Spanish Cuisine

SPANISH CUISINE

Present day traditional Spanish food is influenced by the Greek, Roman, Phoenician and Moorish settlements in Spain’s history. The Moors had a strong influence on Spain for many years and their type of food is still eaten by Spaniards till date. Spanish cuisine comprises a small variety of dishes and is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters around the country. Spain’s history with many cultural influences has led to an exclusive cuisine with thousands of recipes and delicious flavors.

Culture of Traditional Spanish Food

Pork is very popular in Spain and has been so for centuries. It was a statement of Christian ethnicity or cleanliness of blood, because it was forbidden to Jews and Muslims. Most recipes always include pork loin chops in garlic and red peppers, as well as brandy. Other native food of the Americas were introduced to Europe through Spain and any cook in Spain today could hardly do without potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and beans.

The essential ingredient for traditional Spanish cooking is olive oil and Spain produces 44% of the world’s olive supply.  Meals eaten by Spaniards are made traditionally by hand, from fresh ingredients bought daily from the local market. This practice is however more common in the rural areas and less common in the large urban areas like Madrid, where supermarkets have replaced most of the open air markets. Garlic, olives and sweet and hot peppers are also important ingredients in most Spanish recipes.  Meat, poultry, game and fish are also prominent in the Spanish diet.

Spanish breakfast

Spanish breakfasts are usually light. The menu might consist of coffee and a croissant or roll.  Omelette and tortillas are also popular for breakfast.

Spanish lunch/dinner

The lunch (la comida) and the dinner (la cena) menus are more elaborate than the breakfast. Spanish Tapas are extremely popular. A Tasca or Tapas bar is where most Spaniards entertain themselves after work. Spanish Tapas menu encompasses simple dishes made of cheese, fish, eggs, dips, vegetable dishes, canapés, and savory pastries. Tapas can be found even in small bars and tiny villages.

Other Spanish Meals

An important Spanish food or recipe is Jamon Serrano, a special ham which is not smoked. Sausages make up a part of the Spanish diet as well. Salads and fried potatoes come as appetizers in a typical Spanish food menu. Desserts are usually made of eggs, ground almonds, flour and milk.

Traditional Spanish food Recipes

The cuisines of Spain differ widely from one region to another, even though there are some common characteristics. some basic characteristics of Spanish food would include: the use of olive oil as a cooking fat in items such as fritters, the use of sofrito to start the preparation of many dishes, the use of garlic and onions as major seasonings, the custom of drinking during meals, serving bread with the vast majority of meals, consumption of salads, especially in the summer and the consumption of a piece of fruit or a dairy product as dessert. Desserts like tarts and cakes are usually reserved for special occasions.

LIGHTING

Lighting in hotels requires flexibility to sync the needs and tastes of many different guests. With the ‘ ambiance’ lighting range, one can set or change the mood of the same room in many different ways. Also, these days almost every hotel takes a keen interest in planning their lighting, in order to reduce their carbon footprint as well as substantially reducing their electricity bills. Lighting contributes more or less 30% of the hotel’s overall electricity consumption.

Along with the space, furniture, colors and textures, lighting plays a pivotal role in a hotel lobby. Whether a hotel has a grand lobby or a minimalist and intimate one, it is the lighting that can make all the difference. Dramatic lighting in a hotel lobby can help to accentuate the furnishings and artworks. One can add skylights, over-sized floor lamps, floor-to-ceiling windows and chandeliers.

Lighting can be altered to create various moods by using less light during the daytime and allowing natural light to come in as much as possible. During the day, we use only alternate lights for the corridors and stairways, which not only saves energy, but also gives an understated ambiance of the hotel.

            Each space in a hotel calls for its own feel and design. A lobby can be made inviting by accenting the art at the back of the registration counter if any. A glow along the base of the registration counter can make the furniture look light and floating. Restaurants require the lighting to be soft and flattering. Introducing candles or accenting white table cloth tops with spot accents enhance the ambiance due to sparkle from the silverware. Using accessories such as warm tone dia-chronic color filters, add to the soft flattering feel of the space. Bar lighting needs to be more sensitive. Glare free spot lights over the bar counter; supplemented LED Illuminated planes along the back can make the bar look very dynamic.

Flower Arrangement

Flower Arrangement

                                            "Every flower is a soul blossoming in Nature”

It is well said “Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul.” Flowers are widely used for interior decoration; it gives aesthetic appeal to the ambiance. Flower arrangement is an art and it is widely used in hotel, offices, and hospitals on everyday basis. Flower arrangement may be defined as the art of organizing and grouping together plant materials to achieve harmony of form, color, and texture. They add cheer, beauty, life and happiness to the ambiance.
In hotels flowers are used extensively. There are different arrangements of flower placed on different places. Large spectacular arrangement are kept in the lobby, restaurant and small arrangement are kept in rooms, suites. The extent to which flowers are used in hotel interior depends on the degree of luxury provided. The housekeeper is responsible for all flower arrangement and their placement in most hotels.

                              HOW TO MAKE FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS (Rules)

A beautifully designed flower arrangement can add a unique personal touch to any home decor. Not only is making an arrangement easy, it allows for unlimited individual creativity and expression whether using silk, dried, artificial or live flowers to achieve the final result.

Ø  Wash and dry bowl. Never use a container or vase that hasn't been washed after the last arrangement.

Ø   Prepare foam by soaking it in cool water. Let the foam float until it is half way submerged in the water, then remove it immediately and let it drain. Don't push foam under the water, just let it sink naturally.

Ø  Place the ball of floral foam in the bowl. Make sure there is ample room in the bowl for water to come up covering about 1/4 of the foam ball. Add water with the correct mixture of floral preservative.

Ø  Remove leaves from the part of the stems that will be in the foam.

Ø  Place the single specimen rose in the middle of the foam and pushes it in carefully. Add clusters or single, smaller roses and buds of the same variety in a close circle around the centre rose.

Ø  Insert small bunches of violets between every third rose in the circle.

Ø  Alternate one small and one large carnation in the next circle. Be sure carnations are placed closely together and right under the rose and violet circle. Place a small cluster of violets between every fifth carnation.

Ø  Begin another circle with one hydrangea head, then 3 carnations, then one bunch of violets. Continue around the foam with this sequence until there is room for only one more circle of flowers on the bottom.

Ø  Add one last row of all hydrangeas to the very bottom of the floral arrangement. Stand back and look at the floral arrangement. There should be no foam showing and the arrangement should look tight and symmetrical. Add additional rows or flowers where needed.

Flower Arrangement Types

Circular shape: Arranging flower in circular design adds a pleasing element. It is satisfying to the viewer’s eye. The circular or round shape is loved by nature since majority of flowers lies in this shape. In fact, its also easier to arrange flowers in circular fashion. This type of arrangement is laid on conference tables or on buffet tables. They can be presented to high class executives or politicians on different occasion.

Triangular shape: It is a most common arrangement of flowers used in Personal and Professional functions. Firstly, height and width is fixed with flowers and then focal point is established. It is made in the triangle shape and looks very attractive. They are placed on the buffet table or in the side station. In ceremonies we can find this kind of arrangements.

Crescent shape: The crescent is asymmetrical and formal. It requires lot of skill and experience. This type of arrangement is very eye catching. It is kept in the lobby of the hotel. It is used as a focal point to catch the attention of the guest.

Fan shape: It is a low arrangement and it does not interfere with conversation across the table. It is a fan or a horizontal in shape generally placed in the restaurant either in buffet or on dining table. Hotel rooms also have this kind of arrangement
Hogarth or ‘S’ shape: This is very graceful style of arrangement. It is easier to make when curved branches are used. Once ‘S’ shape is made, flowers are filled at the center.

Ikebana: means ‘making flowers live’ in Japanese. People in Japan use flowers to symbolize season. They represent ideal harmony between earthy and eternal life. In each arrangement there is an imaginary triangle tallest line represent heaven, towards the heaven is man and the lowest line looking up to both is earth. This is been practiced for past 100 years. The formal type of flower arrangement is called Seika style. Floating type of arrangement is called Ukibana and basket type of arrangement is called Morimano.