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Food is an important part of every culture, Santander is no different. Here in Santander, the mountain-style cuisine is full of age-old recipes, creatively adapted to new culinary trends, though without losing a single iota of its homely and rich flavour. Although it's true that Cantabrian cuisine has been influenced by neighbouring Basque and Asturian traditions, it is clearly differentiated from these and has its own personality. Due to Cantabria's privileged geographical condition, with mountains, rivers and the sea all at hand, the food on offer is top-quality and made from the freshest ingredients around, literally.
The hills are covered in rich green pastures, giving the locally-produced beef its fine texture and unbeatable flavour. You''ll find great meat options at most restaurants in Santander, Bombi and Posada del Mar are famous for their quality dishes.
The deep rivers are another of the prime sources of food in Cantabria. The king of all river fish, the salmon, is caught here. Trout is also abundant and another popular fish option in the area.
Cantabria also has an important sea-faring tradition. The Barrio Pesquero (Fishing Quarter) is proof of this. Here, the mountain fishermen bring the fresh fish caught off the coast to the fishing wharf, providing the city with popular fish, such as sea-bass, sole, hake, jargo, cabracho, gilthead and sardines, day in and day out. There are great restaurants all along the coast for fish and in the Fishing Quarter or Puerto Chico (Small Port), the most famous restaurants being Las Peñucas and Rhin . Another great option is Del Puerto , one of Santander's most highly-rated restaurants.
Seafood plays an important part in Cantabrian cuisine as well: clams from Pedreña, mussels, giant crabs, goose barnacles, and lobsters. These are just some of the succulent options to be enjoyed at restaurants, such as Mulata , Flor de Miranda and Cúpula del Rhin .
Before you actually sit down to lunch or dinner, however, tapas are a must. When in Rome... A stroll around Plaza del Cañadío is more than recommended for a glass of wine or beer accompanied by your choice of tapas. Recommended tapas bars in this district include Hijas de Florencio , Bodega Cigaleña and Cañía . In the Río de la Pila district, the most famous tapas bar is Del Riojano , really a wine bar with great food. If you''re in the Perines district, be sure to order the surf and turf platters at Los Jamones ; you won't regret it.
Pastries of all kinds are other local specialities, and Cantabria is renowned throughout Spain for its long-standing tradition in this area. The creaminess and quality of local milk give traditional items, such as quesada pasiega and sobaos, their incredibly rich texture. Cantabrian puff-pastry is also quite famous. It comes in many shapes and sizes, the most popular desserts being the corbatas de Unqueta, pantortillas de Reinosa, polkas de Torrelavega and sacristanes de Lierganes. Other typical treats are palucos de Cabezón de la Sal and canónigos de Liebana. Any of the above mentioned desserts, or the rice pudding and leche frita (literally, fried milk), are the final and delicious cherry to top off your meal.
The wines on offer in Santander are generally from prestigious La Rioja, given that the climate in Cantabria is not suited to growing grapes for wine. However, in the Liebana region, there is a microclimate, perfect for producing the fruit needed to make orujo de Potes. The sweet flavour and refined aroma of this strong spirit makes it an excellent digestive liqueur to savour after your meal. You'll find it in any of the restaurants mentioned above, as well as most restaurants in the city.
After this brief tour of Santander's rich gastronomy, you'll have no option but to come and try it for yourself. You're sure to find out why people in Spain always say that folks up north certainly know how to eat well!
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