Everywhere you go, you’ll find tapas. They are bascially small appetizers and people often order several of them to make a full meal. They can be as simple as green olives, croquettes (deep-fried sauce fritters) or something like Pan con Tomate, which is toasted bread rubbed with fresh tomato and drizzled with olive oil. The first tapa I tried here is called puntillitas fritas. Guess what that is? Fried baby squid! I thought it would be pretty good and it's very popular here. Plus, it comes with a lemon slice to squeeze on top.
Trying different foods here has been quite an adventure. Ingredients in Spain taste fresher and simpler than in the U.S. For example, the grapes here are amazing! Sweet and full of flavor. Spain has many vineyards where grapes are grown and the local produce really shines. Even snacks are different. I found Flaming Hot Cheetos here, but they taste less sour and spicy than in the U.S. You can actually taste the lime and paprika more clearly. It’s fun to see how the same foods vary because of different ingredients and food regulations.
Most school days, I often stop at local cafés or bakeries for a quick coffee or pastry. This is a Spanish custom. Most people enjoy a cup of coffee and some sort of pastry on their commutes to work. My favorite so far has been the pistachio croissant! Pistachio is very trendy right now in Spain; being used in many desserts and baked items.
