Translating the Spanish Menu...

I like to think I was somewhat of an adventurous eater before I came to Spain...but there were a few exceptions.  Most notably, my aversion to onions.  If a dish had onions, I would either not order it or I'd spend the whole meal picking around them.  I still can't stand raw onions, but I'm learning to eat the cooked ones.  I'm also not big on what I would call weird foods: dishes made with "local delicacies" or rarely used animal parts.  I don't care how much Mexicans adore Huitlacoche, I have no interest in eating moldy corn.

But since I arrived in Spain, I've had to expand the list of things I'm willing to eat.  For one thing, I don't want to offend our local barkeep, David, by refusing to eat a free tapa he's put in front of me, such as the little sardines that come fried whole--tail, head and all.

But it isn't just that the food is different here, I also can't read the menus.  A lot of places offer menus in English, but not all do.  And so half the time, I'm just pointing to something and giving it a go.  So in an attempt to make better guesses, I've compiled a food dictionary for myself (I'm also hoping it will come in handy when visitors, like my mom or Francine, need help picking something to eat).  Bon Appétit!

A
A la Plancha
     Grilled
Aceite de Oliva
     Olive oil 
Ajito Laminado
     Sliced garlic
Alitas de Pollo al Ajillo
     Garlic Chicken Wings  
Anchoas
     Salted Anchovies
Asado
     Roasted or baked
Atun
     Tuna

B
Barquita de Calabacín Gratinada
     Zucchini gratin
 Bienmesabe
     Marinated fried fish...literally translates as "Tastes Good to Me"
Bocquerones
     Anchovies marinated in olive oil
Bonito
     Tuna
Buey
     Beef (Ox)

C
Calamares a la Andaluza
     Quick-fried, battered calamari rings
Caldo
     A brothy soup  
Callos a la Madrileña
     Tripe stew
Caña
     A small glass of draft beer
Cazuela
     Casserole  
Cebolla
     Onion (aros = sliced)
Champiñón
     Mushrooms
Chanquetes
     Whitebait (small, baby fish; e.g. sardines)  
Chipirones
     Squid
Chopitos
     Baby squid 
Chorizo a la sidra
     Spicy sausage cooked in cider
Codillo a la Gallega
     Pork Knuckle  
Cogollos de Tudela
     Lettuce Hearts
Croquetas Caseras de Jamón
     Béchamel sauce mixed with diced Jamón, then deep-fried

E
Ensalada Griega
     Greek salad with lettuce, tomatoes, olives and feta cheese
Ensalada Mixta
     Mixed salad with lettuce, tuna, tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, olives, and white asparagus Ensaladilla Rusa
     Mayonaise-based salad with tuna, potatoes, carrots, peas and chopped, hard-boiled eggs
Entrecot
     Rib-eye steak
Escabechada
     Pickled in olive oil, vinegar and spices
Espárragos Gordos de Navarra
     White asparagus, typically served with mayonnaise and a tomato
Espinacas Salteadas
     Sauteed spinach
 
F
Fabada Asturiana
     Stew with white beans, chorizo, Morcilla and bacon
Filete de Ternera
     Veal filet
Fritas/Fritos/Fritura
     Fried

G
Gambas
     Shrimp
Gambón
     Prawns

H
Huevos Rotos
     Fried eggs served over french-fried potatoes with a choice of meat

J
Jamón Ibérico
     Thinly sliced meat from a cured pork leg
Jamón Serrano
     Thinly sliced meat from a cured pork leg, generally less expensive than Ibérico

L
Lacón a la gallega
     Ham from a young pig, cooked with paprika and olive oil
Lomo (Iberíco / Buey)
     Tenderloin steak (Pork / Beef)
Lonchitas de Jamón Serrano
     Thin slices of Jamón

M
Magro con tomate
     Cubed pork loin slow-cooked in a savory tomato sauce (like pot roast)
Manzana
     Apple
Manzanilla Té
     Chamomile tea
Migas Manchegas con Huevo Frito y Torreznos
     Breadcrumbs sauteed in bacon fat, with chopped bacon and topped with a fried egg
Mollejitas de lechal
     Sweetbreads or gizzards...not sure
Morcilla
     Black sausage made from pig's blood, rice, onions and spices; typically served sliced and warm,
     with a crunchy outer texture

P
Patatas Fritas
     French-fried potatoes
Perdiz
     Partridge
Picadillo
     Hash
Pimientos
     Peppers

Pulpo
     Octopus

Q
Queso Manchego 
     Aged, sheep's milk cheese; the rind is not edible

R
Revuelto
     Scramble
Rodaballo a la Gallega
     Turbot (white fish) served white asparagus over diced potatoes, peas, red peppers, and onions

S
Salchichón
     Cured sausage (not spicy), like Salami
Salmón a la plancha
     Grilled Salmon
Solomillo
     Sirloin steak
Sopa de Pescado
     Fish chowder

T
Tierno
     Tender 
Tomate Relleno de Marisco
     Tomato stuffed with seafood
Torreznos Ibéricos
     Small, thick strips of deep-fried bacon

V
Venado
     Venison
Ventresca
     Belly of fish; considered delicate and tasty, normally the most expensive part

Z
Zanahoria
     Carrot