Finally, let’s talk about the food.
If you are like me, and love to eat, Granada is the city for you. All over the province, every drink you order also comes with a free small snack (tapa). At most bars or restaurants, this means they bring you out whatever they feel like. This can be anything from small sandwiches to a cheese platter to a portion of meatballs. At some other cafes, you can choose what tapa you want.
I am both lactose intolerant and gluten intolerant, and living in a country that really loves their bread and cheese. However, I have found that even at the cafes that don’t let you choose your tapa, if I inform them of my allergies, they will happily accommodate.
The biggest culture shock for most of my American friends here have been the meal times. Spaniards do not eat breakfast, and if they do, it’s just some toast. This is difficult to adjust to if you’re used to having a plate of eggs, toast, and bacon for breakfast. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day, and is eaten between 2pm and 4pm. This is the meal that everyone returns home to eat with their family. Lunch is usually a big plate of pasta or paella with some protein in it. Dinner is smaller and is eaten between 8:30pm and 10pm. This can be a sandwich or soup and salad. Many young people also go out for tapas instead of eating dinner at home.
After meals, it is expected to “sobremesa” which means that you stay at the table after everyone is finished eating to chat for a while. This is good for students in host families to practice their Spanish.
Since I live in an apartment, I eat most meals at home. Although I do love to get tapas with friends here, I also really enjoy cooking. If I do go out for dinner, I will usually go to a bar here that is run by a really nice British couple. They have a menu that is all gluten and lactose free and you can choose what tapa you want with your drink. They have curries and other spicy food which is great for me because although I love Spanish food, it can be bland, and I’m used to pouring Sriracha sauce on everything I eat.
My favorite local dish to get in the city around lunch time if I have a craving or if I’m too lazy to cook is usually huevos rotos con jamon, which is fried eggs over potatoes and jam. It’s a pretty simple dish but is always satisfying and is also good to share because it’s served in a big portion. I consider it my Spanish comfort food.
The most interesting dish I’ve had here in Granada is the sardines that are grilled on the beach in Almunecar, which is still in the province of Granada, but about an hour south of the city center. They’re usually a summer food, and is the Mediterranean version of barbecue.
