About Spain Food: Spanish wine, food, trips

<body>  <h1 class="header1">General Info on Spanish Food and Wine </h1> <p>First, let’s debunk a common myth: Spanish cooking has very little to do with spicy Mexican! In fact most people have never tasted real Spanish food in general unless they have travelled to Spain. For example... what passes for paella at U.S. restaurants and even in cookbooks here is often a pale imitation of the real paella, the vibrant Spanish rice dish that marries the robust flavours of olive oil, garlic with saffron, short-grain rice, broth, and meat, fish, or vegetables.</p> <p>So what is Spanish food all about? Start with conviviality and freshly prepared dishes with extra <a href="../tours/food_frameset.htm" target="_top"><img src="about_images/castlesCuisineInt..jpg" alt="Spain, Spanish Paella, spain wine, spain food, spain trips, spanish wine, spanish food, wine" width="240" height="230" vspace="10" border="0" align="right"></a>virgin olive oils, wines, cheeses, chic peas, lentils, parsley, rice almonds, garlic, saffron, cinnamon and fresh fruit. Add these to more olive oil and wine, very fresh fish, seafood, game, cured hams, sausages, fresh breads, and to a lesser extent, beef, and you are almost there.</p> <p><img src="about_images/about_gastronomy_photo_03.jpg" alt="Mask Spain, spain wine, spain food, spain trips, spanish wine, spanish food, wine" name="about_gastronomy_photo_03" width="63" height="70" border="0" align="left">Spanish gastronomy is heavily influenced by the different cultures which have passed through the Iberian peninsula: Roman, Visigoth, Greeks, Carthaginians and Arabic. For this, Spanish cooking is rich in flavour and aromas. Of all the mentioned events, the ones that have had the most influence on Spanish cooking are:</p> <ul type="square"> <li><span class="header3">Roman Spain - Hispania:</span> For 600+ years, the Romans organized and developed wine, oil and wheat production, sauces, fish frying techniques and the famous cocido garbanzo stew. Much of this production was exported to feed other areas of the Roman Empire.</li> <li><span class="header3">Moorish Spain - Al Andaluz:</span> For 700+ years, the North African and Arabic Moors contributed knowledge of water management to expand agricultural production surpassing what the Romans had done. They also introduced courgettes, oranges, dates, lemons, rice, almonds aubergines, artichokes, saffron, cinnamon and other spices to Spain.</li> <li><span class="header3">Spanish Empire:</span> The Spanish colonies from Santiago ,Chile to San Francisco, California and on to the Philippines Islands a gave Europe potatoes, maize, cocoa, tomatoes, and peppers... can you imagine Italy without the tomato or Ireland without the potato? If all of this sounds delicious... check out our <a href="../tours/food_frameset.htm" target="_top">2003 guided Food & Wine EASY ADVENTURE trip!</a></li> </ul> <h1 class="header2">Spanish Wines 101</h1> <p><img src="about_images/about_gastronomy_photo_02.jpg" alt="Spain Wine, spain wine, spain food, spain trips, spanish wine, spanish food, wine" width="224" height="297" align="right">No meal would be complete without a glass or two of wine. Today Spain is standing tall amongst its rival wine producing countries with recent major article in US wine magazines like the Wine Spectator and making some of the best ever wines especially the reds or tintos.</p> <p>The main appeal of the Spanish wines on the foreign market is their amazing price/quality ratio. You'll often find the "excellent value" sections of specialized magazines filled up with Spanish wines. This shouldn't, however, overshadow the broader commercial potential of other unique world class wines….that aren’t getting much shelf space for now.<br> <br> The regions to look for apart from Rioja are the Ribera del Duero, Peñedes, Somntano & Priorato. For more info see our ongoing Magical SPAIN Food & Wine report!</p> <h1 class="header2">Secret Note to Food & Wine Aficionados </h1> <p>You can taste wines, that few outsiders have ever experienced + cooking classes, city walks and non-touristy dining in Spain with our guided <a href="../tours/food_frameset.htm" target="_top">2003 Food & Wine EASY ADVENTURE trip!</a></p> <p><img name="about_gastronomy_photo_04" src="about_images/about_gastronomy_photo_04.jpg" width="548" height="100" border="0" alt="Spain Wine, spain wine, spain food, spain trips, spanish wine, spanish food, wine"> </p>  <div align="center"><a href="../tours/custom_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain Travel and Tours</a> I <a href="../tours/custom_frameset.htm" target="_top">Custom Spain Tours</a> I <a href="../tours/food_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain Wine, Castles & Cuisine</a> I <a href="../tours/walking_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain Walking Trips</a> I <a href="../tours/cycling_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain Cycling Trips</a> I <a href="../tours/jewish_frameset.htm" target="_top">Jewish Spain: Sephardic Heritage Trips</a> I <a href="../tours/custom_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain Private Day Tours</a> I <a href="../tours/golfTrips_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain Golf Trips</a> I <a href="../tours/itineray_frameset.htm" target="_top">More Private and Custom Spain Trips</a> I <a href="../events/index.htm" target="_top">Spain Special Events</a> I <a href="../weddings/index.htm" target="_top">Spain Destination Weddings</a> I <a href="../weddings/honeymoons_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain Honeymoons</a> I <a href="../events/golfEvents_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain Golf Events</a> I <a href="../events/corpEvents_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain Corporate Events</a> I <a href="../events/location_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain Location Services</a> I <a href="../tours/custom_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain Private Tours</a> I <a href="index.htm" target="_top">About MagicalSpain and Spain</a> I <a href="philosophy_frameset.htm" target="_top">Magical Spain Philosophy</a> I <a href="theteam_frameset.htm" target="_top">Magical Spain Team</a> I <a href="history_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spanish/Spain History</a> I <a href="gastronomy_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spanish/Spain Food & Wine</a> I <a href="pressRoom_frameset.htm" target="_top">Magical Spain Press Room</a> I <a href="../comments/index.htm" target="_top">Spain Comments</a> I <a href="../contact/index.htm" target="_top">Magical Spain Contact</a> I <a href="../comments/index.htm" target="_top">Spain Trip Client Comments</a> I <a href="../comments/links_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain Travel Links </a>I <a href="http://www.magicalspain.com/Albums/index.htm" target="NEW">Magical Spain Photo Album</a> I <a href="../comments/privacy_frameset.htm" target="_top">Magical Spain Privacy Policy</a> I <a href="../comments/terms_frameset.htm" target="_top">Magical Spain Terms and Conditions</a> I <a href="../calendar/index.htm" target="_top">Spain FAQ and Calendar</a> I <a href="../calendar/faq_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain FAQ</a> I <a href="../calendar/2004_frameset.htm" target="_top">Magical Spain Trips 2004 Calendar</a> I <a href="../calendar/2005_frameset.htm" target="_top">Magical Spain Trips 2005 Calendar</a> I <a href="../calendar/festivals_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain Festivals</a> I <a href="../calendar/topSights_frameset.htm" target="_top">Spain Attractions</a></div> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> </body>