Although the Basque region of NE Spain had a wide selection of gourmet-grade pintxos, they typically did not offer any ‘free’ ones when you ordered a drink. However, once I entered the other regions across the north of Spain and the León y Castilla area, I was pleasantly surprised by the appearance of these diverse and tasty treats anytime I ordered a beer or glass of wine.
A tasty mix of almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, cornnuts, and fruit jelly candies paired well with a glass of the local Ribera del Duero red wine in Valladolid.
This was a sampling of a popular garbanzo bean soup in León, with the requisite Vermouth in a vermutería offering over 100 varieties.
Ahhh, a first sampling of paella, with tender chicken, bits of shrimp, and a smoky flavor. One could easily make a meal of these small plates if you make the sacrifice of ordering multiple drinks.
I wasn’t quite sure what this little treasure was in Santiago bar but found out it’s a Galician style Tortilla de Batanzos. It was way wetter than the typical tortilla with a smoky hashbrown flavor profile [don‘t think about the undercooked eggs in here].
A little neighborhood bar in a Santiago offered the fairly generous array of snacks below: the ubiquitous olives, bread with soft cheese, smoked salmon, and a sweet glaze, and a little tart filled with a salty, meaty mixture [please let it not be tripe or pig ear].
In this brewery, they served a generous bowl of a salty, nutty mix that nearly filled me up in the early evening. Fortunately, dinner is still many hours away.
Even ordering a coffee or tea will sometimes come with a sweet treat such as cookie, or if you’re lucky, a freshly-made churro, a mini croissant, or a mini orange juice (?).
Last but not least…the humble olive and good ol’ fashioned potato chips.
I’m looking forward to exploring the tapas scene as I head south soon.
How wonderful these all look and seem to be so flavorful. I can actually consume these photos without concern for calories. Love the food/Country connection