Unpopular opinion incoming: I generally prefer American food. 🫣 Fresh off my trip back to the States, I'm sharing the short list of things I miss and teasing the longer list of things I didn't.
I think lack of food variety is a common one for foreigners in Spain! The fresh ingredients are second to none, but we want Pho as well as gazpacho! But I think it's changing - just in the past 3 years there's been a new crop of Asian restaurants in San Sebastian
I agree. I also think it’s spice flavors. In the U.S., we tend to use so many spices, and here, it’s more dependent on garlic, onions, some salt. We do have a great ramen restaurant right around the corner from us! But man, I miss Mexican food the most. 😅
That's so funny - in San Sebastian there are a lot of Mexican restaurants and run by actual Mexicans too ! I think the other thing that's amazing about Spain is how regional the food is - like I loved the paella where you are but it's inedible in these parts!
💯. We have Mexican food here, but it’s more traditional Mexican and not really Tex-Mex, which is my preferred version. I have had some really good traditional Mexican food around Spain though.
💯. We have Mexican food here, but it’s more traditional Mexican and not really Tex-Mex, which is my preferred version. I have had some really good traditional Mexican food around Spain though.
But the food in San Sebastian is soooooo good, you don't need anything else!
I'm kidding - I only lived there 9 months, I imagine a bit longer and I would've been craving more variety. I definitely remember having specific cravings while there and not being able to find them. One can only eat so many pintxos!
True! The pintxos are works of art but I crave spice and freshness. I nearly cry with gratitude when we skip over the border to France because they give you a side salad with your meal !
Karen! I’m in your Facebook group. I’m honored you found me. 😃
There is so much about food that feels like “home.” It seems as though what you grow up with or get used to eating a lot of becomes a big part of your identity.
Ugh...road trips! Yes. I LOVE road trips. In 8 hours I could drive from the southern tip of this island to the northern end of Scotland LOL. My Texan husband misses Tex-Mex terribly - he would agree with you on that. He would also agree with you on the creamer - I'm a tea girl, so I'm happy with my milk/sugar.
I’ve tried tea off and on over the years. Never found the right fit! Maybe you’ll have to teach me your ways. 😃
Road trips are so fun. I think they’re easier to do on the continent than the British Isles, but you’re hopping from country to country rather than staying in the same one. It makes renting a car harder.
I moatly disagree with your take on food in Spain. We live in Barcelona and we have access to cuisines from all over the world. Just this weekend, we enjoyed dinner at a Malaysian restaurant. This year so far, we've dined out at Georgian, Nepalese, and Brazilian places. Plus, Spanish, Catalan, and Basque food is ever-changing and innovating. I'm sure there are many places in the US where the cuisine is bland and flavorless and the only international dish might be pizza.
I do agree with your assessment about spicy food. I'm not sure why the Spaniards have such an aversion to hot spices especially in the land of pimenton. Also, we miss good bagels!
Valencia has a smaller food scene, so finding international foods can be hard. To be fair, there’s a ton of excellent Spanish food to be found here from various regions.
I found good bagels at Taste of America! Expensive, but the real deal from NYC. I have yet to find a bagel shop locally.
I guess we're spoiled in Barcelona but Valencia is doing a lot when it comes to promoting locally sourced products.
I'm from Philly so I do miss scrapple, hoagies, and cheesesteaks from time to time. Also Maryland crabcakes but our local fishmonger gets crabmeat so we can make our own 🦀
I miss Mexican food like it’s nobody’s business! Also, I miss American hospitality and pleasant service in restaurants. Just not the same here in London.
I love Mexican food too. It’s my favorite food on the planet. But not Tex Mex. Sonoran Mexican might be my favorite variety which I get plenty of in Tucson. If you’re ever up in the Netherlands there is Slap Ya Mama seasoning and buffalo sauce. We just had buffalo sandwiches for dinner. We also miss road-trips.
We don’t get much “real” Mexican food in the South, unfortunately, so the options are different than that awesome stuff you get in Tucson. 😋 And that is good to know! I can get some stuff on Amazon and occasionally, Taste of America, but it’s always so ridiculously expensive.
I don't think your opinion re: food is too unpopular at all! But it's brave of you b/c I'm sure there are some people who'd be incredulous over this hot take, hehe.
I love asking people about the food they miss from home, wherever home may be. I'm British/Irish/American so miss different food from each place, but for American cuisine, it's definitely the buffalo wings and the sauce, hands down. I've also loved Triscuits forever and miss those. Wherever I go in the world, I also miss extra sharp cheddar too.
That reminds me of those Snyder’s pretzels now, those are terrific, the buffalo flavour, and the jalapeno one as well. Kraft Mac and Cheese I’ll always have a soft spot for. I don’t know Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Mac & Cheese, but I’m intrigued now, will track some down if/when I’m next in the US.
I don’t like the hot mac & cheese, but I definitely can go for the cheesy Kraft version. I think the Cheetos version is probably made by Kraft, but I’m not sure. One of those weird collaborations like Oreo is always trying. And I totally forgot about Snyder’s!
😭 The margarita would’ve killed me. I’m not sure we have one here other than a place that focuses on burritos and tacos. That’s as close to Tex-Mex as it gets.
store in Spain called Alcampo. Very much like Target or Walmart but much better in my opinion. I always go when I visit Madrid and just looked up that there is one in Valencia! In the Bonaire shopping center and also in Centro Comercial Port Sa Playa in Alboraya. They may not be convenient without a car but definitely worth at least a field trip to check it out.
We visited the one in Alboraya once. It does seem quite similar to Target and Walmart. Unfortunately, it is quite the trek without a car. We may eventually end up with one but are trying really hard to stick to public transit for now.
I think lack of food variety is a common one for foreigners in Spain! The fresh ingredients are second to none, but we want Pho as well as gazpacho! But I think it's changing - just in the past 3 years there's been a new crop of Asian restaurants in San Sebastian
I agree. I also think it’s spice flavors. In the U.S., we tend to use so many spices, and here, it’s more dependent on garlic, onions, some salt. We do have a great ramen restaurant right around the corner from us! But man, I miss Mexican food the most. 😅
That's so funny - in San Sebastian there are a lot of Mexican restaurants and run by actual Mexicans too ! I think the other thing that's amazing about Spain is how regional the food is - like I loved the paella where you are but it's inedible in these parts!
💯. We have Mexican food here, but it’s more traditional Mexican and not really Tex-Mex, which is my preferred version. I have had some really good traditional Mexican food around Spain though.
💯. We have Mexican food here, but it’s more traditional Mexican and not really Tex-Mex, which is my preferred version. I have had some really good traditional Mexican food around Spain though.
But the food in San Sebastian is soooooo good, you don't need anything else!
I'm kidding - I only lived there 9 months, I imagine a bit longer and I would've been craving more variety. I definitely remember having specific cravings while there and not being able to find them. One can only eat so many pintxos!
True! The pintxos are works of art but I crave spice and freshness. I nearly cry with gratitude when we skip over the border to France because they give you a side salad with your meal !
I’ve lived in Spain for eight years now. I miss the food from California very much. Specifically the Asian food and the variety of vegetarian food.
Karen! I’m in your Facebook group. I’m honored you found me. 😃
There is so much about food that feels like “home.” It seems as though what you grow up with or get used to eating a lot of becomes a big part of your identity.
Ugh...road trips! Yes. I LOVE road trips. In 8 hours I could drive from the southern tip of this island to the northern end of Scotland LOL. My Texan husband misses Tex-Mex terribly - he would agree with you on that. He would also agree with you on the creamer - I'm a tea girl, so I'm happy with my milk/sugar.
I’ve tried tea off and on over the years. Never found the right fit! Maybe you’ll have to teach me your ways. 😃
Road trips are so fun. I think they’re easier to do on the continent than the British Isles, but you’re hopping from country to country rather than staying in the same one. It makes renting a car harder.
I moatly disagree with your take on food in Spain. We live in Barcelona and we have access to cuisines from all over the world. Just this weekend, we enjoyed dinner at a Malaysian restaurant. This year so far, we've dined out at Georgian, Nepalese, and Brazilian places. Plus, Spanish, Catalan, and Basque food is ever-changing and innovating. I'm sure there are many places in the US where the cuisine is bland and flavorless and the only international dish might be pizza.
I do agree with your assessment about spicy food. I'm not sure why the Spaniards have such an aversion to hot spices especially in the land of pimenton. Also, we miss good bagels!
Valencia has a smaller food scene, so finding international foods can be hard. To be fair, there’s a ton of excellent Spanish food to be found here from various regions.
I found good bagels at Taste of America! Expensive, but the real deal from NYC. I have yet to find a bagel shop locally.
I guess we're spoiled in Barcelona but Valencia is doing a lot when it comes to promoting locally sourced products.
I'm from Philly so I do miss scrapple, hoagies, and cheesesteaks from time to time. Also Maryland crabcakes but our local fishmonger gets crabmeat so we can make our own 🦀
I have an ongoing list of things to taste when we make visits back. It’s getting long. 😅
I miss Mexican food like it’s nobody’s business! Also, I miss American hospitality and pleasant service in restaurants. Just not the same here in London.
It isn’t. There are definitely things I appreciate about American service, but there are also parts I could do without. 😂
Good list. Thinkin' you probably can't get (real/good) biscuits and gravy anywhere else in the world...
I’ve tried to replicate it, but alas, it is never the same. I keep trying though!
I love Mexican food too. It’s my favorite food on the planet. But not Tex Mex. Sonoran Mexican might be my favorite variety which I get plenty of in Tucson. If you’re ever up in the Netherlands there is Slap Ya Mama seasoning and buffalo sauce. We just had buffalo sandwiches for dinner. We also miss road-trips.
We don’t get much “real” Mexican food in the South, unfortunately, so the options are different than that awesome stuff you get in Tucson. 😋 And that is good to know! I can get some stuff on Amazon and occasionally, Taste of America, but it’s always so ridiculously expensive.
I don't think your opinion re: food is too unpopular at all! But it's brave of you b/c I'm sure there are some people who'd be incredulous over this hot take, hehe.
I love asking people about the food they miss from home, wherever home may be. I'm British/Irish/American so miss different food from each place, but for American cuisine, it's definitely the buffalo wings and the sauce, hands down. I've also loved Triscuits forever and miss those. Wherever I go in the world, I also miss extra sharp cheddar too.
My son missed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Mac & Cheese. 😅 He’s the Buffalo sauce fan. My daughter loves Cheetos and Goldfish. I forgot about Triscuits!
Oh no, not Goldfish, those things make me queasy!
That reminds me of those Snyder’s pretzels now, those are terrific, the buffalo flavour, and the jalapeno one as well. Kraft Mac and Cheese I’ll always have a soft spot for. I don’t know Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Mac & Cheese, but I’m intrigued now, will track some down if/when I’m next in the US.
I don’t like the hot mac & cheese, but I definitely can go for the cheesy Kraft version. I think the Cheetos version is probably made by Kraft, but I’m not sure. One of those weird collaborations like Oreo is always trying. And I totally forgot about Snyder’s!
I don't miss much but decent tequila would be nice.
There's a "Tex-Mex" restaurant close to me, but they rimmed my margarita glass in table salt and it got less Tex-Mex from there
😭 The margarita would’ve killed me. I’m not sure we have one here other than a place that focuses on burritos and tacos. That’s as close to Tex-Mex as it gets.
While I am in Portugal and not Spain, I can totally relate. I miss breakfast sausage and bacon! Real, thick cut, American bacon!! LOL!!!
YES. 😋
I'm right there with you - tex-mex, Costco, and a big iced coffee!
It was so much fun to shop at Target and just wander!
Hi. There is a fantastic large “box” type
store in Spain called Alcampo. Very much like Target or Walmart but much better in my opinion. I always go when I visit Madrid and just looked up that there is one in Valencia! In the Bonaire shopping center and also in Centro Comercial Port Sa Playa in Alboraya. They may not be convenient without a car but definitely worth at least a field trip to check it out.
We visited the one in Alboraya once. It does seem quite similar to Target and Walmart. Unfortunately, it is quite the trek without a car. We may eventually end up with one but are trying really hard to stick to public transit for now.