Spain by MasterChef Travel

Spain combines culinary sophistication with the simpler pleasures of rustic cooking traditions.

While the country has become a centre for some of the most innovative cooking in the world, as epitomised by the work of the great chef Ferran Adrià, it is the more traditional food, with its distinct regional variations, that has been inspiring visitors for centuries.

This is the land of paella, tapas, jamon Iberico, Seville oranges, abundant seafood and wonderful wines. From the smallest villages to the magnificent cities, Spain is a country that celebrates the shared pleasures of cooking, eating and drinking.

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Join a txoko in Basque
Enjoy lunch with these all-male Gastronomic societies. Created as a way for men to cook, eat and socialise, txokos are credited with reviving elements of traditional Basque cuisine.

Sample a selection of pinxtos
These small snacks are the perfect introduction to Basque cuisine – and each are delicious in their own right. Served on crusty bread, they are topped with anchovies, hake, tortilla de patatas and more.

Sip on a locally made cider
Traditionally, cider from the Basque country is still – not sparkling. Watch as the cider is poured from a height to aerate it, and enjoy a glass of this slightly sweet, acidic and frothy beverage.

Taste traditional txakoli wine
A lightly sparkling, dry white wine, txakoli is usually drunk as an aperitif to cleanse the palate. A delicious light wine, it has low alcohol content – perfect if you’d like another glass.

Wander through La Brexta market
This large undercover market is home to vendors selling all sorts of top quality food – crisp fruit and vegetables, locally produced cheeses, Basque chistorras and piles of seafood freshly caught that morning.

Five of the most entrancing cities in Spain

Seville
Seville, in Spain’s far south-west, is the main city of the tapas-eating and sherry-drinking region of Andalucia. Its cultural highlights are equally satisfying, including the world’s largest gothic cathedral and the magical Royal Alcazar – a stunningly ornate palace created from a 10th-century Moorish fort.

Madrid
Spain’s capital, Madrid, is at the physical and political heart of the country and a culinary melting pot, reflecting the migrant populations who have settled there through history. For culture vultures it is also home to some great museums including the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza art collections, and the wildly opulent Palacio Real.

Barcelona
The Catalan capital of Barcelona is a sophisticated city that can satisfy multiple interests. The Camp Nou stadium is home to one of the world’s great football teams; the Museu Picasso is a must for art lovers; the unfinished Sagrada Família cathedral is Gaudí’s fantastical architectural masterpiece; and La Boqueria food market is a wonderland for food lovers.

Valencia
Valencia has long been an architecturally elegant city, with its blend of art nouveau, gothic and Renaissance buildings. However, in recent years, bold development such as the cutting-edge City of Arts & Sciences complex has breathed new life into the city through some of the most striking modern architecture in Europe. Its dynamic museums, flourishing restaurants and buzzy nightlife all add to the Mediterranean vibrancy.

San Sebastian
San Sebastian, in Spain’s Basque country, is a city to raise the passions. Food lovers are enthralled by countless bars serving an array of tapas dishes, here known as pintxos, as well as many Michelin-starred restaurants. There are also three stunning golden beaches, superb art nouveau architecture, and an old town of narrow streets for gentle meandering.

Location: Spain is located on the Iberian peninsula in south-western Europe and is bordered by France, Andorra and Portugal. It is one of three countries to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines.
Capital: Madrid
Religion: Roman Catholic (94%)
Etiquette:

  • Evening meals are often eaten late, generally after 9pm
  • Smoking is banned in all public places - however, bars and restaurants must declare whether they permit or prohibit smoking

Languages: Castilian Spanish, Catalan, Galician and Basque
Population: 46,704,300 (approx.)
Size: 504,782 sq km
Time zone: GMT +1
Currency: Euro (€)
Visa requirements: Holders of British citizen passports do not require visas for travel to Spain.
History: The Spanish are said to have been the key figures in the beginning of European colonialism in the 15th century and transformed European understanding of the globe. Spanish control of its mainland colonies in the Americas was lost in the wars of independence at the beginning of the 19th century. They came about at a time when Spain’s resources were heavily stretched through the Napoleonic war. Modern-day Spain has been shaped largely by the Spanish civil war from July 1936 to April 1939, from which the Nationalist forces, supported by Nazi Germany and led by Francisco Franco, emerged victorious against the Republicans – Franco becoming dictator in 1939. Francoist Spain lasted until 1975.

What to read

1080 Recipes
by Simone Ortega, Ines Ortega, Javier Mariscal
Considered Spain’s best-loved cookbook, 1080 Recetas De Cocina is a comprehensive collection of traditional and authentic Spanish recipes, covering everything from tortilla to bacalao. This title has been a bestseller in Spain since it was first published 35 years ago and, with more than 2 million copies sold it can be found in most kitchens across the country.

Don Quixote de la Mancha
by Miguel de Cervantes
Don Quixote, first published in two parts in 1605 and 1615, is one of the world's greatest comic novels. Inspired by tales of chivalry, Don Quixote of La Mancha embarks on a series of adventures with his faithful servant Sancho Panza by his side. The novel has acquired mythic status and its influence on modern fiction is profound.

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