Andalucia Day
Food Culture in Andalucia
Apart from the beauty and varied landscape, the Andalusian sun's heat and passion of the people, Andalusia is well known throughout the world as a very social and friendly especially when it comes to enjoying food. Andalusia, the southernmost region of Spain is famous for its gastronomic culture, which involves long lazy lunches and long hours socializing over a cover.
It is said that the Andalusians and in fact eating more food than their counterparts in Spanish Europeans. This may be true, but how people approach their local food that is so special.
First breakfast is ongoing. However unlike of the traditional British breakfast fry implies a large upward or cereal with fruit followed by toast, breakfast Spanish is the smallest of the day. Generally, the day begins with a cup of tea or coffee or a glass of milk or a smoothie (milk chocolate drink). This is often accompanied by some cookies type. In the "Breakfast" or breakfast section of the supermarket you will find all kinds of cookies in healthy high-fiber varieties of the boy full of calcium and chocolate for good measure.
The Spanish breakfast is true, however usually between 10 and 11am. Restaurants suddenly filled with people enjoying a sandwich "that is a sandwich made with whole grain bread French style. This is usually served with coffee, often with a drop of local liquor or beer. It is not uncommon, while driving through the villages, to see sitting around with their workers Sarnia and a bottle of beer community that is passed round for all to share.
Apart from mid-morning snack, other traditional Spanish breakfast includes bread or toasted bread rubbed with garlic or tomato a pinch of salt and olive oil. Then there is the "Pan with tomato and ham, which is the bread rubbed with ripe tomato, thinly sliced serrano ham and a drizzle of olive oil. As the Spanish do not usually break for at least until lunch at 2 pm, this delightful mid-morning snack is essential to keep them going.
Lunch is typically between 2 and 3pm, but can continue until at least 4 or 5 pm. This is especially true in Andalusia during the summer months as it really is too hot to do much, and lunch is an opportunity to have a good meal out of the sun and enjoy a siesta.
When a Spanish saying "Half Day" is referring to noon but here in Spain there is 12 noon on the dot, but not 2 hours, which is the midday break for lunch. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day and may involve many courses, not just for special occasions. Usually, a salad, followed by a starter. Then comes the main course with vegetables to accompany served separately. Then you'll have dessert, coffee and liqueurs at times. It is not surprising that lunch time is required and need a nap after all that eating. The Spanish do enjoy a walk after lunch and in colder climates you will see the families and friends out for an evening stroll to work off their big lunch.
Before lunch though, comes the famous tapa tradition. Home workers often stop in a bar for a drink and chat with friends. This is when the lids are generally at their best and you can get a small free sample of what is offered for lunch at the bar that day.
After lunch and a nap or a walk, the working day usually begins at four or five depending on the type of business. In some places, the shops do not open again until at least six or seven hours in the summer months. Not surprisingly, that dinner is a very late. There are, however, many opportunities in between lunch and dinner to take advantage of breaking an appetizer "to continue playing. When the children finish school, they often enjoy" Snack " it's just a drink and a cookie. Then there's "La Hora del aperetivo 'about 7 or 8 and tapas before dinner at any time between 7 and 9 pm.
Due to the late and the seemingly constant picnic lunch in the middle, dinner happens after 9pm. Although smaller than the lunch, dinner remains Spanish a social issue with the family sitting together. The dinner may consist of two or three courses or a barbecue in the summer but sometimes it's a yogurt and fruit or something light like a bowl of rice with vegetables or a bowl of soup. A light supper or dinner is often the case during the winter months when children and parents have to get up early for school and work.
Holiday parties can however often mean dinner at 10 or 11 hours and that is just the beginning of the night. Owls are night and youth apparent Spanish and old can be seen on the streets after midnight to enjoy the festivities or just to frequent the bars to talk and be social with friends over a cup and a lid, of course!
Do not forget, of course, the constant slicing and biting at the famous Iberian or Serrano ham throughout the day whenever you want!
You do not wonder then, after so much food and drink is saved each day, how the Spanish are not as big as houses. The Spanish people are very sociable and enjoy a taste of something a nibble here and there with friends and family. There is also the healthy Mediterranean diet of fruit and vegetables with local fish and meat products together with plenty of olive oil. It is the quality of food, social and the way in which we eat that makes the food culture here so special.
About the Author
Gayle Hartley is a food writer living in Granada Southern Spain and co owner of Orce Serrano Hams.
www.orceserranohams.com
Nerja, Andalucia Day 2008
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