Dishes to try in Spain and Italy?

CooCooPuff
CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I'm less than a month, I going to Spain for ten days and Italy for three and wonder if y'all can give me some good recommendations.

Pizza is a given for Italy. It's actually the tour itinerary! I'm actually more curious for Spain's cuisine!

Replies

  • Tubbs216
    Tubbs216 Posts: 6,597 Member
    Ooh, ALLL the tapas!

  • bryonysimmo
    bryonysimmo Posts: 15 Member
    Paella! My personal food heaven
  • pdxwine
    pdxwine Posts: 389 Member
    What part of Italy are you visiting? Cuisines are different based on the region.
  • CooCooPuff
    CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
    pdxwine wrote: »
    What part of Italy are you visiting? Cuisines are different based on the region.
    We'll be staying in Rome.

    For Spain, it'll be four days in Madrid, two days in Seville, some time in Grenada, and Costa de Sol.
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
    Paella, and Tortilla Española
  • rosebarnalice
    rosebarnalice Posts: 3,488 Member
    In Spain, fish any way you can get it (when you're near the coast, at least), olives, sardines, and whatever they serve you in tapas bars. And make sure have breakfast in a real Iberico jamon (ham) place where they're hanging from the ceiling over the coffee bar (there's an awesome one inear the cathedral in Seville).
  • CooCooPuff
    CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
    rosebarnalice wrote: »
    In Spain, fish any way you can get it (when you're near the coast, at least), olives, sardines, and whatever they serve you in tapas bars. And make sure have breakfast in a real Iberico jamon (ham) place where they're hanging from the ceiling over the coffee bar (there's an awesome one inear the cathedral in Seville).
    Oh god, seafood is my favorite. :#

  • pdxwine
    pdxwine Posts: 389 Member
    CooCooPuff wrote: »
    pdxwine wrote: »
    What part of Italy are you visiting? Cuisines are different based on the region.
    We'll be staying in Rome.

    For Spain, it'll be four days in Madrid, two days in Seville, some time in Grenada, and Costa de Sol.

    Sounds like a fabulous trip! I was only in Rome for less than a day (spent my trip in Tuscany), so I did not eat much in Rome. I did find this link, http://www.rome.info/food/

    In my travels, I found that steak was big on the list of foods we had. Big steaks that fed more than one person, along with simple cubed potatoes and zucchini. Pastas were lightly sauced.

    One bit of advice, drink a lot of water (especially in Spain) as you will be eating a lot of sodium in the cured meats and cheeses.

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  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    When we were in Rome a couple of years ago we ate in the local eateries rather than the tourist restaurants. They serve the meal in courses so you get a pasta first, then a meat, then a veg, then desert if you can fit it.
    The first time we ordered individually and even my 6'3 200lbs SO couldn't finish. We found out after that it is served 'en familia' (sp?) and we were supposed to order between us ;)
    The food at those little places was wonderful.

    Spain, I could live off the mezza/ tapas.

    Have a wonderful time.

    Cheers, h.
  • mylifeisbeautiful
    mylifeisbeautiful Posts: 292 Member
    I am planning a visit to Spain too! :) I am going into it with an open mind, even though I don't usually like pork and seafood, which seem to be their most common dishes. I'm most excited about the wine haha In Roma save room for a gelato!!
  • mylifeisbeautiful
    mylifeisbeautiful Posts: 292 Member
    Ps have a great trip!
  • paulgads82
    paulgads82 Posts: 256 Member
    Avoid the tourist traps in Rome. Find a place outside of the centre if you can. As for Spain, it's just as good as Italian cuisine. Paella is your quintessential Spanish dish but my favourite is to have Tapas, basically just a big selection of smaller dishes, potatas bravas, chorizo, oh I love Spanish food. The beauty of Tapas is there's bound to be at least something you'll like! And yeah the steaks seem to be huge. No complaints here.
  • CooCooPuff
    CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
    mylifeisbeautiful wrote: »
    Ps have a great trip!
    You too!

    As for tourist traps, it's a trip with a bunch of kids from the school my sister works. I'm kinda stuck to those places. I'm not complaining because she gets to go for free! o:)

    Any sort of interesting desserts in Spain?
  • fishshark
    fishshark Posts: 1,886 Member
    cacio e pepe in rome!
  • Morgaine_on_the_move
    Morgaine_on_the_move Posts: 228 Member
    I studied abroad for six months in Seville: Paella, arroz con pollo, papas fritas, tortilla espanola, gazpacho, seafood. Pork, pork and more pork. Drinks: tinto de verano and agua de sevilla. My go-to restaurant back then was San Marco in barrio Santa Cruz ( Italian food). Diviertete!
  • CooCooPuff
    CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
    Gun bump this thread because I'm leaving next Saturday!

    What are some neat things I can take home? I had hoped I would be able to take home some animal fats, but I wouldn't be allowed to take those home. I'm definitely going to be on the hunt for some dried spices.
  • evileen99
    evileen99 Posts: 1,564 Member
    Melon with proscuitto. You will die at how good it is.
  • OblasMummy
    OblasMummy Posts: 40 Member
    I'm just about to do 32 days camping in France. With my 2 & 4 yr old. I'm sure we'll make it work. Grilling meat etc plus I think the latest thing is the Mediterranean diet! So you'll be grand X
  • CooCooPuff
    CooCooPuff Posts: 4,374 Member
    OblasMummy wrote: »
    I'm just about to do 32 days camping in France. With my 2 & 4 yr old. I'm sure we'll make it work. Grilling meat etc plus I think the latest thing is the Mediterranean diet! So you'll be grand X
    I'm 24 and have only traveled overseas once before. I am more than okay with gaining a few real pounds to sample more authentic Spanish and Italian cuisine. Sticking to grilled meats, no oils is fine when going to Olive Garden, but why on Earth would I do this doing something I will likely never do again?

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