Spanish Dining
西班牙饮食
西班牙人生活中，对吃喝之事看得很重。当年康有为做过一番考证，他认为西班牙的烹调颇美，味道甚似中国，而过于法国。他认为法国菜就传自西班牙，而西班牙人是从葡萄牙学来的，葡萄牙当然是从澳门那里学过去的。但后来，欧美人只盛赞法国美食，原因在于法国当时强大。且不论康老先生的考证是否有据，今日游览西班牙，最不必愁的就是“食”。在街上供应吃喝的地方多种多样，从乡村最简朴的酒吧到大城市的豪华餐馆，应有尽有，更值得一提的是，到了西班牙别忘了品尝其花样繁多味道优美的果酒和香槟。
西班牙的南北菜肴品种丰富，烹制方法五花八门。在巴斯克地区，各色鱼鲜十分诱人；加利西亚以海味着称；在内陆地区则以肉类烧烤为主……。生火腿、肉肠和鸡蛋土豆煎饼并称西班牙三大小吃。安达卢西亚生产的火腿更是要价100美元1千克，但是味道非常好，甚至有人从西班牙买了火腿带回国内用来慢慢品尝。
到小酒吧进食，最能体会当地的风俗，那里下酒菜品种繁多，常由店主人的妻子在厨房亲自料理，盛在小碟子里上桌，客人用牙签或小叉子进食。西班牙餐馆和酒吧的侍者工作起来似乎有一种自豪感，他们为顾客倒饮料或上菜速度惊人，技巧娴熟。
西班牙人的中午主餐一般在家里吃。他们视其为家庭成员交流的时刻，一道菜一道菜按部就班地上，一点不马虎。
水果、甜食也是西班牙人生活中不可缺少的，花样之多甚至不亚于菜肴。
Spanish cuisine is made of very different kinds of dishes due to the differences in geography， culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by the variety of seafood available from the waters that surround the country， Spain being the second largest (after Japan) consumer of fish. As Spain has had a history with many different cultural influences， the richness and variety of its cuisine is overwhelmingoverwhelming adj.压倒性的， 无法抵抗的， but all these ingredients have made up a unique cuisine with thousands of recipes and flavours. The international influences are perhaps most obvious in Barcelona. Next door to a shop selling readymade falafels might be an Asian food restaurant， which is next to a traditional tapastapas n. （西班牙餐馆的)餐前小吃 bar， and on and on in amazing variety.
Much influence on Spanish cuisine has come from the Jewish and Moorish traditions. The Moors were a strong influence in Spain for many centuries and some of their food is still eaten in Spain today. However， pork is popular and for centuries eating pork was also a statement of ethnicalethnical adj.人种的， 种族(特有) limpieza de sangre. Several products of the Americas were introduced in Europe through Spain， and a modern Spanish cook couldn，t do without potatoes， tomatoes， pepperspepper n.胡椒粉 or beans. These are some of the primary influences that have differentiated Spanish cuisine from Mediterranean cuisine， of which Spanish cuisine shares many techniques and food items.
Daily meals eaten by the Spanish in many areas of the country are still very often made traditionally by hand， from fresh ingredientsingredient n.成分， 因素 bought daily from the local market. This is more common in the rural areas and less common in the large urban areas like Madrid， where supermarkets are beginning to displace the open air markets. However， even in Madrid food can be bought from the local shops， bread from the panadería， meat from the carnicería， etc.
Traditional Spanish cooking also often revolves around outdoor cooking over a fire， perhaps in a special clay or brick oven.
One popular custom when going out is to take tapas with your drink (sherrysherry n.雪利酒， 葡萄酒， wine， beer…). In some places， like Granada， tapas are given for free with your drink and have become very famous for that reason. It should be noted that almost every tapas bar serves something comestiblecomestible adj.可吃的 n.食物 when a drink is ordered， without charge.
Another traditional favorite is the churro with a mug of thick hot chocolate to dip the churro in. Churrerías， or stores that serve churros， are quite common. Specifically the Chocolatería de San Ginés in Madrid is very famous as a place to stop and have some chocolate with churros， often late into the night (even dawn) after being out on the town. Often traditional Spanish singers will be seen to entertain the guests.
There are several dishes that you can have a try！
Bakeries Where would many travellers be without a bakerybakery n.面包店？ These can be found throughout the area. For a bakery close to your hotel (if your accommodation choice doesn，t have one inhouse)， ask for details on arrival.
Chinese Restaurants are popular and can be found in most areas. You are best advised to ask at your hotel for advice on one that，s closest to you.
Halal Cuisine If you are of Islamic faith or simply prefer halal cuisine， then your palettepalette n.调色板， 颜料 is well catered for here. Hotels/resorts and restaurants often cater to your preferred diet and for more information (if your accommodation choice doesn，t offer this cuisine) would be to ask at your hotel or one of the useful information centres in the area on arrival.
Hawker Food Hawker venues are dotted throughout the area. These come in the form of street stalls or can be found inside market areas and shopping malls. Generally this food is safe to eat and the variety extensive and mouth watering.
Kosher Dishes members of the Jewish faith will have no trouble following their traditional diet here. If your hotel doesn，t already cater for this， restaurants in the area do and you are advised to ask for details on a venue nearest your hotel that does.
Local Cuisine One of the best ways to sample Spanish food is to try tapas， or snackssnack n.小吃， 快餐， 一份 v.吃快餐(小吃)， which are served at any time of day in local bars. These range from cheese and olives to squid or meat delicacies and are priced accordingly.
International (Western cuisine) You，ll find western style eateries and American fastfood outlets throughout the area. German， Italian and Greek restaurants as well other nations will more than satisfy your cravingscraving n.渴望 for food from these countries.
Indian Cuisine Indian food is plentiful， from quaintquaint adj.离奇有趣的， 奇怪的， 做得很精巧的 coffee shops to those serving spicy curries， dosas and chapaties you are sure to find something to suit your taste. This popular cuisine is well catered for here and you certainly won，t starvestarve vt.使饿死 vi.饿得要死 on this front.
Japanese Dishes can be found at a number of Japanese restaurants in the area. Ask for details on one closest to your hotel on arrival.
