Page 37 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL EATING IBERIA

PORTUGUESE AND SPANISH

DINING CUSTOMS & TIPS

For American travelers, one of the most eggs, bacon, waffles, pancakes, and even
challenging aspects of visiting Spain and, hash browns.
to a lesser degree Portugal, is adjusting At the beginning of meals in many
to differences in mealtimes and daily restaurants, a server will place appetiz-
dining traditions. There were a few ers like cheese, olives, cured meats, and
times we couldn't find a decent meal af- bread on the table. It is a couvert and will
ter a long drive or flight because restau- cost you extra. Ask before you dig in. If
rants had stopped serving lunch and you don't want the additional cost or
wouldn't open for dinner until 8:30 or calories, have the waiter take it away.
later. When we'd find a place that did Water isn't free either. You'll be offered
cater to tourist eat- carbonated or
ing habits, it was still at a price per
typically expensive bottle.
and disappointing.
Lunch and
After a week or dinner with
two in the country, friends and fam-
we became some- ily are essential
what accustomed to in the Spanish so-
late lunches and din- cial structure.
ners. Having lunch at They have a
2 in the afternoon name for it, so-
keeps you sated un- bremesa, which
til it's time for dinner means "over the
- a meal or snacks. The Portuguese, on table" or conversation after a meal.
the whole, do not eat as late as the Span- Spaniards often stay at the table chat-
ish with dinner served around 9 or 10 ting and enjoying each other's company,
pm. Lunch usually begins around 1 pm. usually with small glasses of wine or
Most restaurants don't open before 7 beer. These sessions can last for hours
pm and sometimes an hour or two later. into the afternoon or evening.
Portuguese breakfast usually con- The Spanish breakfast many times
sists of toast with butter or a sandwich consists of churros, sprinkled with sugar,
made with a Papo-Seco, a famous bread and dunked in hot chocolate or coffee.
roll or croissant with a slice of ham or The Spanish lunch, or Comida, is the
cheese washed down with milky coffee main meal served usually is between 2
or freshly squeezed orange juice. It's just and 4 in the afternoon. A typical lunch
enough to get you to the 11 a.m.break may have several courses with soup or
for pastry and coffee. In most cities and salad, fish or meat dish, and dessert of
larger towns, visitors can find breakfast fruit, flan, or pastry. Dinner begins any-
dining spots that offer American-style time from 9 onward.

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