"how can gazpacho not be tomato based--"

Try "gazpacho blanco".

<I hope these typical foods come with instructions>

Tapas is not complicated business at all, the basic concept is a piece of bread with some ham, cheese or sausage or a stew or salad of some kind in a little bowl. Traditionally a bite to go with a glass of wine or beer while standing in the bar, as easygoing as it gets. Simplicity is the traditional ideal, and even though a lot of places now make more elaborate tapas and offer a sit down table, tapas are far from complicated food.

In Granada you will get a free tapa with every drink almost everywhere.

Now that I know how wonderful the food will be in Andalucia I'm going to have to understand how to order some of it, but that will be another post;;) Possibly the Azahar website will be helpful in that regard. Thanks again, Deborah

Tapas is not complicated business at all, the basic concept is a piece of bread with some ham, cheese or sausage or a stew or salad of some kind in a little bowl.

Kimhe-

Just ask Spaniard, especially someone from the Basque country, what is the difference between a tapa and a pintxo and you have an argument akin to how many angels can fit on the head of the pin. Right?

On a different track, in the United States, it is now common for restaurants and many people to call any small plate or dish a tapa regardless of the cuisine. Unfortunately the misuse of the words tapas has made things wrongfully complicated.

IMDonehere,

<Just ask Spaniard, especially someone from the Basque country, what is the difference between a tapa and a pintxo>

Lived in and visited the Basque country since the late 80's, and nobody up here will mistake a traditional pintxo for a traditional tapa. A quite different concept from the start with the self-service, the stick (pintxo/pincho) and never free, as used to be the tapas norm. It has also developed into a miniature gastronomical thing since the 80's that takes it far away from the originally very simple tapas concept.

But as the Basque Country is the culinary heartland of Spain, the pintxos scene up here has inspired many in other regions to develop a more elaborate tapas culture. Many pintxos bars are also now to be found almost all over Spain, but outside the Basque country they tend to have a payment system based on how many sticks you have left on your plate when you're finished. Both the plate and the "stick payment system" has nothing to do with the genuine Basque pintxos culture: Except in the most touristy places, everything is based on trust. You just grab what's on the desk and eat it out of your hand, and then tell the waiter how many pintxos and glasses you and your group have had at the end.

kimhe, have you thought about giving tours in Andalucia??;;) You have such a broad wealth of information. I'm also searching through your postings about flamenco for our visit. Thank you for all the help you have given to those of us interested in Andalucia. Deborah

Flamenco highlights in Andalucía in March:

The major flamenco dance festival of the year goes on in Jerez until March 8. In Teatro Villamarta and in small Sala Compañía every night plus events in bars and clubs. Relatively small Jerez breathes flamenco 24/7 during the festival.
http://www.deflamenco.com/revista/no...ez-2014-1.html
http://www.jerez.es/webs_municipales/festival_jerez/

Manuela Carrasco (Premio Nacional de Danza 2007) dances in the
fabulous Lope de Vega theater in Sevilla March 21. and 22. Major flamenco performances in this theater also on March 11. 19. and 20. also.
http://teatrolopedevega.org/lope-veg...uela-carrasco/
Buy tickets online: http://www.generaltickets.com/index.php
Manuela Carrasco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW88EpZIE8E

Also top of the shelf artists performing every night at Casa de la Memória and Casa del Flamenco in Sevilla:
Casa de la Memória: http://www.casadelamemoria.es/
Pastora Galván was voted best female flamenco dancer 2010 by Spanish critics, and she has danced here regularly for some years now.
Casa del Flamenco: http://www.lacasadelflamencosevilla.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Andalucia.html

In Granada, you have the Thursday and Saturday night performances at Peña la Platería, one of the oldest existing flamenco clubs (peñas) in the country: http://www.laplateria.org.es/

kimhe, this is very helpful, the above Jerez dates won't work for us but I hope you have some recommendations for where to find Flamenco or Bulerias--see I am doing my research ;;) in Jerez, Fri Mar 21 to Wed, Mar 26.

We will leave Seville before the Manuela Carrasco performance but we are in Seville the 16-20 so we could see a performance on either the 19th or 20th. I've also made note that you recommend Casa de la Memoria and La Casa del Flamenco in Seville

Our good fortune; Thursday evening we will be Granada, do you think it is possible to visit the Nasrid Palace and attend a performance at Pena la Plateria in the same evening? We are in Granada two nights, Wed and Thurs so we could visit the Palace the night before we see it during the day? Is that a good idea or not? Thanks again, Deborah

He-he, good to see you are doing some flamenco research. Bulerías is a flamenco palo/style that is particularly popular in Jerez. Lots of different flamenco palos; soleá, alegrías, seguiriyas, fandango, tangos, buleriác etc. etc. The various styles are often strongly connected to different regions. Here's a clip of flamenco the high spirited bulerías way from Jerez. The final act of the 2010 movie "Flamenco, flamenco" by the famous Spanish director Carlos Saura: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHDgO8A9bBo

I know of no major flamenco performances in Jerez so soon after the more than two weeks festival, but Casa Tia Juana la del Pipa is a must for the atmosphere. Juana herself is a major flamenco star, a fabulous cantaora (singer): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rUeNZImQeA

Great flamenco artists every now and then in small and genuine Bar Gitanería. Friday nights should be a sure bet for live and not touristy at all performances: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bar-G...47746635237714

Peña la Bulería is the flamenco temple of Jerez: http://www.labuleriajerez.com/es

In Granada, I think you will have plenty of time to visit Peña la Platería. I think the Thursday nights start at 10.30 pm. Tel: +34 958-210650
One of the greatest up and coming flamenco dancers in the world today, Patricia Guerrero, literally grew up here, and the greatest local flamenco artists perform here on a regular basis. This clip gives you an idea of the place and the atmosphere. Here, the extremely popular singer Diana Navarro from Málaga performs. She is not a traditional flamenco singer, but she has a beautiful voice and is fully capable of creating magic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgPrfjinEgQ

Trailer for the 2010 Saura movie "Flamenco, flamenco":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xg2-8Ipvz4

A few foods I did not see mentioned when skimming the above comments - specialties of Cordoba:

Fried aubergines (eggplant) with honey - so lightly fried, not what we are used to here in the states
Marinated anchovies - I am not a big anchovy fan but these were fabulous
salmojero - I think some one else mentioned this. The best we had was in Cordoba.

We had this amazing lunch with all the above dishes at Tibernas Salinas in Cordoba. We stayed in Cordoba for two nights. Our lunch was so amazing, we almost considered going back to Cordoba on the train from Seville just to have that lunch again - but the cost of the train ticket made us think twice, since we had already seen the sites of Cordoba.

Also, want to second the recommendation for ajo blanco - traditional cold almond soup with fried garlic - delicious!! We had an excellent ajo blanco at Restaurante Mirador Morayma in the El Albaczin neighborhood of Granada. They had a beautiful garden terrace with a nice view of the Alhambra.

Here is a link to my trip report if you are interested. Also includes pictures:
http://www.fromhometoroam.com/catego...ope/andalucia/

Lived in and visited the Basque country since the late 80's, and nobody up here will mistake a traditional pintxo for a traditional tapa.

Exactly but let someone make a comparison.....

jgg, I have read your travel reports, they gave me helpful information when I was deciding how much time in each location for Andalucia. Your food recommendations are definitely "mouth watering" although I'm having a little trouble with the concept of the cold almond soup with fried garlic. I will certainly think of you when I order it ;;) Eggplant is a favorite of ours but I usually prepare it in ratatouille or a sauce with parmesan cheese, can't wait to try it in Spain.

I'll be spending my birthday this year in Cordoba--whoopee!! After a little sightseeing plus the Hammam al Andalus baths adding Tibernas Salinas sounds like a perfect way to spend the day. Thanks again, Deborah

Basically for summer, nevertheless try Horchata de Chufa. Horchata in the States is of Mexican derivation and is made of rice. Try the "real" stuff in Spain. Also, Leche Merengada, a wonderful dessert.