Today's post comes from my friend Cassandra, a fellow expat in Madrid who blogs about Spain and travel at her website Gee Cassandra. She has been teaching in Spain for the past few years, and is more than familiar with some of the Spanish school systems' strange customs and rules, however the school lunches at her most recent job still surprised her. I never worked at a school that served lunch, the kids always went home at 2:30 and ate with their families, but I have seen the lunch menus of former private students and was also surprised at some of the things children here eat-- lots of fish and vegetables! Very different than my elementary school days, when chicken nuggets and PB&J were perfectly acceptable school meals. I'll let Cassandra explain the rest!
At 2:30 p.m. it’s my turn to bajar al comedor—to go down to the school cafeteria for lunch. Last year, the public high school where I worked didn't even have a cafeteria—the students left before 3 p.m., allowing them to make it home by Spanish lunchtime. This year, however, I work at a “concertado,” a semi-private school that receives funds from both the government as well as individual families. These schools have longer working days and therefore provide lunch for the students and staff. In the five months that I have been working in the concertado, there have been five especially curious meals:
1. Huevos rebozados
What it is: Fried eggs, but not the diner ones you are familiar with! These cafeteria eggs are hard-boiled, stuffed with tuna, then dipped in béchamel sauce and breadcrumbs before being fried. And that´s not all—they are also served with tomato sauce and potato chips. (They look like this.)
Why it's unexpected: First of all, this is one labor-intensive dish, which is surprising for cafeteria fare anywhere. Second, what´s with the tomato sauce and potato chips—how do I go about eating this?
2. Purrusalda
What it is: A soup made with leeks, fish, potatoes, and carrots
Why it's unexpected: When told that purrusalda was the day's lunch, I had no idea if it would be a meat, grain, or vegetable dish. Neither did my co-teachers. Later I learned that the dish—also sometimes written as porrusalda in Spanish—is of Basque origin and means leek soup. Considering conflicting sentiments towards this area of Northern Spain, I was surprised to see a Basque dish on the Madrid menu.
3. Hamburgers
What it is: A meat patty served without a bun and with tomato sauce—not ketchup!—on top.
Why it's unexpected: Since proud students, teachers, and staff never cease to remind this visiting American of how miraculous and wondrous their “Mediterranean Diet” is, I was surprised to find them embrace cafeteria burgers with gusto. However, these hamburgers aren't what Americans typically think of when they hear the word—for starters, there is no bun!
4. Cocido Completo
What it is: A soup cooked with a huge list of ingredients, then served with the individual bits taken out.
Why it's unexpected: This soup is by far the most elaborate of all of the meals on this list. After ladling out a serving of noodle soup, you can choose from the following to add to your plate: pork fat, blood sausage, chorizo, ham, chicken, cabbage, green beans, carrots, chickpeas, and potatoes. Whew! Depending on how you have grown up eating cocido, you may mix the meat and vegetables back in to the soup or eat everything separately.
5. Pizza
What it is: A square of pizza with tomato sauce, cheese, and mystery meat cubes
Why it's unexpected: The school lunch pizza—in its recognizable square shape!—is simply mind-boggling in its universality. Despite other culinary differences, this is one meal both American and Spanish school kids can agree on.
Do you teach in Spain? What unexpected Spanish school lunches have you encountered?
Photo Credits: jlastras, Lablascovegmenu, Silverman68, Lore & Guille, USDAgov
Janine
Those are huevos rebosados. Google images has photos very similar to yours. Huevos revueltos are scrambled eggs.
Lauren Aloise
Hi Janine! Thanks for pointing that out, it's true, they are huevos rebozados! We've fixed the typo. All pictures are credited at the end of the post.
Janine
My comment about Google was just as a reference for the name - I know your photos are all credited!
Lauren Aloise
Ahh okay, just didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea 🙂 Thanks again for the fix!
Jessica (HolaYessica)
Wow, this was so interesting! I've never worked in a Spanish school so I was curious what they ate. It sounds like they get pretty decent food (minus the pizza).
I did work at an after-school language academy though, and most of the kids had big pastries or giant ham sandwiches before their classes. It seemed like they ate a huge amount of food!
Cassandra
Amelie--that sounds like a terrible set-up!! At our school we have the same offerings as the kids and sit in the same (LOUD) cafeteria. We have cocido every other week, as well--I was wondering how common that was!
amelie88
I also worked in a concertado where meals were provided to the staff. In my school, the teachers had their own comedor and had a separate menu from what the students ate. The food was okay--some days it was bearable, other days it was like "WTF is this?" Sometimes the teachers would go into the kids' comedor and see if they could steal some of the food the students were having for that day! (It was generally frowned upon because the school wanted the kids to eat first before giving away left over food) I remember the huevos revueltos--I liked them, but man were they filling! We also had cocido every other week.
The one meal I refused to go near was pizza though. I'm sorry to say it, I'm a huge pizza snob. But I have never eaten a decent slice of pizza in Spain! I shudder at the thought of Telepizza.
Lauren Aloise
Hi Amelie!
I understand about the pizza thing-- there are not many good slices in Madrid. Have you tried Ti Amo? https://spanishsabores.com/best-pizza-in-madrid-ti-amo-pizzeria/ I reviewed them when they just opened, and they were great. If you go, lt me know if they've maintained their quality! I wish they were closer to my house...
amelie88
I no longer live in Madrid, but next time I go, I will check out Ti Amo. I now am back in the US, where I (thankfully) have access to good pizza any day of the week!
Cassandra
Interesting, Cat! I'm not sure about the exact price of the meals--our food is included--but I do remember that during the general strike last November, one of the older students cited his reason for coming to school because "My parents already paid for lunch."
Cat of Sunshine and Siestas
I worked for two years in a private school in Seville where nearly every child stayed to eat their cafeteria food, which was catered in, or have their parents pack a lunch for them, called a canasto. After a few months eating there, I soon realized it was all the same - loads of legumes, fish and fruit. It was also more expensive than getting a salad or a tapa nearby!