Moving to a new country is very hard, and cultural clashes always generate controversial conversations because we all like to look out for number one. And it’s normal, because one misses home a lot and romanticizes everything that has to do with it. But, social media has been set on fire by a young woman who, on her TikTok social networks (known as @lo_oglesbee). She made a “hear me out” in which, after five years living in Almería, she couldn’t keep quiet “there’s one thing that the Spanish don’t know how to do well.” How? What? Sandwiches! RThis statement caused chaos on this young woman’s profile, where hundreds of Spaniards began to arrive to proudly defend Spanish gastronomy.
Who is this young woman?
She is 26 years old and has become quite the influencer on Spanish social media by showing the country through the eyes of a “guiri” as they would say there (a “guiri” is a foreign person). For her, moving to Spain has not been a great challenge although it has been a cultural shock. Living in Almería, one of the things that surprised this young woman the most was seeing a leg of ham in the kitchen of the house where she lives.
So what sparked the controversy?
During her last visit to the United States, she recorded a video buying a sandwich at an Italian restaurant with typical Spanish sandwiches (such as serrano ham or the famous calamari sandwich). According to this young woman, the sandwiches from her country are well made, unlike the sandwiches she has eaten in Spanish bars.
The sandwich that sparked the debate was made of sesame bread and ham, pepperoni, mozzarella, arugula and vinegar. Its price: 14 dollars! (plus tip). However, what really sparked the reactions was her conclusion: “I feel sorry for Spain, but long live Italy.”
Criticism and pride from the Spanish people
It was to be expected that the video would generate responses, and they certainly did not take long to arrive, from comments full of satire to strong criticism (as always happens on social networks) many users suggested that perhaps he had not eaten the best sandwiches in the country. One of them said “imagine comparing this with a tortilla sandwich…!)
And there were also others with a chef complex who pointed out that the difference between both types of sandwich is that in the United States they tend to be abundant in quantity, while in Spain they stand out for the quality of their ingredients or freshly made bread.
A second chance
As criticism sparked the debate… Many users took the opportunity to recommend the young woman the best sandwich places in the country, and in Spain there is a National Sandwich Championship! and those recognized last 2024 were the following:
- El Especial Miguelin, from Tasqueta Cal Miguelin, El Pla de Penedès (Barcelona)
- El de llonganisa, from Cal Carrero, (Valencia)
- El Joselillo, La Mesedora, Algemesí, (Valencia).
- La Payesa, Can Gourmet, (Ibiza)
- Disparate, Chifla, (Murcia).
- Barbaco Koreano, La Artesata, (Vigo).
- Otro mundo, La Bicicleta, Dos Hermanas, (Seville).
- Porky belly, Delaostia, (Logroño).
- Focaccia Bocatti di Cardinale, HDH, (Bilbao).
- La Nera 3.0, Il Mordisquito 2, (Córdoba).
How to make a good Spanish sandwich
You don’t need to have millions of ingredients, we are going to show you our two favorite recipes and you will see that your perception of these sandwiches is also good:
The famous Iberian ham sandwich: the favourite of the Spanish, it is about heating bread, the richest you have, until you notice that it is crispy. With a little olive oil, pour it on both sides of the crumb and put the Iberian ham (be careful, it has to be, as the Spanish say, “good ham” that is dark red and sticks to the plate because of the marble fat). Let the ham temper with the heat of the bread, and enjoy!
The second recipe we are going to give you is the also very famous “tortilla sandwich” for which you will need to fry potatoes and poach them while they are fried in very hot olive oil. Beat two eggs, salt to taste, and serve the already fried potatoes on top, you will need the whole potato to be covered with the egg. In a hot frying pan, put a little oil and pour the mixture. Wait for it to cook and keep turning it. The result has to be a tortilla that is a little raw in the centre. Heat some bread, put it in… and then tell us!
The gastronomic differences between the two countries are obvious, but isn’t that the beauty of the world? That each country has its own gastronomic personality?