Spanish Food Glossary

Just as it is advisable to learn some general words and phrases of a destination country's language, it is also nice to become familiar with a few food terms. Many European restaurants provide English menus as a courtesy, but some may not. Knowing some basics makes it easier to read and understand a menu, and it is fun too. (To view the entire glossary, click on "read more.")

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

A la brasa – charcoal grilled

A la marinera – cooked with white wine, onions, and tomatoes

A la parilla – broiled

A la plancha – broiled on a hot surface, especially fish, shellfish, and meat

A la romana – deep-fried in a light batter, especially calemares, hake or merluza

Añadir – add

Aceite – oil

Aceite de oliva – olive oil

Aceite de oliva puro – a processed neutral olive oil with a small amount virgin olive oil added for flavor, a basic olive oil for frying

Aceite de oliva virgen extra – quality cold pressed olive oil with an acidity level below .75 percent and a distinctive flavor

Aceituna – olive

Acelga – Swiss chard

Adafina – a dish similar to a cocido or stew

Aderezar, alinar – to season or dress a salad

Adobo – pickling brine or marinade, usually made of oil, vinegar, peppercorns, bay leaves, and other spices

Aagridulce – bittersweet

Travels in Spain, Barcelona's Tasty Treats

A ramble down the Ramblas to the Columbus monument and the water is a must for any Barcelona visit. Packed full of people (hold on to wallets and purses), the Ramblas used to be a local shopping street. Unfortunately it has been taken over by tourists and souvenir shops. Nothing is a bargain, especially the restaurants serving up mediocre food.

La Boqueria

The best stop along the Ramblas is the market (La Boqueria). There has been a market here dating back as far as 1200. Just as I can’t pass a church without taking a peek, I can’t pass a market. I love them and this is one of the best anywhere. Brimming with every kind of food and Spanish delicacy imaginable, it is a foodie’s dream. There are also little eateries spread about, if one is lucky enough to snare a seat.

Got Ham?

The front stalls pay a location premium and markup their prices accordingly. A walk toward the back can offer a little better price for the same products.

The food in Spain is always good. The food in Barcelona is outstanding.

Spaniards eat late; both their lunch time and dinner time are much later than in the US, and in most of the rest of Europe. Many locals wouldn’t consider going out for dinner before 10:00pm. It is certainly possible, though, to book an earlier table, like at 9:00 or even 8:30. The best option for dining earlier is to visit a tapas bar or two.

Basque-Style Tapas

We love tapas so it is no hardship to enjoy them for dinner. Many Barcelona tapas bars have a Basque influence, meaning they set out little bites of food for the taking. In Basque Country tapas are called Pintxos and are usually served on pieces of bread with a toothpick. At the end, the used toothpicks are counted to settle the bill. 

It can be up to 20% more expensive to dine outside rather than in. Depending on the location it can be worth the extra expense as tapas are generally an economical way to eat.

One of our favorite Basque-style places to have a drink and a nibble is Sagardi Euskal Taberna near the Church of Santa Maria del Mar. If staying in an area for awhile, it can be fun to feel a little like a local by frequenting the same tapas bar or breakfast café.

Tuna at Arcano

For a fine meal, Arcano is an excellent restaurant choice. Not only is the food and service good, the atmosphere is very nice as well. We have always sat in a wine cellar kind of room with arches and stone walls laden with racks of wine. Their tuna and octopus are both delicious.

The most amazing place to have a meal, however, is Tickets. It was founded by Albert Adrià, who, along with his brother Ferran Adrià, made the Michelin 3-star restaurant, elBulli, famous.

They have since closed elBulli, but in its day it was often referred to as the best restaurant in the world. Our local well-known chef, José Andrés, who brought tapas and imaginative food to Washington, DC (and who has been diligently working to help feed hurricane victims in Puerto Rico and furloughed employees right here in DC) learned many of his creative techniques by working there.

Tickets Red Beets

The Adrià brothers were the ones who came up with the “molecular gastronomy” way of creating innovative food. Albert has a number of restaurants in Barcelona now, all in the same neighborhood.

Tickets, with its one Michelin star, is currently ranked the 25th best restaurant in the world. It is the hardest of their restaurants to get a reservation, but it seems to have gotten a little easier since we were there. Reservations open exactly 2 months in advance at midnight Spanish time, and it is best to immediately book online to be sure to get a seat for a specific date and time.

The restaurant is all theater, hence the name Tickets. It is a kaleidoscope of neon lights, funky furniture, open kitchens, and oversized fruit hanging from the ceiling. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see an elephant and clown passing through. But this fun house has seriously delicious, creative food and operates like a well oiled machine.

Tickets Magic Olives

Diners have a choice between ordering from the menu or having a parade of unexpected little morsels delivered one by one. We chose to have the surprise tastings and enjoyed every minute. After our meal was finished, we were escorted to the dessert room for a couple of sweet bites to end the show. Truly an amazing experience and, although not cheap, it was certainly reasonable.

Barcelona is full of life. It exudes a lifestyle we would all love to have. I could go back again and again. There is so much to soak up, so much to see and do, we didn’t even scratch the surface during our two visits. Hopefully we’ll get to do some more exploring and nibbling very soon.

Travels in Spain, Barcelona's Museums and Other Delights

As previously mentioned, along with its fanciful architecture, Barcelona is packed full of interesting museums as well as many other delights.

Romanesque Mural

The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (Catalan Art Museum) has a wonderful collection of Catalan art dating from the 10th and continuing to the mid-20th century. My favorite was the Romanesque Art; 11th to 13th century mural and panel paintings, the largest and oldest collection in Europe.

The building housing the art museum, the Palau Nacional (National Palace), is itself an impressive site. The majestic building was erected for the 1929 World Expo. As an extra treat, a trip to the rooftop terrace rewards visitors with incredible views over the entire city.

View from the National Palace Rooftop

Down from the Palace is a bit of Barcelona whimsy, the Font Màgica (Magic Fountains). Also created for the World Expo, the musical fountains are choreographed splashes of water and color. They are delightful. (The fountains don’t run every night, so it is important to check the current schedule.)

Ruins May Pop Up Anywhere

Pablo Picasso spent his formative years, teenage to early twenties, in Barcelona. The El Born district houses a good museum dedicated to his work. Fans of Barcelona-born Joan Miró will find a fine museum built solely to showcase his art.

The Barcelona City History Museum (MUHBA) has several heritage sites spread throughout the city. Most sites are archaeological, displaying remains of Barcino, an ancient Roman city. It is not unusual to stumble upon ruins while strolling through the Gothic Quarter or other neighborhoods.

Parc de la Ciutadella

For a little green space mixed with all that museum hopping, the Parc de la Ciutadella is an oasis. It is a lovely place to relax, picnic, go for a stroll or maybe a row around the lake.

Sardana Dance

The park houses several attractions including the zoo, the Catalan Parliament (the Museu d'Art Modern is located within the Parliament building), the Zoological Museum and the Museu de Geologia (Geology Museum).

Palau de la Música Catalana

Barcelona’s Gothic Cathedral (Catedral de Barcelona) is worth a visit; of course I think all churches are worth a visit, they are like mini museums. The interior is impressive, but rather stark. The best features are the duck-filled pretty cloister and the Sardana Dances that are performed in front of the church by the locals on weekends. People of all ages join hands in a circle to perform their traditional dance; it is a sweet sight to behold.

We wanted to see the Palau de la Música Catalana (Concert Hall). We had seen pictures and it looked beautiful, so we decided to take in a concert to properly enjoy the experience. The outside is deceiving, it looks like nothing special, but the interior is gorgeous.

Barcelona's Waterfront

Designed in the modernista style by architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, the hall was constructed between 1905 and 1908. It is hard to explain how the skylight, windows, arches, pillars, and carvings combine to make this place so incredible.

There are perhaps too many sites to see and places to explore in and around Barcelona. It would be easy to spend a week here dashing from place to place. It’s always good, though, to remember that a vacation is not just about seeing everything, but about relaxing and enjoying the experience. The waterfront is a delightful place to relax, enjoy a drink, walk, bike, or put toes in the sand. A wonderful day can be spent just enjoying the promenade, the beach and simply being in this joyous, colorful city.

Travels in Spain, Barcelona and Its Architecture

We have been to Spain a number of times and enjoy everything about the country; its beauty, its charm, its food and its people. Of all the towns we’ve visited, I think Granada, Seville and Barcelona are my favorites, but I loved the Basque Country and the Costa del Sol too. If I could only recommend one place to visit, however, it would be Barcelona.

Modernista Architecture

Whimsical Barcelona is a playground of funky Modernista architecture, winding Gothic alleyways, sandy beaches, and copious amounts of tasty little dishes.

We have been to Barcelona three times, staying once on the Ramblas, once near Plaça de Catalunya and once on the beach in the Port Olímpic area. The first two are more convenient locations, but Port Olímpic has its benefits as well; it is quieter yet still an easy walk to the old quarter, restaurants and metro stops.

If flying into BCN airport, an airport bus goes to the centrally located Plaça de Catalunya where the old city and the newer 19th century Eixample (expansion) meet. From there it is an easy walk, metro or taxi ride away to all of Bacelona. Of course taxis are available directly from the airport to anywhere.

Barcelona is becoming overrun with tourists and the locals, rightly so, are getting a bit tired of us. Going off season reduces the crowds and provides visitors with better weather and easier access to the sites. It is important to be respectful, polite and mindful of local customs, we are, after all, guests in their city.

Park Güell

Barcelona is part of Catalunya, and its residents are Catalan before they are Spanish. Like their neighbors to the north in Basque Country, they have their own culture and language. Most everything is printed or displayed in both Catalan and Spanish, with Catalan appearing first.

English, however, is widely spoken but it is always a good idea to learn some basic words and phrases before setting out to any non-English speaking country. At a minimum, one should learn the courtesy words of hello, goodbye, please and thank you. A little effort goes a long way.

The one thing that sets Barcelona apart from every other town is the fanciful Modernista (Catalan Art Nouveau) architecture. One person stands out as having the most influence on this 19th and 20th century movement, Antoni Gaudí.

Sagrada Familia

Gaudí derived inspiration from the popular neo-Gothic and organic styles of the time. He created some of Barcelona’s most iconic structures, such as the incredible Sagrada Familia, Casa Milà and Park Güell. His love of nature influenced his designs, a number of which are now UNESCO World Heritage sites.

We found Park Güell to be pure whimsy. The actual park is huge, but the area containing the Gaudí structures is smaller than we had thought from photos and films we had seen. Originally designed as an upscale housing community, the project failed. What stands today is a Disneyesque adventure through a creative, colorful mind. Best to buy timed entry tickets online, the park is a bit out of town and people can be turned away or have a long wait to enter if they don’t have tickets.

Light Dancing Across the Sagrada Familia

There are plenty of Gaudí sites to visit, but the most impressive, and downright awe inspiring, is the Sagrada Familia (the Holy Family) Cathedral. Gaudí worked on the Cathedral for 43 years, from 1883 until his death in 1926. The construction goes on to this day, with a completion target of 2026, the 100th anniversary of the creator’s death.

We stopped by all three times that we visited the city and saw a marked difference in progress between visits. It is a beautiful and mesmerizing place; one could spend hours just observing the changing colors from the sun that pours through the stained glass and dances across the magnificent walls, ceiling and towering columns. Like tickets for Park Güell, timed entry tickets should be bought well ahead of time online.

There are more buildings from Gaudí, like Casa Milà, and other Modernista architects to explore, but the city is also blessed with some very good museums. I will talk about some of them in my next post.

Bloody Mary Vegetable Dip

Ever wonder what to do with that left over bloody Mary mix? Well, you would be surprised at how versatile it can be.

A few years back I was asked to come up with some recipes for a bloody Mary mix company, and I have to admit, I really enjoyed the results.

From a vegetable dip, to shellfish spoons, to shrimp shots, and floating eggs in bloody Mary mix … everything was both good and unique. Here is a simple vegetable dip recipe, which has been a real crowd pleaser whenever I have served it. Make some for game day or any day.

Bloody Mary Vegetable Dip
(Makes 2 cups.)

• 12 ounces softened cream cheese
• 1/4 cup bloody Mary mix
• 1/4 cup finely minced shallots
• 5 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 5 tablespoons tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Bloody Mary Vegetable Dip

Place all ingredients in a bowl. Mix well to fully incorporate.

Chill at least an hour before serving to blend flavors.

Serve with carrots, celery sticks, cucumbers or cherry tomatoes.