Comida!

Greetings from the Renfe train to Valéncia!

I want to take this opportunity to recap the eats.

My favorite meal thus far is a toss-up between last night's dinner and the snacks we had whilst en route to the tram. While watching the Eurocup game against Italy, we ordered a host of various dishes-some tapas and some not. I ordered jamón Ibérico (ham) and queso Manchego (cheese of La Mancha...insert Don Quixóte joke here). I also got olives and with my ham/cheese "ración" came a side of bread rubbed with tomato...apparently a Catalónian specialty. It sounds mundane but honestly I've not had a better side of bread in my life. There was also tomato spread on my ham bocadillo this morning for breakfast and it was delicious. How simple is that? Just Serrano ham on a tiny baguette rubbed with tomato. Delicioso! :)

The market we happened upon had many of the same items that I ate for dinner last night but by far the tastiest item I have had is the mondo-sized churro stuffed with dulce de leche. I shall post a picture as soon as I get home. Even though the picture can't do justice to the sweet, crunchy, caramel goodness that was that churro, at least it will serve as a reminder that those greasy deep-fried straws we get at county fairs hail from a more cultured gastronomic ancestry.

So far, the best tapas and paella we have eaten hasn't been the best Spain has to offer so I'll wait to write on that for a bit.

I think that's all for now-the full Irish breakfast we had at the Black Bull needs no explanation. It was full, alright, and accompanied by the fluffiest Irish soda bread I've had the pleasure of dipping in poached egg yolk.

Mmmm I'm looking forward to the tasty treats that await in Valéncia!

P.S. I bought a $30 box of Belgian pralines before we got on the plane in JFK ...I forget what brand at the moment but I will post again later when I find the box again... they were worth every penny!
-Amy