The counter serving paella, a colourful combination of rice, chicken, pork, clams, mussels, shrimp, peppers, sausages and peas, stands out during the ongoing Spanish food promotion at the Regal International East Asia Hotel. Paella is probably the best-known Spanish dish in the world. The cocido, a heavy stew of boiled chicken, meats and vegetable, is Spain's other national dish.
Fish is popular throughout Spain, especially cod, hake and red snapper.
The dozens of Spanish food items, which also include potato omelette and seafood soup with croutons, are prepared by a strong team of six members from the Barcelona-based Hofmann Culinary School and Restaurant headed by its founder and director Mey Hofmann. Hofmann said she is very happy to come to Shanghai to introduce Spanish food. Complementing the Spanish food, which relies heavily on olive oil and garlic, Spanish wine is also highlighted during the promotion. Rosa Maria Vila Barnils, a wine connoisseur, is at hand to serve and introduce Spanish wine from regions such as Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Somontano and Penedes. Spain is one of the world's largest wine-producing countries, offering the total variety of grapes, from the deepest red and delightful rose to dry whites, as well as sparkling, pearly cavas.