Randy & Katrina sample a wild assortment of jamón, Spain’s iconic cured hams.

 

A European tradition of food on a stick

Our trip to Spain confirmed that the Spanish people love to eat at all hours of the day. When you’re out with friends or eating on the go, nothing is more convenient than having that food on a stick.

 

Pintxos – or “pinchos,” depending on what part of Spain you’re from – roughly translates to “spike” or “thorn.” But in common usage it means a small snack, often eaten in bars or on the street. They’re called pinchos because they often have a small toothpick or stick through them to hold them together. Sometimes different priced snacks have different colored toothpicks through them.

We tried many pinchos in Spain, but a few stood out as being particularly noteworthy and tasty. One look at the assorted variety of cured sausages hanging over the stand – and the opportunity to sample 5 different kinds at once – pulled us towards this stall for jamón pinchos, just outside the market.

Jamón is the Spanish word for “ham,” but it generally refers to the many varieties of dry-cured ham that are iconic of Spanish cuisine. You can’t walk two blocks in any Spanish city without encountering the distinct sights and aromas of a jamón shop.

Watch the episode to find out what it tastes like.

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