Salchichon is a hard sausage similar to salami, lightly garlicky and studded with peppercorns. Lomo embuchado is cured pork loin in sausage casing. Spain is a country with about 3,000 miles of coastline. Fish and seafood is fried in olive oil, grilled over coals, or made into earthy soups and stews. Almonds, walnuts, chestnuts and hazelnuts are often used in savory dishes to thicken and enrich sauces.
Toasted almonds are a classic nibble with a glass of sherry.
Rioja may be the most famous Spanish red wine. Sherry, produced in the area around Jerez, is one of the world's great wines. It is the perfect foil for shellfish, ham, nuts and tapa foods. Tapas are small portions of foods, both hot and cold, served in wine bars and taverns. With them, you drink dry Spanish sherry, wine, cider or beer.