A British mother who relocated to Spain two and a half years ago has admitted she is still struggling to understand the country's 'unspoken rules' around food. Susie, who shares her experiences on TikTok, revealed that mealtimes are a particular source of confusion, with strict guidelines on what constitutes a first or second course.
In a recent video, Susie described a conversation with her husband about lunch, where she suggested a vegetable soup known as puré de calabacín as a first course, followed by ensaladilla rusa, a potato salad. Her husband dismissed this as 'two first courses', a concept Susie found baffling, noting that in Britain, a starter and main are typically reserved for special occasions, while everyday dinners consist of a single plate.
Susie said she has been told a general rule: if you eat it with a spoon, it's a first course; with a knife and fork, a second course. However, she pointed out that ensaladilla rusa is eaten with a fork yet considered a first course, and croquetas, eaten by hand, defy categorisation. She also questioned why paella cannot be eaten for dinner in Spain, asking if this applies to all rice dishes.
She admitted these cultural quirks are 'really difficult to understand' and that no one prepares you for them when moving abroad. Comments on her video offered varied advice, with some users noting that second courses generally involve meat or fish, and that two courses are typically reserved for weekends. Others reassured her that she can do whatever she and her family agree on.
