Secondly, I tried castañas (chestnuts) and patatas dulces (sweet potatoes). They are a common street food sold in the fall months, beginning in October.
I was excited to try the kaki fruit, because I love to eat anything sweet and fruity. It was juicy like a tomato, and very mild. It was sweet, but not tart or bitter like a strawberry or an orange. It was actually quite plain! I also enjoyed the sweet potatoes and chestnuts. The sweet potato had a very earthy taste because it was served plain. It was crunchy on the outside and very soft on the inside. The chestnuts were quite crunchy, and it felt like eating a big peanut!
The chestnuts and sweet potatoes were grilling on an open flame on the side of the street. They were both cooked plain, with no oils or spices, and the outsides were charred (made dark and crispy) by the flames. This gave it a very interesting taste. They are served on a plate and eaten as is, so they are very simple foods. When eating kaki, you simply get to bite into the fruit, and it becomes very juicy. It is eaten for breakfast or after dinner.
People in Spain eat a lot of seasonal foods, so whatever grows best at any given time of year. For example, sweet potatoes are in season so they will be served this month on the streets and also eaten at home. The same is true for other vegetables like squash. My family has their own garden, so we always eat fresh peppers, tomatoes and cabbage. In addition, the family has chickens on a ranch near the ocean, so they always bring home fresh eggs for the week!
