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» Barbara Rogers - Christmas Markets in Spain

In response to Christmas Markets in Spain posted by franfolsom:

Spain is a good place to shop for interesting foods and utensils (if you have enthusuastic cooks on your list) and for leather goods. Terra cotta tapas dishes, which are handy as side dishes or for serving condiments, are available everywhere, are cheap and sturdy enough that breakage isn't likely if you pack them among your clothes. Look also for adorable terra cotta pigs that are designed for grilling sausages at the table, but make excellent holders for sponges and scrubbers at the kitchen sink.

For the cooks on your list, shop in grocery stores for good Spanish paprika, saffron, olives packed in sherry and olives stuffed with almonds. Markets will sell paella pans and flat pans for making Spaniah tortilla, an egg dish similar to the Italian fritata. Take a solid plastic food storage container with you to bring back marzipan fruits, vegetables and animals without crushing them.

Castanets make good gifts for kids (you'll need to show them how to use them)