The Art, Love and Tradition of Sharing Food in Spain

8/20/2019 The Art, Love and Tradition of Sharing Food in Spain

1/9

USA / CANADA: 1-888-717-4514UNITED KINGDOM: 0871-666-0214

SPAIN: +34-942-637-358

HOME POPULAR POSTS INSIDER SPAIN GUIDES ABOUT US CONTACT VISIT TOTALLY SPAIN WEB

Tweet

The Art, Love and Tradition of Sharing Food in Spain

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Totally Spain

Be Sociable, Share!

If you only spend a day in Spain, you can’t help noticing how people love to share food. Outside of breakfast, if you’re travelling in

Spain, you’ll have countless opportunities to share a morsel. It’s so intrinsic to the dining experience that it’s built into the

menus. But do you know what to share and how to share it in Spain?

How to Share Food & What’s Acceptable at the Table…

In many bars, the only food you’ll find will be meant for sharing. Meatballs, croquetas and meat platters – they are all to share or

‘para compartir’. Even in restaurants, the first course is generally shared. ‘Algo para picar’ (something to nibble on) you might say

while you are waiting for your mains. For example, for a table of four, you might share a something cold such as a salad (ensalada

or ensaladilla for a Russian salad) and something hot such as garlicky prawns, and each person then orders their own main

course. The exception here is the set-price meal (menu del dia) which we’ll talk about later on.

http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/category/popular-posts/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/category/insider-spain-guides/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/about/http://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_2/contact-us/http://www.totallyspain.com/https://twitter.com/sharehttp://www.totallyspaintravel.com/author/admin/https://twitter.com/sharehttp://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.totallyspaintravel.com%2F2014%2F09%2F10%2Fsharing-food-in-spain%2F&title=The%20Art%2C%20Love%20and%20Tradition%20of%20Sharing%20Food%20in%20Spain&source=The+Totally+Spain+Travel+Blog+The+Spain+%26amp%3B+Portugal+Travel+Specialists+since+2000&summary=If%20you%20only%20spend%20a%20day%20in%20Spain%2C%20you%20can%27t%20help%20noticing%20how%20people%20love%20to%20share%20food.%C2%A0Outside%20of%20breakfast%2C%20if%20you%E2%80%99re%20travelling%20in%20Spain%2C%20you%E2%80%99ll%20have%20countless%20opportunities%20to%20share%20a%20morsel.%20It%E2%80%99s%20so%20intrinsic%20to%20the%20dining%20experience%20thahttps://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&to&su=The%20Art%2C%20Love%20and%20Tradition%20of%20Sharing%20Food%20in%20Spain&body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.totallyspaintravel.com%2F2014%2F09%2F10%2Fsharing-food-in-spain%2F&ui=2&tf=1&shva=1http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.totallyspaintravel.com%2F2014%2F09%2F10%2Fsharing-food-in-spain%2F&t=The%20Art%2C%20Love%20and%20Tradition%20of%20Sharing%20Food%20in%20Spainhttp://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The%20Art%2C%20Love%20and%20Tradition%20of%20Sharing%20Food%20in%20Spain%20-%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.totallyspaintravel.com%2F2014%2F09%2F10%2Fsharing-food-in-spain%2Fhttp://www.totallyspaintravel.com/author/admin/http://www.totallyspain.com/http://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_2/contact-us/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/about/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/category/insider-spain-guides/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/category/popular-posts/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/


2/9

A row of prawns with heads and tails – perfect food for sharing in Spain. photo credit: jlastras

via photopin cc

And sharing can continue on into the main course also. A table of four people can order a selection of dishes from the starters and

mains sections of the menu and have each served as a shared dish for all to taste and experience. It adds to the drama of the

experience as each dish is given its own moment under the spotlight and is enjoyed and discussed. When doing this, restaurants

will usually recommend dishes that are suited to sharing – or advise that you might need to order two of something rather than

just one – for example if you are having scallops or oysters and you want to have a piece each. You’ll also be advised the order in

which the dishes will arrive.

What’s Suitable for Sharing?

Many dishes lend themselves to sharing rather than being eaten on their own – for example – you wouldn’t want to eat a portion

of black pudding (morcilla) on your own. Likewise, a platter of cured meats (embutidos) or squid (calamares/rabas) for one person

would be too monotonous – much better to share these platters and get a contrasting dish such as a leafy green salad or some

vegetables such as stuffed peppers as well. Waiters are usually very helpful when recommending good combinations and pay

attention to the house specials as well – whether that’s chorizo in cider (a la sidra) or cured beef (cecina).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jlastras/3681129385/http://photopin.com/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/medium_6451951835.jpghttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/http://photopin.com/https://www.flickr.com/photos/jlastras/3681129385/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/medium_3681129385.jpg


3/9

A platter of embutidos or cured meats and cheese – better among 2 or 3 people. photo credit:

Aerismaud via photopin cc

Sometimes main courses are trickier to share and you’ll need to know who you are eating with. For example, whilst it’s easy for

the kitchen staff to cook a juicy sirloin steak and slice it into thick strips – if one person likes it rare and the other well done it’s

not going to work. If you are sharing red meat dishes, you’d better ask your fellow dining partners how they like their meat and if

needs be, you can always send a section of the dish back in for an extra charring. Fish dishes are generally easier to share – and

when you explain that two or more people are sharing – you will be offered a raft of options that may not be on the menu – such

as fish baked in salt (pescado al sal), paella and other rice dishes that are usually prepared for a minimum or two people. Many of

the seasonal fish dishes such as grilled sardines (sardinas) are better fun when shared. Much better for all the hands and mouths

at a table to be oily than just yours!

The paella is usually only available for a minimum of two people. photo credit:

dominiccampbell via photopin cc

How do you Serve Shared Food? How is it Divided Out? How much Should you Take?

Usually when sharing dishes, each person will be given a normal or side plate and the dish will be served in the centre. One person

can choose to divide the item and serve each person individually or each serves their share or part of their share. Exceptions here

would be with platter of cured meats or cheeses where you many not be given side plates – you might just use your fork to

skewer a piece of meat and pop it onto a piece of bread as you drink your wine. And you’d be mad not to pick up a piece of cheese

with your hands. Some shared food just has to be handled.

Often, when the numbers don’t divide perfectly, e.g. with a platter of mussels or clams, you’ll often see a single item left on the

platter for ages – which in Spain is untouched out of shyness (por la verguenza). Usually the waiter will encourage one of the

diners to go for it before clearing the plates.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/aerismaud/6451951835/http://photopin.com/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/https://www.flickr.com/photos/dominiccampbell/7152509869/http://photopin.com/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/http://photopin.com/https://www.flickr.com/photos/dominiccampbell/7152509869/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/medium_7152509869.jpghttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/http://photopin.com/https://www.flickr.com/photos/aerismaud/6451951835/


4/9


5/9

You will rarely find a plate for your bread in Spain. Here – at a wedding – is the exception.

photo credit: MShades via photopin cc

Except at weddings and the more formal of events, small side plates are used for sharing food in bars rather than for resting bread

or anything else on. When you take a piece of bread from the bread basket in the less formal restaurants, leave it beside your wine

glass – never on your plate.

Mopping Up with Bread

You might be wondering whether it’s polite to mop up the meat juices or sauces from a shared fish platter? Our advice is to look around. If it’s a fine-dining restaurant, we might spoon it onto our own plate. It its rough and ready, chuck a piece of bread into the

central plate and scoop it out with your fork or your fingers – depending on how well you know you fellow guests. If you are in a

bar, you’ll need to use the bread for everything from acting as a plate – pop oily food items such as cheese, anchovies and

sardines on top of a piece of bread to avoid them dripping on you. And for mopping up sauces, again bread is your ally. (BTW If

you happen to swallow a fishbone, bread is the solution as well.) Feel free to order more bread if you need to – you may or may

not be charged but it’s usually not expensive. And if you happen to be travelling with a small child, you can usually ask for copious

amounts of bread – para el niño…

Wherever you put it, bread is your friend when it comes to mopping up sauces. photo credit:

Unhindered by Talent via photopin cc

What to do with the Debris when Sharing?

Where do you put the prawn heads and the olive stones and the spines of the sardines? On the side of your plate is the bestoption. If you are eating in a rural or rustic place, you can scrape them back onto the central plate when the contents of the plate

have been finished and you need the space on your plate for the other platters. If you are in a nice restaurant, your food will

probably be served individually and your plate taken away after each mini-course.

Sharing Wine, Desserts, Digestifs and Snacks

No – don’t worry – you don’t have to share a glass of wine with anybody. But if you are sharing a bottle, you should know that

glasses are usually only half filled here – in fact – even if you order by the glass you’ll never see it filled more than half way up –

that’s to let it breathe and help you to swirl it around so you can enjoy the wine. The worldwide phenomenon of one dessert and

two or more spoons is perfectly acceptable in Spain. In fact, you’ll probably be brought extra spoons without having to ask for

them. If the party is offered a digestif, it’s perfectly normal for one person in a group to ask to taste another’s drink.

And while we are talking of something sweet, everybody’s favourite snack – churros – are the perfect example of how good

sharing can be. Although rather than sharing, it can often be a debate about who ate the churros!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mshades/4527484628/https://www.flickr.com/photos/mshades/4527484628/http://photopin.com/http://photopin.com/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/https://www.flickr.com/photos/nicmcphee/4511498998/http://photopin.com/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/http://photopin.com/https://www.flickr.com/photos/nicmcphee/4511498998/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/medium_4511498998.jpghttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/http://photopin.com/https://www.flickr.com/photos/mshades/4527484628/


6/9

Churros are more of a snack than a dessert but oh so good for

sharing!! photo credit: Brian W. Tobin via photopin cc

How to Avoid Sharing – is that’s not your thing?

If you don’t like the idea of sharing food with others – then you need to say that. By all means, allow the others in your party to

share, but make sure you say to the waiter that you don’t want to. ‘Lo mio no es para compartir’ (Mine is not for sharing). The

reason you need to do this is because you might not be served your dish until the end. Another way to get around this is to say

that everything should be brought to the table at the same time (tráenos todo a la vez). The best option for not sharing is to pick a

set-price menu deal (menu del dia) which usually offers great regional cooking and value for money. The exception here would be

tourist traps in front of the main monuments in Spain. Always try to stray at least one of two streets from the main drag when

looking for a good ‘menu del dia’.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/btobin/332837560/https://www.flickr.com/photos/btobin/332837560/http://photopin.com/http://photopin.com/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/http://photopin.com/https://www.flickr.com/photos/btobin/332837560/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/medium_332837560.jpg


7/9

Have a few pinchos if you are very hungry and will end up sharing food – that way you won’tsnaffle up everything on the first few plates. photo credit: robertpaulyoung via photopin cc

Sharing with a Hearty Appetite

We came across some very tall Finnish basketball players in a bar in Bilbao who were up for trying the local Basque cuisine but it

was obvious that these guys weren’t going to be full after sharing a few raciones (platters). If you have a large appetite but don’t

want to miss out on the sharing in Spain, you should have a tapa or two at the bar before taking to a table and ordering a couple of

platters to share. If you need a more balanced meal, ask about stews and casseroles (platos de puchero/cuchara) that are usually

served in a big pot in the centre of the table. You usually find one of these as the starter to a three course set-price meal. If you

need carbs and can’t find a casserole/menu del dia, look for a mixed-grill platter (plato combinado). If you are in a place that only

serves shared ‘raciones’ ask whether they can come with fries or order some extra bread or a salad.

The ‘plato combinado’ is a handy option for people who don’t wish to share food. photo credit:

[dac] via photopin cc

Travelling Solo but Don’t Want to Miss Out?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/robertpaulyoung/1537387094/http://photopin.com/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/https://www.flickr.com/photos/dacmail/75612765/http://photopin.com/http://photopin.com/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/http://photopin.com/https://www.flickr.com/photos/dacmail/75612765/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/medium_75612765.jpghttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/http://photopin.com/https://www.flickr.com/photos/robertpaulyoung/1537387094/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/medium_1537387094.jpg


8/9

Given the theatre of your average Spanish restaurant, it can be one of the easier places to dine out alone. If you want to try as

much as possible but can’t share with anybody, ask your waiter whether you can order half portions (media racion/porcion) and

order 2-4 half portion dishes – you waiter can advise on the size of the dishes. More and more restaurants are serving half

portions which is fantastic not just to try more on the menu but also for people on reduced-calorie diets, limited budgets and

indeed for children. If you are among this list, ask your waiter whether you can order half portions and get experimenting…

The Sharing Never Stops

Sharing food in Spain is a way of life. It happens in bars, restaurants, homes and on holidays. Spaniards going to a different city or

region on holidays or for work will often bring back significant amounts of food for themselves and even take orders for local

delicacies from friends, family and work colleagues. Likewise a Spaniard visiting friends abroad knows s/he needs to bring some

of the home treats over with them. If you don’t know what that is, you’ll find it stacked up at motorway filling stations and in shops

in the airports.

The retro looking packaging is as appealing as the gift – breakfast sobaos from Cantabria.

photo credit: by onnoth via photopin cc

Here are some handy examples by region:

From Cantabria, you’re talking about a packet of sobaos (buttery breakfast sponge cakes), anchovies, cheese and the Orujo

liquer.

In Burgos – pick up some black pudding (morcilla)

Asturias – don’t forget to bring some fabada beans or cider or the blue Cabrales cheese

Riojan wine and vegetables

Manchego cheese from Castile la Mancha

Salamanca for cured meats

Extremadura for Pimenton de la Vera

Olive oil from JaenMarzipan from Toledo

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaionnoth/5662533088/http://photopin.com/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/http://photopin.com/https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaionnoth/5662533088/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/medium_5662533088-1.jpg


9/9

Tweet

Sharing paella – if you really want to taste a good paella, you have to order one to share. photo

credit: coda via photopin cc

Tempted to arrange an Insider Gastronomy tour of Spain?

Get in touch with the experts at Totally Spain? Phone Spain on +34-942-637358, from the USA on 1-888-717-4514, and from

the UK on 0871-6660214 or SEND US AN EMAIL or REQUEST A QUOTE

Be Sociable, Share!
https://twitter.com/sharehttps://www.flickr.com/photos/coda/564701/http://photopin.com/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/http://www.totallyspain.com/mailto:[email protected]?%20subject=CUSTOMISED%20SPAIN%20PACKAGE&body=I%20wish%20to%20enquire%20about%20a%20Customised%20Spain%20package.%20%20My%20name,%20email%20address,%20number%20of%20people,%20preferred%20date%20for%20the%20trip%20and%20any%20other%20relevant%20information%20are%20shown%20below.mailto:[email protected]?%20subject=CUSTOMISED%20SPAIN%20PACKAGE&body=I%20wish%20to%20enquire%20about%20a%20Customised%20Spain%20package.%20%20My%20name,%20email%20address,%20number%20of%20people,%20preferred%20date%20for%20the%20trip%20and%20any%20other%20relevant%20information%20are%20shown%20below.http://www.totallyspain.com/spain_quote.asphttp://www.totallyspaintravel.com/2014/09/19/what-to-pack-and-wear-in-spain/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/2014/09/02/festivals-spain-september/https://twitter.com/sharehttp://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.totallyspaintravel.com%2F2014%2F09%2F10%2Fsharing-food-in-spain%2F&title=The%20Art%2C%20Love%20and%20Tradition%20of%20Sharing%20Food%20in%20Spain&source=The+Totally+Spain+Travel+Blog+The+Spain+%26amp%3B+Portugal+Travel+Specialists+since+2000&summary=If%20you%20only%20spend%20a%20day%20in%20Spain%2C%20you%20can%27t%20help%20noticing%20how%20people%20love%20to%20share%20food.%C2%A0Outside%20of%20breakfast%2C%20if%20you%E2%80%99re%20travelling%20in%20Spain%2C%20you%E2%80%99ll%20have%20countless%20opportunities%20to%20share%20a%20morsel.%20It%E2%80%99s%20so%20intrinsic%20to%20the%20dining%20experience%20thahttps://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&to&su=The%20Art%2C%20Love%20and%20Tradition%20of%20Sharing%20Food%20in%20Spain&body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.totallyspaintravel.com%2F2014%2F09%2F10%2Fsharing-food-in-spain%2F&ui=2&tf=1&shva=1http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.totallyspaintravel.com%2F2014%2F09%2F10%2Fsharing-food-in-spain%2F&t=The%20Art%2C%20Love%20and%20Tradition%20of%20Sharing%20Food%20in%20Spainhttp://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The%20Art%2C%20Love%20and%20Tradition%20of%20Sharing%20Food%20in%20Spain%20-%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.totallyspaintravel.com%2F2014%2F09%2F10%2Fsharing-food-in-spain%2Fhttp://www.totallyspain.com/spain_quote.aspmailto:[email protected]?%20subject=CUSTOMISED%20SPAIN%20PACKAGE&body=I%20wish%20to%20enquire%20about%20a%20Customised%20Spain%20package.%20%20My%20name,%20email%20address,%20number%20of%20people,%20preferred%20date%20for%20the%20trip%20and%20any%20other%20relevant%20information%20are%20shown%20below.http://www.totallyspain.com/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/http://photopin.com/https://www.flickr.com/photos/coda/564701/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/medium_564701-1.jpg

The Art, Love and Tradition of Sharing Food in Spain

Documents

Transcript of The Art, Love and Tradition of Sharing Food in Spain