The Tradition of Gathering
I come from the country of "tapas," and because of that, my culture is all about sharing food. Some of the most valuable moments I've spent with friends and family have been around a large table, sharing delicious food while also sharing stories and, quite possibly, far too many jokes. In Spain, we take sitting down together seriously, and we don't just do it when the main course arrives. My story revolves around two contrasting yet connected concepts: "aperitivo" and "sobremesa". A weekend lunch in Spain has three parts, and we sit down for all of them.
The Beginning: Aperitivo
First comes the "aperitivo," a moment before the meal meant to awaken our appetites and ease us into the gathering. It usually consists of olives, chips, cheese, and charcuterie, accompanied by vermouth or another cold drink. Then comes the main course, a part I don't need to explain because we're all familiar with it.
The Lingering Moment: Sobremesa
But once everyone has eaten their fill and settled into a pleasant food coma, after the plates have been cleared and the table tidied, nobody gets up. That is when "sobremesa" begins. "Sobremesa" can include coffee and fruit, cava and cake, or even a glass of liquor with pastries. The details hardly matter. The goal is simply to stay. To keep talking, laughing, remembering, debating, or sitting comfortably in each other's company. It can last for hours, and it is often the best part of the gathering.
More Than Words
I love these two concepts because they capture something essential about my culture: our love for sharing time with the people we care about and our reluctance to let those moments come to an end. In fact, neither "aperitivo" nor "sobremesa" can truly be translated. "Aperitivo" literally means "appetizer," but that word describes the food rather than the social ritual. "Sobremesa" would translate literally as "over the table," yet English has no single word for the act of lingering around the table after a meal, talking with loved ones for as long as the conversation lasts, simply because no one wants the moment to end.
This is my story because it is my culture, and it shapes the way I connect with others, the way I value time, and the way I understand what it means to truly be present.
Quick Fire Food Round
Dish that reminds me of home
The paella of my dad.
Go to meal for friends
The perfect breakfast scrambled eggs.
Biggest cooking disaster
The classic Spanish experience: as I flipped the pan while cooking a Spanish omelette, half of the omelette fell on the stove.
Where do you like to get your ingredients to cook something from your home country?
Actually, Albert Heijn has plenty ingredients from Spain.
What is a new meal you discovered since moving to Belgium?
Belgian fries with pepper sauce.
What traditions do you have around food?
Now it's more difficult, but when I can, I like to always eat with someone. I truly have that ingrained in me from my home culture; we don't like to eat alone.
In your language, how do you say ‘enjoy your meal’ or ‘that’s tasty’ or ‘I’m full’
"Bon profit" means "enjoy your meal" in Catalan.
