- Business
- Childbirth & Education
- Legal Formalities
- Motoring
- Other
- Pensions & Benefits
- Property & Accommodation
- Taxes
- Airports and Airlines Spain
- Paramount Theme Park Murcia Spain
- Corvera International Airport Murcia Spain
- Join us for Tea on the Terrace
- When Expat Eyes Are Smiling
- Meet Wincham at The Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle Show, Calpe
- QROPS 2014
- Spain Increases IHT in Valencia & Murcia
- Removals to Spain v Exports from Spain
- The Charm of Seville
- Gibraltar Relations
- Retiro Park : Madrid
- Community Insurance in Spain
- Calendar Girls
- Considerations when Insuring your Boat in Spain
- QROPS – HMRC Introduces changes that create havoc in the market place
- QROPS – All Change From April 2012
- Liva & Laia : 15th November
There are few Guiris living in Spain who don't the Golden Rule : Don't talk about the Franco years.
Sure, those who are highly educated and well read, very brave or plain stupid might attempt to venture a conversation on this matter with a passing Spanish acquaintance. As I quite clearly fall into neither category, I steer well clear.
The subject is reminiscent of the Faulty Towers sketch, except without a frog-marching John Cleese.
Most Villages have their stories to tell about feuding families going back to the 1930's that are still far from forgotten. Even in my Valley half of the villages gave their support to the pro-Franco forces, whilst the other has supported the revolutionaries and the animosity can almost be tasted in the air.
I don't pretend to have an understanding of causes and policies of the Spanish Civil war, and know that as a non-Spaniard I probably never will, and am never meant to. But I do know this : Quite possibly the only useful remaining legacy of the former dictator is the "Menu del Dia".
Some time around the early 1960s the practice was introduced by the authorities, whereby they enforced restaurants over and above a certain size, and open for more than a certain number of hours each week to provide an affordable and nutritious meal for the average Spanish worker without being forced to travel to and from their homes in the middle of the working day.
Only those who have been living in a cave, or out of touch with society would need to be told that the Menu usually comprises of 2 or 3 courses, bread, wine and coffee.
The Spanish Menu del Dia is perhaps one of the most well known aspects of food and dining in Spain - and although the application of the term "affordable" can vary greatly, the value for money is almost always fantastic.
So without fear of inadvertently offending anybody, I think it is fair to say that the introduction of the Menu de Dia is quite possibly something that everybody would agree as being a popular measure.
My personal favourite is Calxon in the village of Orba, Alicante. A typical Spanish workman’s bar serving decent, honest home cooked food. A choice of three or four starters, an a similar number of main courses: whatever happens to be seasonal, or good value on the market that morning and prepared straight after purchase. The menu is committed to memory rather than written on a blackboard, with an endless supply of wine, water and bread & alioli on the table. Nobody takes this piss here. A slab of tarta, or the eponymous ‘flan’ and a coffee round of the meal for just 7 Euros.
Who gets your vote ?
- When Expat Eyes Are Smiling
- Mr Grumpy v Angeles Duran
- Corvera, Castellon & Ciudad Real : THIS is how you run a private airport!
- Things that have annoyed me this week
- The Vegetarian Barbeque and the Unholy Sex
- Mr Grumpy is Intolerant
- The Only Winner of Spain's 2013 El Gordo Lottery ?
- Mr Grumpy v The Spanish Lifestyle
- Crime Pays (In Spain at least)
- Mr Grumpy and Spain v the USA
- How to Behave as the Guest at a Spanish Wedding
- How to get your professional qualification recognised in Spain
- Making a will in Spain
- How to Reset an Electricity Smart Meter in Spain
- Lifetime Loans & Equity Release
- Applying for Residential Status ( Residencia) - Non- EU Citizens
- Schengen Visas
- Currency Exchange Jargon Explained
- Getting Employment in Spain
- The Police in Spain – Who they are and their Responsibilities
- How to bring your Dog into Spain
- Make Cost Savings On Iberdrola Rental Charges
- Join us for Tea on the Terrace
- When Expat Eyes Are Smiling
- Meet Wincham at The Homes, Gardens & Lifestyle Show, Calpe
- QROPS 2014
- Spain Increases IHT in Valencia & Murcia
- Removals to Spain v Exports from Spain
- The Charm of Seville
- Gibraltar Relations
- Retiro Park : Madrid
- Community Insurance in Spain
- Calendar Girls
- Considerations when Insuring your Boat in Spain
- QROPS – HMRC Introduces changes that create havoc in the market place
- QROPS – All Change From April 2012
- Liva & Laia : 15th November
- Thinking of Buying In Spain ? :Then Take The Safe Purchase Test !
- Are You Paying Too Much For Your Telephone Line Rental ?
- Spain's new UK mobile phone service
- Our most popular Funeral Plan FAQ's
- Why Plan your Funeral now ?