| Pssst...I'm going to let you in one of Spain's best kept | | | | their lunch break. |
| secrets. You can enjoy a three course meal with | | | | A popular first course is a really tasty soup or a |
| wine for the price of a snack, if you know these | | | | salad, but dishes are as diverse as the restaurants |
| magic words; Menu del Dia, which means simply Menu | | | | which offer them, so there won't be a problem |
| of the Day. Normally served between two and three | | | | finding something you like. A Chinese restaurant will |
| in the afternoon by just about every restaurant in | | | | have its own particular version, as will an Italian or |
| Spain, this afternoon delight is a great way to eat | | | | Indian, but most Spanish bars and restaurants stick |
| good food at a very reasonable price. | | | | to what they know the locals will enjoy. Chicken, fish, |
| It all started during Franco's time as a way for | | | | meatballs or pork usually come with chips, but that's |
| workers to obtain a nutritious meal at an affordable | | | | no different to the main menu. There's usually the |
| price. Franco has gone, but thankfully Menu del Dia | | | | choice of a pudding or coffee, but if you want to |
| lives on, and is in fact as popular as ever, but you | | | | pay extra, you can have both. |
| have to know about it to get it. Some restaurants | | | | Although Menu del Dia is available nationwide, the |
| advertise their Menu of the Day on a chalk board | | | | cheapest place, according to the Organisation of |
| outside the establishment, whilst others will happily | | | | Consumers and Users, is Malaga, which weighed in |
| bring you the normal menu without mentioning the | | | | with an average price of EUR7.55 which is pretty |
| cheap option, especially if...how can I put this...you're | | | | good value for a hearty meal. The national average is |
| not a local. | | | | EUR9.50; still representing terrific value for money. |
| Of course the standard menu may have a list of | | | | Apparently, this information was gleaned from a |
| dishes as long as your arm, whereas the fare on | | | | survey of one hundred restaurants in Barcelona, |
| offer for Menu of the Day may only provide a choice | | | | Bilbao, Madrid, Seville, Valencia, Vigo, Zaragoza and |
| of three or four dishes for each course, but there's | | | | Malaga. I wonder who carried out the survey, and if |
| usually something there to suit everyone. Let's get | | | | he can fit through his front door these days; nice |
| one thing straight here; the food is not inferior or in | | | | work if you can get it. |
| any way less nutritious than what's being offered | | | | The only problem with Menu del Dia is that you |
| from the main menu. The difference is the price, and | | | | probably won't want to eat a big meal in the evening, |
| I promise you, I've never walked away from a Menu | | | | which could spoil your restaurant plans, but if you're |
| del Dia feeling hungry; quite the contrary in fact. Don't | | | | happy to eat your main meal in the middle of the |
| forget that these meals were meant to feed the | | | | day, and are looking to save money, it's made for |
| workers, and still do, so don't be surprised if you find | | | | you, so the next time you're on holiday in Spain, don't |
| yourself surrounded by a group of Spanish taking | | | | forget the magic words. |