Spanish cuisine includes more meat, oranges

By Lauren Talley

Created:
02/11/09 6:32pm

Last updated:
02/11/09 6:32pm

1 comment

Valencia, Spain — So when I decided to start eating meat again in preparation for Spain, I didn’t expect to become a carnivore. When I said meat isn’t the main focus of the meals here in Spain — I hadn’t experienced enough Spanish cuisine to know just how much meat is in every meal. Maybe it’s just my family in particular, but I think I’ve eaten more meat in the month I’ve been here than I have in my entire life. And I still don’t know what parts I’m eating, but I’m going by taste so if it’s pork liver and I like it, viva la carne!

I balance my carnivorous diet with a healthy dose of Vitamin C, and by healthy dose I mean borderline overdose. I eat at least four oranges a day and sometimes splurge on the freshly squeezed orange juice at one of Valencia’s many Café & Té restaurants. I watch the employees throw oranges into a mechanical juicer that usually sits innocently among every type of liquor you can imagine.

Which leads to my next food-related observation — alcohol is cheap, really cheap. The bars and restaurants charge as much as their American counterparts, but there are some students bars where you can pick up a glass of wine or three tiny beers, or Quintos, for €1. And that may seem like a rip off when you can purchase entire bottles of wine for the same price and as long as you look older than 12, no one bothers to ask for ID.

While I’m getting my share of protein and fruit, I’m seriously lacking in vegetables. I usually have a salad at lunch and dinner, but its size resembles what I’d eat on my own, and that’s divided between five people. I’m jonesing for a giant plate of more lettuce, less meat and not so much bread.

And now for my biggest food-related culture shock: Milk isn’t refrigerated. I stumbled upon several plastic cartons in my family’s pantry and couldn’t believe my eyes — milk not refrigerated, how can that be safe and healthy? I spotted the same cartons at the grocery store and my host mother explained once the carton is opened it must be refrigerated, but beforehand, it’s safe to sit outside in the cold.

Commentary

Add your $0.02, go to the comment form or follow the comment feed

Erik

(02/12/09 1:51pm)
Report

The milk is irradiated, if that makes you feel any better. It’s really convenient to be able to buy six one-liter tetra-brick containers and keep five of them in the pantry and not waste fridge space. As for the meat, have you stumbled on the whole trout (with head and tail still on, of course) that’s been gutted and has a nice slice of ham inside? That’s my personal favorite.

About Spanish Encounters in Valencia

Journalism junior and former State News copy editor Lauren Talley is studying Spanish at the University of Virginia at Valencia for the spring 2009 semester.

This is her account of life in Spain’s third largest city.

Follow this blog in your feed reader

FEATURED CLASSIFIEDS: More classifieds »

In Employment:

In Apts. For Rent:

FALL/SUMMER 1-2 bdrm apt.

In Services:

SEND VOCALISTS to your Valentine.

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK:More reprints »

A firework display shimmers and shines above Cooley Law School Stadium Sunday night after the Lansing ...
Florence Welch, lead singer of London-based indie group Florence and the Machine, throws up a sign of ...
As deconstruction of the MSC smokestack continues, bricks pile up at the foot of the once iconic MSU ...
Paige Triezenberg, a global and area studies senior, uses a small trowel to clear dirt around an animal ...
Bournville, England resident Trevor Workman plays the carillon for the first Muelder Summer Carillon ...