Spanish cuisine may not be as well known internationally as French, Italian, or Thai; but it maintains and enjoys a strong reputation both within Europe and beyond. Spanish food consists of a wide variety of different dishes, influenced by a wide ranging group of geographic and cultural traditions. The shear size of the Spanish mainland, together with its varied historical and cultural influences, have given birth to a rich and varied range of national dishes and ingredients. Many gourmet food lovers from around the world visit Spain especially for its food and culinary culture, with many people choosing to stay in a Finca Mallorca or other styles of traditional Spanish accommodation for a truly authentic experience.
The huge variety and multitude of dishes that make up Spanish cuisine can make it difficult to define traditional Spanish food. While some dishes are common to the entire nation, the situation is not made any clearer by the huge range of dishes that are specific to particular regions. Some of the general characteristics of Spanish food include fresh vegetable and meat ingredients, lots of seafood, olive oil, and plenty of dried and processed pork dishes. Stews are also common to much of Spain, with the most famous regional dish – Fabada Asturiana – consisting of beans, pork, morcilla, and saffron. Along with traditional Spanish food, a number of contemporary Spanish chefs have been making a big name for themselves in recent times, and ‘foodies’ are just as likely to be visiting Spain for its modern restaurants as its traditional dishes.
Top quality Spanish restaurants can be found all throughout Spain, from rural Andalucia and Mallorca holiday home (Mallorca Ferienwohnung) establishments to the urban environments of Barcelona and Madrid. Many of the famous Spanish chefs are located in and around the area of Bilbao in the nation’s north, although many others can be found scattered around Spain. While travellers to Mallorca may not have access to all of the modern restaurants in the nations north, rural food in Spain is also generally of a very high quality. With gourmet travel or culinary tourism starting to make its mark on the wider tourism industry, Spain is sure to remain a popular destination with food lovers from all over the world.