When you think of Spanish food, you quickly think of tapas: a table full of different appetizers on various platters that you share with friends or family. It is then not just about the food itself, but mostly about the experience. There is a huge food culture in Spain. Sociability, talking and laughing; that's what it's all about. But the tapas themselves are also finger-licking good. Jamón Iberico, manchego, tortilla de patata, albondigas, olives, pimientos de padron, croquetas, patatas bravas... they are all part of a wonderful afternoon or evening of Spanish dining. Of course with fine Spanish wines, an ice cold beer or a jug of sangria to go with it.

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Tapas to lick your fingers at

TRADITIONAL PAELLA

Yuri Hovius, head chef at Van der Valk Hotel Amsterdam-Amstel, is a real darling of Spanish cuisine. He worked as a chef in Spain for many years and, even now that he lives in the Netherlands again, he likes to put some Spanish snacks on the menu. Yuri: "On our menu right now is a delicious paella. I prepare the paella the same way I prepared it when I worked as a chef in Spain, the difference being that here in the restaurant I don't serve it in the pan. This way I adapted it a bit to the Dutch food culture. But because of the authentic preparation you really taste the sun on your plate.'

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