Shop for Food: ‘The Ultimate Spanish ‘Tapas.’

Shop for Food. ‘The Ultimate Spanish ‘Tapas’

Some of the most delicious ham and cheese comes from Spain; take Iberian Cinco Jotas ham cured for at least three years, and from the Jabugo region in Huelva, Spain.  The pigs are 100% Iberian and raised in a microclimate and vast pastures.  It is important to eat this ham in very thin slices as it almost melts in your mouth, so you might need to learn how to cut it.  Even after living in Spain for many years, I could never cut it like the pros, so I tend to buy it already cut in slices. You can buy it in a pack with just a few slices, or the whole leg if you have enough space and a true love for the stuff, but you will have to learn how to carve it, and this is very difficult. Your kitchen will smell like the leg, so beware! You might want to store the ham in another place, but the leg cannot be kept in the refrigerator, so you will need a cool and dry space for it. You can buy the front or hind leg, but the hind leg will have more meat on it. Spanish Acorn-fed ham

This ham can also be bought directly from the Domecq company, which sells a wide range of Iberian meat products, and high quality Sherry wines, which I totally recommend as well!  Domecq winery is one of the oldest in Jerez de la Frontera, dating back to 1730. Domecq Wine

Spanish Manchego cheese is another delicacy from this country, pair it with some Muga wine from the Rioja region, and you have got yourself into some seriously delicious territory. Muga Wine.  Manchego is a strong, aged cheese, so it goes well with both of the red wines I am recommending in this post, Gourmet Manchego Cheese.

I prefer this cheese with red wine, but some people might prefer a white wine to pair it with.  The ‘Rueda’ region in Spain produces delicious white Rueda wine using the ‘Verdejo’ grape, which is crisp and light. Another good choice in Spanish white wine is their famous sherry, which is made in Jerez de la Frontera. ‘Sandeman Don Fino’ is my personal favorite. There are several varieties of sherry, so you can choose young to more aged ones depending on what you prefer.

Another excellent wine that I love from Spain is ‘Pesquera’ from the Ribera del Duero region.  Pesquera is made from the ‘Tempranillo’ grape and it is a very smooth and intense wine. Some people have told me that they find it similar to Pinot Noir. I have only bought this wine for special occasions because it is quite a bit more expensive in the U.S. In Spain it is sold at a more moderate price. Pesquera is sold at most specialty wine stores, so it is harder to find in the U.S.

I hope you will enjoy these products, they will make your Spanish ‘tapas’ party perfect, sophisticated and delicious!

Thanks readers,

Ms. Darcy

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