One day this week on our way home from school we decided to stop in a few of the grocery stores to see what kind of stuff they had and to buy some snacks. Of course there were a lot of things that were quite similar to products in the US, and we got really excited any time we saw an American brand (example: "Oh my gosh, look! They have OREOS here! REAL oreos!!" or "Peanut butter!!! I thought I was never going find it here!"). I never realized going to the grocery store could be such an exciting experience! However, there were some things that were DEFINITELY Spanish, through and through. For example, here in Spain there is a favorite snack called jamon. Jamon translates to ham, and that doesn't sound too bad, right? Well this kind of jamon comes still attached to the pig. As in, you buy an entire pig leg, hoof, skin, and all, and take it home and slice it up to snack on. The good thing is that it lasts for a long time (well, it is a good thing if you like it). Bree and I, however, are NOT big fans. The meat has huge pieces of fat still attached, and it is really just not appetizing. And they eat it with melon here! YUCK! So yes, we have a giant pig leg stored out on our balcony (because it is so cold and there isn't room in the kitchen), and there is a whole section at the grocery store dedicated to pig legs. YUM.
Some other fun delicacies that we've discovered are jamon flavored chips (like I said, the Spanish REALLY love their jamon!), ketchup flavored cheetoes (yes, really), and entire aisles dedicated solely to aceite de oliva (olive oil... it is used to cook absolutely EVERYTHING here. We haven't had a single meal yet that hasn't featured olive oil in at least one of the dishes). Pretty interesting! I wonder what kind of things we have in the US that the Spanish would find weird or downright revolting?
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2 comments:
the seafood here usually makes me gag the most. the worst in in the frozen foods section they have baby eel salads.
you should go look for it.
EW! p.s. send me your phone #
Do they have pickled pigs feet?
Seriously, in the southeastern USA you buy these in a jar in the grocery store. I think they are more popular with the rural black folks here. Oh and by the way, you should tell your family about our grocery store chain called Piggly Wiggly. My aunt from south Alabama doesn't say she's going to the grocery. She just tells you to run down to the Pig for her.
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