Food and Statues in Spain - Famous Phrases From What Cervantes Said About Food

 

My husband and I visited the north of sunny Spain in July 2024 and our circular tour ended at the port of Bilbao (home of the Guggenheim museum). Our route took us via Valladoid, the city which was our last night before reaching Bilbao for the ferry back to Britain. 

The hotel Imperial had a nine plus rating from Booking.com  The chatty man on reception gives you a map and circles the places you can see by walking. So we set off for a one hour walk, first down the alley to the main square. 

Then down the road to see the magnificent giant old buildings and museums and statues. 

Angela Lansbury by the statue of Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, in Valladolid, northern Spain. Photo by Trevor Sharot Copyright.

We could not see the museums, which were closed Sunday evening and all day Monday and I had waned to see something connected with Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, pronounced key hoh, tay) source of the English adjective quixotic, Spain's renowned author, known worldwide. I was initially disappointed that the building connected with him was closed.

However, I was delighted to get a picture of the statue of Cervantes, author of Don Quixote. Cervantes was he source of he well known often quoted proverb:

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

The proof in this context means the test, to prove its value. Nowadays we use proof o mean the good result of a est, the evidence, or the certification. The word test would make more sense to a modern reader, especially children and those who speak English as a second language. Although the word proof is not used like this nowadays, we quote in the old language because proof of the pudding is alliterative. It sounds better and is more memorable.

 In AZ quotes I found what Cervantes said about food:

There is no sauce in the world like hunger.

All sorrows are less with bread.

It is a true saying that a man must eat a peck (pack) of salt with a friend before he knows him.

A peck is a term hardly known and used by the public in English nowadays. A peck, was, and is, a technical term, not a pinch but a large amount. So I have added a similar word translated into English to convey clarity of the large size.

After taking this photo of Cervantes, we went to a Tapas bar, which I have described on this blog on travel, and on my more focused blog on wineanddinewith Angela. 

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