European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 7, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A waiter serves pastries to customers in a Small Coffee shop in  Spanish food my 06 a Surprise shrimp sizzling in a butter and garlic sauce is served with bread and a Beer. A amps photos by Jim Derheim by Susan Linnee the associated press what passes for Quot Spanish Quot food in the International sections of Many american supermarkets would raise eyebrows from Almeria to Zaragoza. Most of it is mexican or latin american and is unknown in Spain although new world products like potatoes Squash and chocolate have Long been incorporated into Spanish cuisine. Corn on the other hand has never caught on. With a few exceptions like the Small Green peppers from Padron that Are roasted and rolled in Salt Spanish food is neither hot nor spicy. And much of it is prepared with chopped cured Ham. In Spain a Tortilla is not the Flat Corn or wheat flour item so common in Mexico but an egg potato and onion Melet customers make a selection from a variety of familiar and unfamiliar fish at a seafood Market. That is the country s traditional snack food. Beer is the no. 1 drink in Spain although a Tinto de Verano a red wine watered Down with Lemon soda a and Horihata a beverage made from ground Jerusalem artichokes a Are summertime favourites. The arrival of International fast food chains Means that the traveler can get something to eat in Spain whenever he wants. But True Spanish food is still Only available at True Spanish hours a 2 to 4 30 . For lunch and 9 30 . To 12 30 . For dinner in most restaurants throughout the country. Salmon lovers who find themselves in the historic Northwestern City of Santiago de Compostella should make the 16-mile trip Southeast to la Estrada where a restaurant with the improbable name of Nixon makes five course meals of the Salmon fished from the Ulla River across the Street. And those with Money to spare should try Angulas a tiny baby eels that look like Silvery Spaghetti quickly tossed in sizzling Olive Oil with garlic and a red Pepper and eaten with a wooden Fork. A Fino is a Glass of Pale dry Sherry usually taken cold before a meal while a Chato is a stubby Glass of wine. In the towns of Gijon and Oviedo in Northern Asturias waiters pour fermented Apple cider into Flat wide mouthed glasses from bottles held above their Heads a to let in the air they say. A name of a fish so ugly in head is removed before it is put on Sale at fishmongers never fails to cause a reaction when it appears on the menu As Quot rape american  Quot rape Quot pronounced Rah pay is monkfish. It tastes like lobster. American style for some reason is with tomatoes although classic French cooking says anything that features tomatoes is Madrid style i la Madrienne. Sweets Are things like Gypsy s  Brazo Regitano sort of Jelly Roll and Teresa s fingertips yeas de Teresa made from egg Yolk Marzipan and a speciality in the area around Avila where St. Theresa established the carmelite order of nuns. Many convents in Spain make sweets and preserves for Sale. The Santa Ines Convent on Dona Maria colonel 5 in Seville is famous for its pol Vorones a Almond paste cakes rolled in powdered sugar. Expect also lots of fresh fruit. Strawberries Are plentiful in season and Orange Trees grow everywhere including on the main streets of Seville