10 things you need to know about Spanish food.

1. They put olive oil and salt on everything! on bread, in rice, on fish, on salads, on vegetables... They're not concerned that olive oil is fatty; to them, it's healthy. Other spices, pepper, basil, etc. don't exist.
2. This means the food is kind of bland. Don't get me wrong, it's good, but not full of so many flavors as one would find in the States. For example, two nights ago we had hamburgesas, and my senora just cooked them in olive oil and salt right out of the plastic wrap it came in.
3. Bread at each meal is consumed in large amounts. Low-carb diet? Out the window.
4. Tortillas do not equal Mexican corn or flour wraps. It's actually a traditional Spanish dish very similar to an omelet but instead of cheese there are lots of vegetables in it such as onions and potatoes, for instance. This dish has become my favorite :) Did I mention it's soaked in olive oil??
5. Cafe con leche is the equivalent of a small latte. It makes me really happy that I can have one each morning since my senora has an espresso maker.
6. El menu del dia for la comida, or lunch, is the best thing ever. Restaurants have a nice price fixed menu for under 10euros that comes with an appetizer, entre, dessert, and glass of wine or water. And you can't have both water and wine without paying extra because...
7. Tap water does not exist in Spain. Yes, you can drink out of the faucet, and the water isn't horrible. However, people just drink bottled water here.
8. La cena, or dinner, is at 8:30 p.m. That's because lunch is usually around 2.
9. Jamon (accent on the o) is a delicacy. HUGE legs of pork hang in store windows. It's very good, but a little salty for my taste. However, I've only had one type so far, and there are many types of jamon to choose from.

This one used to be whole when I came the first day. Now it's almost half gone.

10. Fruit is considered a dessert. While they do have cake, chocolate, and icecream on the menu, Spainards opt for the more healthy option, while those sugary sweets are mainly consumed during holidays and special occasions.