In the states, you can wake up feeling satisfied thinking about last nights dinner...Mac n' cheese. Maybe throw some bread on the side and you'll be thinking about it a week later. Possibly a quick sandwich for lunch and that's all you need.
Yet, in Spain, that reality is a lost cause. And I'm glad. Because when you can't find food staples like mac n'cheese in the states, you come to a realisation rather fast. Their are so many better tastes to consume, some from plates that are quite simply made.
Before leaving, I remember, I was told beware because you may fall in love abroad. And, I didn't think much of it at the time. But it happened. There were four plates that stole my heart as soon as I tried them.
Warning: this article may make you hungry.
1. El Bocadillo.
Can't be right. Must be a dream. Because, can something this easy also be this tasty? The basis is 3 simple ingredients, all tasty on their own; bread, olive oil and Serrano ham. I can't quite remember fully but I'm nearly positive I had a dream about that ham... or maybe two. But, it gets even better because you can add some tomato on it, as my professor told me. [Clearly I only talk about food with my professor]
2. La Paella.
So, there's this moment in my house when pure excitement reaches new levels. It's when mamá Paqui comes to the side of the apartment where my bedroom is and shouts, "La cena...cena." And then entering the kitchen and seeing the massive paella pan on the counter. In that moment, I'm pretty sure my knees buckle a little bit. There are no words for how delicious it is. There are many different varieties to try, from only fish, only chicken, both, pork or vegetable. And the flavour with the rice is something I hope to find once back in the states.
3. Las patatas con jamón y queso.
Once again, Spain's Serrano ham proves to be delicious. I don't think I have ever had a better combination of three ingredients [other than the bocadillo of course]. A friend abroad with me, who loves it, can best describe this plate as, "This salivating meal will not disappoint your needs. Oh God, I want it."
4. Las croquetas con jamón.
Not sure what to say except that the taste is like a fairytale. The best part, every place has them so if you really wanted to, you could eat a plate everyday. And yes, I have thought about doing so. Their like chips, you can't only have one, and if you can then you are my idol. Because I find it hard to stop after one plate.
