Chef, author and TV host writer Anthony Bourdain has called Spanish cuisine "the best food in the Western world." After taking a look at Spain's traditional foods, it's easy to understand why.
Tapas
Tapas are small portions of food akin to appetizers and are frequently served at bars in Spain. It's common to have a drink and tapas at one bar, then move to another (and perhaps another), eating and drinking along the way. Common forms of tapas include olives, seafood and cheese.
Jamón Ibérico
Jamon iberico is a special ham produced only in Spain, but revered the world over. The ham comes from the black-footed pig, fed primarily acorns just before slaughter. The meat is cured for at least a year. The result is a slightly gamy ham with a nutty flavor, imparted to it by the acorns in the pig's diet.
Churros
Churros are long, thin, fried pastries, dusted with cinnamon sugar and commonly eaten for breakfast or as a snack. The crisp churros are frequently dipped in "hot chocolate," which has a consistency similar to hot fudge.
Paella
Paella is a flavorful rice dish featuring seafood or meat. It's cooked in a large, round, flat pan called a paellera that diners eat directly from. Paella's brilliant yellow color comes from the saffron added while cooking.
Flan
Flan is a rich custard topped with a caramel sauce. Classic flan is flavored with vanilla, but flan feature any number of flavors, including mango, orange or almond.
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