Page 284 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Great Places to Stay in Europe

GPS_282-285_Spain_Intro.qxd 7/9/01 4:39 PM Page 2841 1 4:45 PM Page 284 4:39 PM Page 2844:39 PM Page 28441 1
GPS_282-285_Spain_Intro.qxd 7/9/01
GPS_282-285_Spain_Intro.qxd 7/9/01 (TEXT BLACK plate)

2 8 4 S P A I N

FOOD AND DRINK
PANISH CUISINE is as varied
Sas its many regions. In the
north is abundant fish and
seafood from the Atlantic; the
mountains and hills provide
hams, sausages and game,
which are often combined
with beans to form hearty
stews (a recurring theme
throughout the country).
The Basque Country, with
its orientation towards the
sea, is recognised as the
gastronomic centre of all Spain.
In Madrid and the central
Canoeing, organized by the Posada de Sigueruelo, page 313 region, game is plentiful and
one-pot meat-and-pulse stews
rurales should have in converted apartment with are generally the order of the
common is that they offer its own garden. day. Suckling pig and lamb,
peaceful surroundings, an Cells are most often found sausages and other pork
insight into local culture and in Benedictine and Cistercian dishes are common. Cocido
some degree of personal monasteries and convents in madrileno, a slow-simmered
service. They are most rural towns and villages, or stew of beef, chicken, ham,
numerous in Northern and around such cities as Burgos, pork belly, chickpeas plus
Central Spain, and in León, Madrid and Segovia. various other items, is the
Catalonia, where they are Some of these stipulate mar- regional favourite.
called casa de pagès or casa ried couples only, others have The cuisine of both south
de payés. They are also single-sex restrictions, and in and east coasts is mainly
becoming common in Galicia others you will be expected Mediterranean, but influenced
and Cantabria (casas de to help with the washing up by the Moors who introduced
labranza) and in Andalucia. and to tidy your room. olives, oranges, almonds,
saffron and rice. The last of
MONASTIC CELLS P P these two are in Spain’s most
PARADORES
famous dish, paella, which
PAIN HAS A LONG tradition PAIN’S MOSTNOTABLE hotel has many ingredients, includ-
Sof offering rooms to Sgrouping is the state-run ing seafood, chicken, rabbit
pilgrims and travellers. See, chain of paradores (parador(( and pork.
for example, page 299. means inn or stopping place). Catalonia’s sophisticated
Nowadays this form of The most famous are housed and inventive combinations
hospitality is extended to in stunning historic buildings: include fish and seafood
tourists in some 150 mon- former palaces, castles, royal stews and classic romesco
asteries and convents. A cell hunting lodges, monasteries sauce (red peppers, tomatoes
can consist of anything from and so on. All are furnished and chillies).
a room almost as spartan as and decorated in strictly Fried fish is the food of
it sounds, deep in the heart vernacular style and should the south, with fritura de
of a monastery, to a charming offer local cuisine of a high pescados (deep-fried squid
standard. But there are also and fish) a favourite with
modern, functional paradores, both visitors and locals. By
deliberately sited where there contrast, some of Spain’s best
is (or was) a dearth of other jamón serrano (cured ham)
satisfactory accommodation. comes from the mountains
The advantages of this type of of Andalucia.
parador are usually a splen- Gazpacho, a chilled raw
did location and views worth soup based on tomatoes,
travelling miles to enjoy. cucumber and peppers, is a
Paradores started as a Spanish culinary classic, as
cheap form of lodging, but are tapas. Originating in
they are now expensive and Andalucia, but served all over
many have been overtaken Spain, tapas are snacks whose
by converted properties name stems from the
offering similar, but better- traditional bartender’s practice
value accommodation. More- of covering a glass with a
over, as government-run saucer or tapa (cover) on
hotels, they can lack the which was placed a bite-sized
personal touch and warmth morsel. Tapas are nowadays
Parador de Hondarribia, page 299 of welcome. eaten as snacks or combined