently followed by a mid-morning breakfast at 11:00 a.m. Snack times typically take place around 5:00 p.m. and they usually nibble on pastries and tea. Later on around 8:00 p.m. Spaniards will have evening tapas following up with a three-course dinner around 10:00 p.m. Americans do not set aside nearly as much time throughout the day to enjoy that much food. Food is la vida en España.
Disfrutalo!
