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5 Things I Learnt in Spain Last Summer

16/4/2012

10 Comments

 
Tickets booked, visa stamped, less than a month to go before I board a plane to Spain. Needless to say, I can't wait! :)

It's a super short stop (basically a day and a half in Madrid each way, sandwiched around a longer trip to Portugal and France) and it's sure to be fraught with the battle I always face on visiting a place I've been to before - should I eat at a tried-and-tested favourite or venture out to sample something new?

I think I might have to meet myself halfway - visit top food haunts such as the Mercado de San Miguel and order stuff I haven't eaten before, and dine at new tapas bars and restaurants on bites I can't afford to miss (like croquetas de jamón Ibérico).  

Either way, I'm sure I'll leave knowing a lot more about Spanish food than I do currently. Here are the top 5 things I learnt in Spain last summer:

Number 1: How to order coffee the way I like it
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Un cafe con leche, caliente por favor
Until I went to Spain, I thought 'caliente' was something semi-rude Latino men shouted at hot women. Turns out it is something Latino men shout at hot women, only it isn't rude. It simply means 'hot'  in Spanish. And adding the word caliente to the end of my coffee order made sure I always got my cup of coffee just the way I like it, steaming hot and not at a terrible tepid temperature.

Number 2: Salt + chocolate = delicious
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Porras are the fatter cousins of churros and just as delicious
I can't believe I never came across this combination until my very first taste of churros. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water! Hot, crisp churros (or porras, their thicker cousins) are the perfect vehicle to deliver this sinful flavour combo. Deep-fried salty dough, dipped in sweet, muddy chocolate of perfect churro-coating consistency... heaven!

Number 3: Squid ink has a distinctive flavour (and mouth feel)
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The squid ink seafood paella may not look nicer than regular seafood paella but it sure tastes better
Until actually tasting squid ink paella in Barcelona last summer, I always assumed squid ink was used primarily for its food colouring abilities. Turns out I was wrong. Squid ink actually has a pretty distinctive taste - something that's somewhere between briny and metallic - and even more weirdly, a distinctive feel - like something thick, heavy and comforting that coats your mouth. I can't really describe it, but let's just say seafood paella with squid ink tasted (even if it didn't look) a lot nicer than seafood paella without.

Number 4: Coffee with condensed milk can actually be improved
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Cafe pipo - a sort of super Vietnamese coffee :)
As I have described before, Vietnamese ca phe sua da was a revelation -something that made my world instantly a better place to live in. But how could anyone improve the potent coffee+condensed milk combo? Enter cafe pipo - a shot of espresso, a liberal layer of condensed milk and a shot of whisky. Nothing could make a more perfect night cap than this sweet concoction (as we found out almost every night in Barcelona). This is one thing I'm definitely going to keep my eye out for in Madrid.

Number 5: Toothpicks = tab in pintxo bars
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As you can tell from all the toothpicks, the pintxos at this bar were fab
I've written about this before and I'll probably mention it again at some point. Holding onto the toothpicks that spear your pintxos to arrive at your bill is probably one of the coolest food customs I've ever come across. (Yes I know, it really doesn't take much to amuse me).

PS: I plan on maintaining a very healthy toothpick tab when I head to Spain next month :)
10 Comments
Didi link
16/4/2012 03:31:26 am

And soooo the salty churros we had at Global Village was the real deal huh? I guess churros in the PH was sugar dusted to cater to a sweeter palate.

Reply
Radhina link
16/4/2012 03:36:21 pm

Yup, Spanish churros are salty. I'm on lookout for chocolate with salt these days... apparently Lindt does a 'Touch of Sea Salt' bar. Very keen to try it :)

Reply
Radhina link
16/4/2012 03:38:48 pm

Yup, Spanish churros are salty. I'm on the lookout for chocolate with salt these days. Apparently Lindt does a 'Touch of Sea Salt' bar. Very keen to try it :)

Reply
FooDiva link
16/4/2012 05:40:30 pm

Lucky you. I do love Spain. Not sure if it's much use, but here is an article I wrote on Seville with some foodie recommendations :) http://www.ahlanlive.com/vip-trip-seville-160310.html As for salty chocolate, Finer Things in Umm Al Quwain stock Bovetti's organic dark chocolate bars with fleur de sel - simply sublime! http://foodiva.net/2012/04/its-the-finer-things-in-life-that-count/ Enjoy, and look forward to reading about your trip. x

Reply
Radhina link
16/4/2012 05:49:03 pm

I read your review of the Finer Things and have heard good things about it from others too. The Bovetti chocolate will definitely be in my basket if I go to UAQ soon :)

Reply
shy link
18/4/2012 06:30:03 pm

Your post sure got me hungry...hmmm seafood paella...been awhile since I made that...Enjoy your trip:)

Reply
Radhina link
18/4/2012 09:38:13 pm

Thank u :) Read your post on Singapore, hoping to go there later this year. Can't wait!

Reply
IshitaUnblogged link
21/4/2012 04:21:14 pm

I didn't know that the Squid Ink was also used in Spain. I thought it was a unique Sicilian speciality! I do like the way you order your coffee - surely next time! Am slowly reading through all the blogs of FiA clan!

Reply
Radhina link
21/4/2012 05:04:20 pm

Yup, they are a great bunch :) Like the underlining travel+food+photographer theme of your blog :)

Reply
IshitaUnblogged link
24/4/2012 02:19:41 am

Thanks! The underlining is just to make it easier for people on the run!




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