Spain's East Coast

• Catalonia
• Barcelona
• Girona
• Tarragona
• Valencia

Spain becomes a world power in 1492

• Two noble houses join to unify the country
• Columbus discovers the New World

Products from the New World

• Tomatoes
• Peppers, sweet and hot
• Corn (not used in Spanish Cuisine)
• Potatoes
• Chocolate

Paella

• Traditional rice dish from Valencia
• Cooked in a paellera
• Shellfish, chicken, chorizo, tomatoes, peppers,& hard boiled egg

Sofrito

• Spanish mirepoix
• Cooked in rendered chorizo
• Saffron, garlic, peppers & tomatoes
• Used at the beginning of many traditional preparations

Gazpacho

Famous Cured Ham

• Iberico ham: fed olives and acorns
• Serrano ham: from the mountain regions

Spanish meal structure

• Light breakfast followed by mid morning meal
• Main meal of the day around 2-3pm followed by siesta
• Evening meal could be snack or celebration if guests
• Last meal around 10pm light if staying in or planned outing to restaurants for tapas