If you come to Spain hoping to eat tacos and enchiladas everyday, you’ve come to the wrong place. Growing up, I always thought that Mexican food and Spanish food were the same. After all, the official language of Mexico is Spanish, so the foods in these countries have to be similar, right? Wrong. The food you order at your local Mexican restaurant is nothing like the food you will find when visiting Spain
Much as in America, typical foods of Spain vary depending on the region you’re in. To me, Valencia has the best there is to offer. Due to its location on the Mediterranean Sea, seafood is a big market here. Locals love eating oysters, squid, and shrimp. Outside of the city, Valencia is surrounded by many crop fields and orange trees supplying local vendors with fresh produce daily. A majority of dishes here are a combination of the fresh meat, seafood, rice, and vegetables found here.
Some say Spanish society is centered around eating. This is because meals are the time when most social interactions take place among friends and family members. Desayuno (breakfast) is usually eaten around eight in the morning, and consists of coffee or juice and a pastry. This time frame is very similar to that of my own, in the U.S. However, lunch is a little different. It isn’t served until two in the afternoon.
