Tapas are characteristically Spanish and are served in every restaurant, bar and bodega throughout Spain. They are small servings of food, similar to appetizers, that are enjoyed with beer or wine at a leisurely pace. One after another is ordered as the evening wears on. They can be as simple as bread with ham or cheese or as elegant as smoked salmon with a cream sauce. Tapas are gaining in popularity in the United States where tapas bars are appearing in most of the larger cities

Tortillas in Spain are not the same as the well-known Mexican version. These are like omelettes, made with eggs and a variety of fillings and cooked in olive oil until firm. My favorite is an onion, cheese and ham tortilla with some sliced potato in it. They are often eaten with a side of freshly made mayonnaise.

Sherry is another specialty, called "jeréz". It is a unique wine, almost like a brandy in quality, that comes from the region of Jeréz, also located in Andalucía. Jeréz can be dry or sweet, as in a cream sherry, or can be a blend of dry and sweet.