Introduction

Outside of Toledo

           Food. It is one of the defining characteristics of a place. One could say that it can sometimes be the defining characteristic. Over the summer of 2014 I visited a place where food is one of culture’s most important aspects: Spain. I spent five weeks in Madrid and Oviedo, capital of the northwestern region Asturias. I toured museums, hiked gorgeous mountain trails, played my guitar on lively Madrid street corners, and completed my Spanish minor with classes at the University of Oviedo.

            But most importantly, I ate. I knew that Spain values good food, so of course I wouldn’t be missing out on that aspect of cultural education! I had promised myself I’d eat anything that was put in front of me, no questions asked, at least until after I finished the food. This promise led me to some truly amazing and unusual dishes, including tortilla española, Asturian hard apple cider, and squid sandwiches (more on that later…).

            The fascinating dishes, however, are not my only memories of Spanish food. Each new food that I sampled inspired a story. And, more often than not, a little lesson came with each dish too. The lessons I brought home from Spain apply to all areas of life, not just to food.

            So, this blog is a retrospective, a one-year-later celebration of Spain’s cuisine and what it had to teach me. ¡Buen provecho!