Spain’s Food Revolution

The fact that Spain is the country with more chefs on the 100 -world’s best chefs list is one the main reasons why Spanish food is becoming more familiar to markets where it has traditionally been just another face in the crowd. many countries are discovering that Spanish cuisine goes beyond paella and chorizo, and the United States is no exception. The number of Americans visiting Spain just because of its culinary offerings is getting bigger every year. Paris is no longer the world´s cuisine capital. A new generation of chefs, with a different approach to traditional cooking techniques and ingredients, has taken the leadership of world’s cuisine away from the French. Chefs like Juan Mari Arzak, Ferra Adria, Enrique Martinez, Dani Garcia, Quique Dacosta and Martin Berasategui are the world’s new reference in cuisine and innovations. What all these Chefs have in common, besides that they are Spanish, is that the main ingredients in their recipes are Spanish food products.

The fact that  Mediterranean diet is becoming more and more popular, is also helping. Olive oil has long been considered very beneficial to the body because it contains monounsaturated fat, which does not raise the blood cholesterol level in the same fashion as saturated fat does. Many Americans have switched their diet over to using olive oil. Popular smoked meats are very popular as well such as iberico ham, serrano ham, and chorizo. Iberico ham is a ham that are cured for at least two years which gives it a very deep mahogany color, and a texture that is creamy. Some of these pigs are fed an acorn diet as well, which adds a nutty flavor to the ham. Serrano ham is a kind of ham that comes from Spain and has been cured for six to eighteen months in the high mountains. chorizo is a pork sausage originating from Spain that is seasoned with paprika and salt. There are numerous kinds of cheeses that are making themselves known in America as well such as Manchego, and Cabrales.

Spanish food is on the rise in the United States, and if you are looking for some you no longer have to travel to Spain to find it. Negotiations have been made with Embutidos Fermín of Spain to send over three hundred different kinds of Jamón Ibérico. They cost about fifty dollars per pound, but are well worth it. If you are looking for olive oil then you may be interested in knowing that Sos Cuetara has recently purchased the rights to Bertolli and Dante oils from Unilever.

Not only is the food becoming better known, but so are the Spanish recipes and Spanish restaurants. El Bulli is a Spanish restaurant that has become famous because of its Spanish food recipes that were invented by the chef Ferran Adria. He has made himself known for creating food in the same way that whipped cream is created. His creams are famous worldwide. There is another Spanish chef that is making food from Spain more popular in the United States and that is Jose Andres. He has his own PBS cooking show called Jose Made in Spain and has won awards for his spectacular cooking. Many American consumers are looking for Spanish food and it is being made more available for them as well.

If you are looking for food, Spain such as paella, tapas, manchego, rioja, Ribera del Duero,  chorizo, serrano ham, olive oil or any other products from Spain, it will be much easier for you to find them in America now that they have become popular. Spanish foods are great and if you have it never tried any, now is the time.