Pinchos not tapas
One of the things I was most excited to experience when I came to Spain is the different types of food they offer here in Pamplona. Even in my first few days here I noticed some major differences between the culture around food here and in the United States, and some of the various trends seen across the dishes of this wonderful city. First off, lunch and dinner are eaten much later in Spain then in the U.S. with lunch being served around 2:00 and dinner around 8:30 or later. This was something I definitely had to get used to since I am usually an early eater for both of those meals, but its been pretty easy to get accustomed to this new schedule since there are so many cafes available for in snacks in between.
Unfortunately I’ve never been a fan of seafood, but many of the dishes here feature it in some way and all of it looks so beautiful that I may just have to try some by the end of my trip. There seems to be four main food groups in Spain that are included in almost every dish: meat (specifically ham or jamón in Spanish), potatoes, cheese, and bread. What more could you want! These main ingredients tend to make dishes on the heavier side with meats being stuffed with cheese or potatoes, but a way to balance these savory dishes is with the famous pincho. Pinchos are Pamplona’s unique take on the well-known tapas, or small shareable plates that are common throughout Spain and Spanish restaurants in the U.S. A pincho is rather a snack-sized version of a larger meal, usually coming with a cerveza (beer) or drink. Many locals and tourists alike visit the city’s many bars and eateries to enjoy one of the delicious pinchos displayed on the counter. Usually there will be a few options in a glass case, and you simply ask for the one you’d like (or point to it if your Spanish skills are lacking!) and say “este pincho, por favor!”. With pinchos running around 3 – 5 euros, it definitely is an affordable treat! Another staple in the Spanish diet is the infamous “café con leche”, or just coffee with milk. The locals drink it like water here and I usually have a cup a day as it is available for most of our meals and in any café you visit in Pamplona.
Most of my meals come from the dining hall style cafeteria in our residence since it is included in our dialogue fee- free food is the best food! And despite being in a cafeteria, we actually get to try many traditional Spanish foods like croquets with ham and cheese, and so far it has been a great experience. Towards the end of the week on Thursdays and Fridays we tend to venture out into the city to try the local fare, which is always a fun time deciphering various menus with new vocabulary and new foods for us to endulge. My favorite thing I’ve had so far I ordered for lunch one day at a small restaurant, and honestly I did not even know what it was when I ordered! It was called San Jocobo de Guarnicion, and I’m still not sure why it is called that. It was a square piece of ham fried in a pan and stuffed with the most delicious cheeses, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for it in the future. I have been in Spain for almost two weeks and still have so much of the local food to try but this has definitely been the most direct way to immerse myself in the culture and try something new. The restaurant experience forces me to use my Spanish skills and broaden my cultural as well as literal palate to new flavors and dishes, even if I may not know what they are!
