In Spain, hosting isn’t just something you do — it’s a way of life. The table is where stories are shared, laughter fills the air, and every bite tastes like “welcome home.” A Spanish gathering is loud, warm, and joyful — and always centred around food made with love. Cooking isn’t a chore. It’s how you say, “I care about you.”
Hosting the Spanish Way: Connection, Conversation, and Real Food
Spaniards rarely stress over matching napkins or perfect tablescapes. What matters is that each guest feels seen, welcomed, and full — of flavours and connection.
Late lunches, shared plates, easy conversation, and long evenings are all part of the rhythm of Spanish culture. Meals aren’t rushed: lunch is traditionally the main event, often between 2:00–4:00pm, and dinner tends to come late — around 9:00–11:00pm.
Spaniards linger even after the plates are cleared. They call it sobremesa — that cherished time after a meal when coffee pours, stories flow, and the world slows down.
Regional Flavours — Because Spain’s Heart Is Many‑Faceted
🍷 Catalonia (Catalunya)
In Catalonia, cooking and dining are part of a deep gastronomic tradition. The region is globally recognized for its culinary innovation, while still honouring local products — cheeses, cured meats, fresh produce, olive oil, wines — that make meals feel authentic and grounded. Whether locals prepare a slow-cooked stew like escudella i carn d’olla (Catalonia’s beloved meat-and-vegetable soup), a rich fisherman’s stew such as suquet de peix (stay tuned for this on our menu this winter!), or a simple pa amb tomàquet (crusty bread rubbed with tomato and olive oil), the emphasis is always on quality ingredients and generosity. Food isn’t just nourishment — it’s identity, community, and comfort.
🥘 Madrid (Castilian‑Style Warmth)
In Madrid, hospitality takes on a hearty, comforting vibe. Traditional dishes like a slow-cooked chickpea and meat stew (Cocido Madrileño), Callos a la Madrileña (a spicy tripe stew), or Huevos Rotos (crispy fried potatoes topped with runny eggs and jamón) are part of what makes a home feel warm and welcoming. These rich, bold-flavoured meals are made to be shared — feeding both bellies and souls.
These meals are perfect for gatherings — filling, satisfying, and meant to be shared. When you host like Madrileños, you feed bellies and souls.
🥖 Basque Country — The Art of Sharing & Social Food Culture
Up north, in the Basque Country, there’s a beautiful tradition of communal cooking and eating together: the Txoko. Historically, these “gastronomic societies” are where friends gather to cook, experiment, share a meal, and enjoy good conversation. Another beloved tradition is the humble but brilliant pintxo — small snacks, often on bread with a skewer, enjoyed in bars or at casual get-togethers. Pintxos encourage mingling, nibbling, sharing, and savouring many flavours in one evening. You’ll often find gilda (a skewered combo of anchovy, olive, and pickled pepper) or bacalao al pil-pil (salt cod in a garlic and olive oil emulsion), both staples of Basque bar counters. Perfect for a laid-back but memorable gathering.
☀️ Andalucía — Sun‑Soaked Hospitality & Tapas Vibes
Down south in Andalucía, hosting often reflects the region’s easygoing, festive spirit. Tapas culture is strong here — small plates, lots of sharing, and a relaxed pace that invites long conversations and laughter. Dishes like salmorejo (a chilled, creamy tomato and bread soup topped with jamón and hard-boiled egg), gambas al ajillo (sizzling garlic shrimp), and berenjenas con miel (crispy fried eggplant drizzled with honey) highlight the simplicity and bold flavours of the region. Seafood, fresh produce, and olive oil — core Mediterranean ingredients — take centre stage. Meals feel light, social, and deeply rooted in an appreciation for natural flavour and warmth.
Why This Matters — And How It Helps You Host Better This Holiday
Creating an experience, and a place for warm connection, plays a big part in your role as host of a holiday get-together. By embracing the regional spirit of Spanish hospitality — the generosity of Catalonia, the comforting warmth of Madrid, the social rhythm of the Basque Country, the relaxed joy of Andalucía — you create more than a meal. You create a moment.
And you deserve the space to be part of that moment — to host stress-free and truly be there in the stories, the laughter, and the joy, glass of Rioja in hand.
How We Bring Spain to Your Holiday Table
That’s why we designed our Christmas Charcuterie Boards to allow you, the host, to enjoy your guests in that first hour when they arrive before the main course is placed on the table. It’s a simple way to welcome everyone with warmth and flavour, while giving you the freedom to be present, not preoccupied.
Each board is curated with high‑quality Spanish cured meats such as the star and conversation-starter: Jamón Ibérico de bellota de Joselito, as well as chorizo, salchichón, and delicious Spanish cheeses like Truffle Manchego, Garrotxa, and the bold, savoury Black Garlic. In addition, you enjoy Marcona almonds known as the “queen” of almonds, and plump Gordal olives to round out the experience.
Light the candles, open the wine, and let the food do the welcoming. As hosting isn’t about perfection — it’s about warmth, generosity, and making people feel truly at home.
