S
pain experienced a record year for tourism in 2013 with more than 60.5
million foreign visitors, and one of the main reasons it’s “trending”
is the burgeoning culinary scene that continues to gain more attention
internationally. And for good reason...
The sophistication of Spanish cuisine and the delectable
duplicated. Fruits are plentiful year-around, with
dishes being created by its world-class chefs has
several favorites during the spring and summer
resulted in numerous awards, including a galaxy of
being peaches, melons, figs and apricots. Ham
Michelin stars shining above the Iberian Peninsula.
is ubiquitous in any Spanish city or town, with the
delicacy of the acorn-fed Iberian pigs (jamón ibéri-
The tapas craze is a quintessentially Spanish notion
co de bellota) being world-renowned. Finally, the
that has become a global phenomenon, and the bar
creamy elegance of the famed Manchego cheese
continues to rise as chefs experiment with innovative,
comes from a sheep of the same name in the region
intense flavors packed into every
dish. From Singapore, to Hong
Kong and at home in the United States, a growing number of
Spanish restaurants are making
themselves known.
of La Mancha.
Spanish cuisine
remains a reference
in the kitchens
all over the world
“Spanish cuisine remains a
S p a i n i s a ls o h o m e to an
ab un d a n c e of r em a r ka bl e
w ines – being the third largest
producer of wine in the world
– as well as the tourist-favorite sangria that is a delicate
reference in kitchens all over the world,” explains
combination of wine, brandy, sweetener and fresh
Chef Óscar Velasco of Santceloni Madrid. “This makes
fruit. ¡Buen provecho!
our kitchen very rich and solid, which generates expectations to many people in the world who are willing
While there are delicacies specific to each region
to come to Spain to experience the real thing.”
of this diverse country, Madrid, Barcelona and the
Basque Country provide dynamic destinations
Looking beyond the tapas concept of eating, the
complete with fascinating people, places and ac-
Spanish diet leans heavily upon the Mediterranean
tivities, along with sensational dining experiences.
way of life with fresh seafood, olive oil and vegetables,
and it’s simply delicious. Traditional dishes like
paella are often served internationally, but rarely
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