Eating in Spain
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Eating delicious food is definitely one of the highlights of living in Spain. Especially in Almeria, where there are so many greenhouses, it is easy to find fresh fruits and vegetables for very cheap prices. Seafood is also extremely accessable in Andalucia for obvious reasons (have I mentioned that I can see the mediterreanean from my terrace window?) I generally spend about 20 euros for half a week's groceries at my nearest Mercadona and I [generally] eat very clean and healthy. Just check out my scrumptious daily breakfast consisting of a bowl of greek yogurt topped with all kinds of fruit!
Eating out can also be healthy, but it's definitely not easy. Traditional Spanish dishes include a lot of cheese, bread, wine, and the ever-heavenly jamon - ham from pigs that were fed a lot of acorns. In most restaurants you can find migas, paella, and callos. Callos is made with pork and yes, the name does translate to "callouses," but don't let that deter you. They are a favorite of mine on rainy afternoons. A night out can be very inexpensive if you order tapas, which are small plates that often come free with whatever alcoholic beverage you order. The most I've ever paid for a couple rounds of tapas was 7 euros. There are a few rules to Spanish restaurants that took me awhile to understand. One, some restaurants are open during siesta time but will tell you that their "kitchen is closed" and will not serve you everything on the menu. Two, the menu doesn't always matter very much anyway. Sometimes there is no menu and you just simply ask them if they can bring you [insert dish here]. Also, tipping is not expected.
As far as dietary restrictions go, I'm sure it is not super easy being vegetarian or vegan here, but it is possible. There are plenty of lactose free products in the grocery stores, but like in the U.S. it's more dificult to find in restaurants. I also see a lot of labels that say "sin gluten." I personally do not have any allergies or sensitivites, but I do not believe Spain would be any more of a challenge than most places for those who do.
Buen provecho!
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