You could be in Spain, Mexico, Argentina, or any other Spanish speaking country, and if you engage in a conversation with locals you will soon find yourself talking about food.
Much of the Spanish culture revolves around food. People will invite you to eat as a gesture of welcoming or potential friendship. Grandmothers will insist that you go for seconds and thirds, friends will gather around food, and there is not a celebration that does not include good food.
When you travel to a Spanish speaking country, do not try to keep your normal eating habits. Embrace the foods from the country, their customs around the table, and their schedules.
While each of the Spanish speaking countries has their own food customs and dishes, I would like to comment on some of the most significant customs around food in Spain, as I was born and raised in this country.
If you find yourself visiting Spain, please be aware that there are general customs revolving around food and the table, and that each region has its own dishes and culinary traditions. Adopt the initial ones right away, and adapt as you travel around the country.
Meal Times
One of the more important things to be aware of when in Spain is that they follow a fairly precise schedule for meals. Specific meals are only available at certain times throughout the day.
If you are used to a more relaxed schedule and availability that can be found in other countries, such as the United States, then this can be a bit tricky to get used to and plan for.
The concept of going into a restaurant at any time of the day and being able to order a meal does not exist in Spain. Most restaurants serve lunch between the hours of 1pm and 3pm. Dinner starts availability at 9pm, and is not uncommon to go past midnight.
If you try to enter a restaurant at 5pm, you will not only find it empty, you will also discover that they will not serve you. They may have a bar where you can get a drink, but they will not serve food again until the start of dinner time.
