Welcome to my new blog about food and travel.

The simple act of sharing a meal humanizes us in ways few other things are capable of doing, it can be a bonding experience that stays with us for a lifetime. We learn more about what we have in common over a shared meal than we will ever learn about our differences.

The cuisine in Spain is surprisingly diverse and is the reason I chose it for our first adventure together. The Spanish celebrate food year round; in almost every town and village there is a festival celebrating regional specialties. The choices are as diverse as freshly harvested spring onions grilled over an open fire in Catalonia, to just-caught barnacles, that are steamed in sea water and served beachside in December. La Tomatina is likely the most famous food festival in the world, not for eating, but for throwing tomatoes.

The traditional siesta has roots in gathering the family together for the midday meal. They also take pleasure in multiple course dinners, enjoying the company of friends over several hours. With the exception of breakfast, the Spanish never rush through any meal. The love of food and enjoyment of a meal is so ingrained into Spanish culture, that it is considered very rude if a restaurant were to present the bill before being asked. 

My first taste of Spanish food was in a café in the Barcelona airport a few years ago. I was weary from an overnight trip, and desperate for anything to eat. Considering that USAir does not serve anything resembling food; as evidenced by a suspicious-looking item placed in front of me that vaguely resembled a tan-colored Twinkie, or a possible reject from a defective easy bake oven.

I prayed the airport food would be a slight improvement over what was served on the flight, and to my complete surprise it was. The coffee served was a shot of dark-roast espresso topped with foam, called a café cortado. It was wonderful, and was accompanied by a flaky pastry, filled with crème patisserie, topped with fresh apricots. I went back to the counter and asked for another round of each. 

     In my next post, I will begin to explore Barcelona, Catalan food culture, and what sets Catalonia apart from the rest of Spain. For a preview, click the photo at left to visit La Boqueria, a market considered to be one of the best in the world.