(Posted by Nicola Heath)A big part of my trip to Spain has concerned eating and drinking. A culinary wonderland, each if its cities has its own specialties and character. Sevilla and Granada in the south are both amazing places to enjoy tapas in its original form.
Sevilla
Life in Sevilla is about enjoying yourself. The capital of the Andalucia region in southern Spain, Sevilla endures summer temperatures of 45˚C and above, so exerting oneself is not high on the list of a sevillano’s priorities. In the old city, narrow streets and rows of orange trees (the fruit too sour to eat) work to keep the city cool, and hundreds of tapas bars and restaurants fill the streets.
Sevilla is one of the best places in Spain to enjoy tapas (small dishes named for the Spanish word for ‘lids’ or‘covers’), and my favourite – of many – was a small place calledBar Alfalfa (Calle Candilejo, 1). Typically Iberian in style, with walls covered in bottles of vino tinto and hanging jamon, Bar Alfalfa serves wonderfully fresh plates of bruschettas and salad, which make a welcome alternative to the often fried and potato-heavy fare commonly found in Spanish restaurants.
Hangingjamón
Some specialties to look out for are grilled seafood, particularly gambas (prawns) and calamar (squid), from the nearby coastal areas of Huelva and Cadiz, and jamón ibérico, the ubiquitous ham you’ll seeing hanging in bars and restaurants throughout Spain. Another delicious local dish isespinacas con garbanzos, a borderline healthy mix of spinach with chickpeas.
Granada
Granada, two hours’ drive from Sevilla, is famous for the tradition in its bars and restaurants of serving free tapas with drinks (Australian tapas bars take note!). It’s a wonderful idea that makes a night out on the town a culinary treat. Another benefit of the practice becomes clear at around midnight on a Friday when the bars and streets are buzzing with people and no one appears too drunk.
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